Supelice Dreadfully Boring

TrueHello Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

Derry Herrera Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

Tyreece Hulme One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

jacobs-greenwood This unique, Musical fantasy was the first film directed by Vincente Minnelli. It stars Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson as Joseph 'Little Joe' Jackson, a man with a gambling problem whose wife Petunia, played by Ethel Waters, is so strong in her faith that her prayers enable her husband to receive a second chance. Little Joe's dealing with nefarious characters like Domino Johnson (John William Sublett) gets him shot, which leads to a scene in which the Devil's son Lucifer Jr. (Rex Ingram) is ready to take his soul to Hell before the Lord's General (Kenneth Spencer) intervenes and gives the gambler 6 months to reform. Ingram and Spencer also play characters in Little Joe's "real" life, a fellow gambler and Petunia's Reverend Greene, respectively. Ernest Whitman appears as one of Little Joe's creditors, and a club owner.Petunia represents one of Waters' few on-screen roles; she would go on to earn a Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for her role in Pinky (1949). She sings the film's Academy Award nominated Song - "Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe". On the other, Anderson, whose gravelly voice is as recognizable as Eugene Palette's, had already appeared in more than 50 films at this point in his career which spanned nearly 70 roles, most of which were stereotypical for Black actors of his era. Lena Horne, whose character also sings, plays the femme fatale, Georgia Brown, who Lucifer Jr. uses to tempt Little Joe during his reprieve. Louis Armstrong plays (his trumpet and) a minor role as one of Lucifer Jr.'s idea men, as does Mantan Moreland and shaky voiced Willie Best. Butterfly McQueen plays one of Petunia's friends and Duke Ellington appears (with his band) as himself; Cab Calloway also appears.

wes-connors As church bells ring, a small American town looks forward to welcoming wicked Eddie "Rochester" Anderson (as Joseph "Little Joe" Jackson) back into the fold. Alas, the gambling man's pew remains empty. God-loving wife Ethel Waters (as Petunia) goes out to look for Mr. Anderson and discovers he's been shot, in a nearby saloon. Of course, Anderson is headed straight for hell. Tearfully praying, Ms. Waters asks God to save her husband. God generously gives Anderson six months to reform. Counter-attacking, Lucifer and his #1 son use their supernatural powers to tempt Anderson. Since money is the root of all evil, Anderson wins the Irish Sweepstakes. He must also stiffen his resolve when sexually-charged Lena Horne (as Georgia Brown) decides to bust-up Anderson's happy marriage...Ms. Horne's introduction was (probably) preceded by an excised "bubble bath" scene, which was later used in MGM's Pete Smith short "Studio Visit" (1946). In it, you see nothing but bubbles. Ms. Horne is sexier, here, just putting on her shirt and sashaying around. In many scenes, "Cabin in the Sky" resembles a stage play. Unlike similar fare, this works in the film's favor, with director Vincente Minnelli keeping most scenes stagy. However, he does raise the style sporadically, and certainly elevates the last nightclub scene. The climactic nightclub scene, the film's peak, interestingly morphs into referencing MGM's classic "The Wizard of Oz" (1939)...A radio favorite as Jack Benny's servant (Rochester), Anderson is unable to convey much the manner that made him seem above the situation and on comic par with Mr. Benny. Waters impersonates a character far below her worth, and with an understandable lack of depth. Her dual renditions of "Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe" do improve both the original story and soundtrack, however. While Duke Ellington is allowed to escape with his dignity, Louis Armstrong is embarrassing as an "idea man" in Hades (as Hell). "Cabin in the Sky" is a Christian fable with dim-witted, stereotypical characters. Accepting that, it's possible to enjoy devilish Rex Ingram, godly Kenneth Spencer and pimp-like John "Bubbles" Sublett (as Domino Johnson, performing the standard "Shine") and other demonstrations of skill and energy.******* Cabin in the Sky (3/27/43) Vincente Minnelli ~ Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, Ethel Waters, Lena Horne, John William Sublett

LeonLouisRicci Basically Inoffensive as the All Black Cast are quite Respectable and Professional All Around. The Film's Heavy Moralizing and the Religious Preaching are More Off Putting then the Dice Throwing and the Womanizing.The Film's Lead Characters are so Laden with Religious Overtones and the Fact that Jazz and Jitterbugging are Considered "The Devil's Playground" are the Real Dated Racial Stereotyping put forth by Do-Gooding White Folks.The Movie is Entertaining and has Enough Comedic and Musical Appeal that it Appears as Slick and Well Done as any of the MGM Musicals, Allowing for the Very Small Budget. It is Director Vincente Minnelli's Debut Feature and is Basically just a Filmed Version of the Successful Broadway Play with not Many Film Flourishes that are Above Standard or Pedestrian.But the Entire Cast of Singers, Dancers, and Comedians Deliver a Rare Treat with one of the Few Major Studio Productions made with an All Black Cast. Ethel Waters is the Star and gets the most Screen Time and Numbers, Lena Horne is the Eye-Candy and Sings a Few. Eddie Rochester is OK but Hardly Memorable, and Duke Ellington is Short Changed a bit but is there doing His Thing Nonetheless.Overall, a Pleasant Musical Comedy that Falls Somewhat Short of Greatness but is Very Good and Certainly Captures a Time and Place that is a Welcomed Historical Artifact.

gavin6942 A compulsive gambler (Eddie Anderson) dies during a shooting, but he will receive a second chance to reform himself and to make up with his worried wife (Ethel Waters).What I find odd about this is that MGM's DVD has a warning before it starts that what you see might be considered racist today. This might be the case. However, having seen countless films from the 1930s and 1940s with black actors, I can confidently say this is far from the worst depiction you will see. In fact, the film has an all-black cast, which has to be something of a milestone in itself regardless of how it is interpreted.There is nothing too shocking in the picture as far as the plot is concerned. You can reasonably predict where it will go. But there is the now timeless theme of a good angel and a bad angel fighting over a man's soul... and their battles might be of interest. I liked it.