CABIN IN THE SKY

Cabin in the Sky
MGM, 1943, B/W, 98 minutes, ***½
Released April, 1943

Vincente Minnelli's first assignment as a director at MGM produced a classic. Little Joe (Eddie Anderson in one of his best performances) struggles with himself and Satan to break his gambling habit and to remain faithful to his wife, Petunia (Ethel Waters), though he is constantly tempted by the beautiful Georgia Brown (Lena Horne). The film features some wonderful acting by the principle cast and some classic musical numbers, including Ethel Waters' "Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe" and "Taking a Chance on Love." Lena Horne is positively flawless in her portrayal of the temptress, Georgia Brown. And the production number, "Shine," is a real show-stopper. You definitely don't want to miss this one!

Produced by: Arthur Freed
Associate Producer: Albert Lewis
Directed by: Vincente Minnelli
Screen Play by: Joseph Schrank
Based Upon the Musical Play: Book by Lynn Root, Lyrics by John Latouche and Music by Vernon Duke; Produced on the Stage by Albert Lewis in Association with Vinton Freedley
"Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe," "Life's Full O' Consequence," "Li'l Black Sheep" Lyrics by E. Y. Harburg, Music by Harold Arlen
"Going Up" Duke Ellington
Musical Adaptation: Roger Edens
Musical Direction: Georgie Stoll
Orchestration: George Bassman
Choral Arrangements: Hal Johnson
Art Director: Cedric Gibbons
Associate: Leonid Vasian
Set Decorations: Edwin B. Willis
Associate: Hugh Hunt
Costume Supervision: Irene
Associate: Shoup
Men's Costumes: Gile Steele
Recording Director: Douglas Shearer
Director of Photography: Sidney Wagner
Film Editor: Harold F. Kress

Awards: Nominated for Best Song Academy Award ("Happiness is a Thing Called Joe")

Cast: Ethel Waters [Petunia Jackson], Eddie "Rochester" Anderson [Little Joe Jackson], Lena Horne [Georgia Brown], Louis Armstrong [The Trumpeter], Rex Ingram [Lucius / Lucifer, Jr.], Kenneth Spencer [Rev. Green / The General], "Bubbles" (John W. Sublett [Domino Johnson], Oscar Polk [The Deacon / Fleetfoot], Mantan Moreland [First Idea Man], Willie Best [Second Idea Man], Moke (Fletcher Rivers) [Third Idea Man], Poke (Leon James) [Fourth Idea Man], Bill Bailey [Bill], "Buck" (Ford L. Washington) [Messenger Boy], Butterfly McQueen [Lily], Ruby Dandridge [Mrs. Kelso], Nicodemus [Dude], Ernest Whitman [Jim Henry], Duke Ellington and His Orchestra [Themselves], The Hall Johnson Choir [Themselves]

Musical Program: [0:00] Overture (played by Orchestra behind titles); [0:06] Li'l Black Sheep (sung by Ethel Waters, Children and Chorus at Church); [0:18] Old Ship of Zion (sung by Church Congregation and Chorus); [0:25] Happiness is a Thing Called Joe (sung by Ethel Waters); [0:34] Cabin in the Sky (sung by Rochester, Ethel Waters and Chorus); [0:47] Taking a Chance on Love (sung by Ethel Waters, danced by one of the delivery men then danced by Rochester); [1:00] Life's Full O' Consequence (sung by Rochester and Lena Horne); [1:06] Happiness is a Thing Called Joe (reprised by Ethel Waters); [1:08] Things Ain't The Way They Used To Be / Going Up / Down At John Henry's (played by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra, danced by Chorus at Jim Henry's Paradise Club); [1:14] S-H-I-N-E (played by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra, sung by Bubbles and Chorus, danced by Bubbles) [1:18] Honey in the Honeycomb (sung by Lena Horne); [1:23] Honey in the Honeycomb (sung by Ethel Waters, danced by Ethel Waters and Bubbles); [1:25] unidentified instrumental (played by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra, danced by patrons at Jim Henry's Paradise Club); [1:34] Hallelujah (sung by the Hall Johnson Choir); [1:38] Taking a Chance on Love (short reprisal by Ethel Waters); Ain't It de Truth (cut from final print, sung by Lena Horne)