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Cabin in the Sky


Directed by Vincente Minnelli, Busby Berkeley
Starring Ethel Waters, Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson, Lena Horne, Louis Armstrong, Rex Ingram
Warner Home Video

List Price: $19.98
Price: $14.99
You Save: $4.99 (25%)
Available: Usually ships in 24 hours
Sales Rank: 8356
Release Date: January 10, 2006
Rated:  
Running Time: 98 minutes
Theatrical Release: December 31, 1969
Studio: Warner Home Video


FORMATS

  • Closed-captioned
  • Black & White
  • DVD-Video
  • Subtitled
  • NTSC


EDITORIAL REVIEWS

Product Description
Hollywood's first all-black film since The Green Pastures tells the vibrant fable of rascally Little Joe torn between the love of his good wife Petunia and the wiles of good-time bad girl Georgia Brown...and caught in a tug-of-war between emissaries from the Lord and Satan. How can virtue triumph over evil? Well as Petunia says "Sometimes when you fight the devil you gotta jab him with his own pitchfork." Debuting movie director Vincente Minnelli (An American in Paris Gigi) and stars Ethel Waters Eddie "Rochester" Anderson Lena Horne Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington are more than a match for the devil in this musical treasure. With a soundtrack of dazzling standards including Taking a Chance on Love and Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe Cabin in the Sky is a joyous classic.Running Time: 98 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: MUSICALS/MUSICALS UPC: 012569676787 Manufacturer No: 67678

Amazon.com
The first film directed by Vincente Minnelli (who directed the original Broadway version), this musical offers its pleasures, but also may make you squirm at the racial stereotypes that were considered both acceptable and entertaining in 1943. A story of the struggle between good and evil for the soul of a man named Little Joe (Eddie "Rochester" Anderson), the film plays with the same kind of racial notions that made Stepin Fetchit a star. Still, there's much to recommend it, particularly performances by some of the greatest musical stars of the day: Lena Horne, Ethel Waters, Louis Armstrong, and Duke Ellington, among others. The film also includes a terrific score, a combination effort by Ellington, Harold Arlen, Vernon Duke, and E.Y. Harburg that includes the song "Taking a Chance on Love." --Marshall Fine


CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.5 based on 47 reviews)

Cabin In The Sky  
This is a great classic. I remember watching this movie with my mother and father when I was a child. Ethel Waters - singing "Little Joe", Rochester dancing - my father use to dance the same way - it really brings back memories. Every black family should have this in their collection. Thank you Amazon for stocking this and other great classics!
April 24, 2008

Cabin in the Sky  
Although racial sterotypes are apparent, the pure entertainment vqlue and talent overcomes this negative aspect. Good music and the look into the preconceived concepts of Negro life is an eye awakening that has important social value and education
February 27, 2008

look closer.  
Why does Petunia talk in AAVE but sing like Judy Garland in perfectly articulated SAE? Why is Petunia scolded when she temporarily breaks from this ridiculous singing to let her voice go into a yell? What does that say about the raw passion of the African American woman's voice? Why does Little Joe have to "whitewash" his soul? What's with the caricature-like ridiculous smile during the tap-dancing scene? I was too stunned by the blatantly racist and stereotypical script of this film to enjoy it. This is not entertainment--this is a sorry piece of American history.
February 01, 2008

Little Joe !!!!!  
A classic one of a kind glimpse into an era that is no more. The actors are fabulous and naturals. Saw this once on TV late at night and had no idea. I was at first searching for Green Pastures which is also highly recommended and found Cabin. Both are masterpieces. All black cast reflecting Christian teachings in a different light. Call it the social gospel. A film teaching moral lessons in the context of the old black south with much comedy. The writing, acting and subject is priceless and reflect a time long since past. A must buy for any collection.
January 07, 2008

DVD Cabin in the sky  
"Cabin in the sky" is a classic movie that is beautifully acted, sung and performed. It is an all black cast of very talented actors and singers. The story is a classic about "Little Joe Jackson" who wants to be good but doesn't always succeed. Good versus evil. I have added it to my personal DVD Collection. I like to view it now and then and it remains a powerful story.
Eugene N. Limon
December 14, 2007


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