Cabin in the Sky (1943)

80% of critics liked it
(10 reviews)
77% of users liked it
(1,841 ratings)

Mortally shot at a crap game, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson gets a six-month Heavenly reprieve thanks to prayers from wife and True Believer Ethel Waters, but Rex Ingram's "Lucifer Jr." has a secret weapon in the ensuing battle for Anderson's soul: Lena Horne's sultry Sweet Georgia Brown. But Ethel… More Mortally shot at a crap game, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson gets a six-month Heavenly reprieve thanks to prayers from wife and True Believer Ethel Waters, but Rex Ingram's "Lucifer Jr." has a secret weapon in the ensuing battle for Anderson's soul: Lena Horne's sultry Sweet Georgia Brown. But Ethel proves to have "everything you've got and whole lot more." Minnelli's first major movie musical features some of the top African American talent of the day, including John Bubbles, Louis Armstrong, and Duke Ellington and His Orchestra. But it's above all a showcase for top-billed Waters' enormous singing, dancing, comedy, and acting talents. -- (C) Film Forum

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 38 min.
Directed By: Vincente Minnelli, Busby Berkeley
Written By: Joseph Schrank
Genres: Drama, Musical & Performing Arts, Classics, Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Theaters: Apr 9, 1943 Wide
On DVD: Jan 10, 2006

Critic Reviews

Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
Lustrous, gospel-folklore retelling of Faust
Michael E. Grost, Classic Film and Television
Fascinatingly stylized musical.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
All-black 1943 musical and moralistic fable.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Minnelli's feature debut was MGM's first all-black musical since Vidor's Hallellujah!, a stylized fable boasting great performances from Lena Horne, in her first major role, and Ethel waters, as her nemesis.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Vincente Minnelli's enjoyable directorial debut.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Top-notch musical with great performances.
Nell Minow, Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies
Forget the story -- just relish the stars.