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| Cabin in the Sky | 
 enlarge | Directors: Busby Berkeley, Vincente Minnelli
Actors: Ethel Waters, Eddie 'rochester' Anderson, Lena Horne, Louis Armstrong, Rex Ingram
Studio: Warner Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $19.98
Buy New: $12.34
You Save: $7.64 (38%)
New (30) Used (9) from $12.33
Avg. Customer Rating:  49 reviews
Sales Rank: 6300
Format: Closed-captioned, Black & White, Dvd-video, Subtitled, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 98
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: WARD67678D
ISBN: 1419817078
UPC: 012569676787
EAN: 9781419817076
ASIN: B000BNTMAA
Theatrical Release Date: April 9, 1943
Release Date: January 10, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
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
Product Description
Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 01/10/2006 Run time: 98 minutes Rating: Nr
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| Customer Reviews: Read 44 more reviews...
 A "Torch Singer" Revisited November 19, 2008
Readers of this space know that I consider Billie Holiday above all, doped up or straight, the undisputed "Queen" of female jazz singers. From a Cole Porter tune like "Let's Do It" to a soulful "Strange Fruit" her timing and sense of the song was uncanny. However, even a great singer like Billie had earlier singers that influenced her and that is where we pick up the career of the jazz singer under review here, Ethel Waters. Her name may not be known today, except to early jazz aficionados or those who recall her award-winning role as a force of Mother Nature housekeeper in "Member Of The Wedding" who had her hands full supervising characters played by the very young Julie Harris and Brandon DeWilde. Well, if that is your only recollection then do you remember the song that she sings there "Lonesome Swallow"? Okay, that Ethel Waters.
Ms. Waters performed many early jazz classics here and in the more racially and culturally friendly Paris of the 1930's, a place of exile for more than one creative black talent, and had a fair career as a movie actress and theatrical performer (given the extremely limited role selection, mainly housekeeper or servant roles, and the extremely stereotyped characteristics expected of black actors and actresses during her prime). This CD gives a good cross section of her musical work over three decades (about 1925 to 1955). More importantly, it also displays the talented musicians whom she worked with and who wanted to work with her. A review of the liner notes lists Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey (the bandleader), the fabled Fletcher Henderson (of early Bessie Smith fame) and James Johnson (ditto). Not bad company, right?
Ms. Waters is another one of those performers, like the early Bessie Smith, whom you don't necessarily get a feel for right away. However, about half way through this CD you start to wonder whether you will have time to play the damn thing again. Here's why. Put " Brother You've Got Me Wrong" together with the above-mentioned "Lonesome Swallow" mix in "My Handy Man" and a beautiful rendition of Louis Armstrong's "West End Blues" stir and pick up the pace with "Dinah" and top off with a bouncy version of "Am I Blue" (although Billie's version is the cat's meow for me). That's the ticket. Enjoy.
 Great Early Jazz! October 10, 2008
I recently caught the end of this on TCM and wanted to see the complete movie. I love Louis Armstrong, Lena Horn and any of the great early jazz artists. Lots of these "race" movies have not been shown because of the fear of offending someone. We lose many great performances because of this.
This is a tribute to all the actors in it and I wish there were more.
Cabin In The Sky April 24, 2008
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!
Cabin in the Sky February 27, 2008
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
 look closer. February 1, 2008
0 out of 6 found this review helpful
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.
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