{"id":51773,"date":"2020-09-21T23:11:30","date_gmt":"2020-09-22T06:11:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=51773"},"modified":"2024-06-15T18:18:11","modified_gmt":"2024-06-16T01:18:11","slug":"cabin-in-the-sky-1943","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=51773","title":{"rendered":"Cabin in the Sky (1943)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Sometimes when you fight the devil, you got to jab him with his own pitchfork.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cabin-in-the-Sky-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cabin-in-the-Sky-Poster-205x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"205\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-51780\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cabin-in-the-Sky-Poster-205x300.jpg 205w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cabin-in-the-Sky-Poster-88x128.jpg 88w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cabin-in-the-Sky-Poster-185x270.jpg 185w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cabin-in-the-Sky-Poster.jpg 342w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 205px) 100vw, 205px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nWhen a lazy gambling addict named Little Joe (Eddie &#8216;Rochester&#8217; Anderson) is nearly killed, his devout wife (Ethel Waters) prays hard enough that a heavenly angel (Kenneth Spencer) heeds her call and agrees to give Little Joe six more months to reform &#8212; but Lucifer&#8217;s son (Rex Ingram) and his henchmen (Mantan Moreland, Willie Best, and Louis Armstrong) are eager to get Joe down into Hell, and send both money and a seductive gold-digger (Lena Horne) his way.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>African-Americans<\/li>\n<li>Femmes Fatales<\/li>\n<li>Lena Horne Films<\/li>\n<li>Life After Death<\/li>\n<li>Marital Problems<\/li>\n<li>Musicals<\/li>\n<li>Play Adaptations<\/li>\n<li>Rex Ingram Films<\/li>\n<li>Vincente Minnelli Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary\u2019s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nPeary points out that this &#8220;spirited M-G-M musical, with an all-black all-star cast&#8221; &#8212; &#8220;based on <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cabin_in_the_Sky_(musical)\">a Broadway musical<\/a> by Lynn Root, John Latouche, and Vernon Duke&#8221; &#8212; &#8220;marked the successful movie debut of stage director Vincente Minnelli.&#8221; He notes that the &#8220;film pits cornball religion against hell-raising (which appear to be the only two choices in a black man&#8217;s life):<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cabin-in-the-Sky-Rochester.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cabin-in-the-Sky-Rochester.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-65151\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cabin-in-the-Sky-Rochester.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cabin-in-the-Sky-Rochester-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cabin-in-the-Sky-Rochester-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cabin-in-the-Sky-Rochester-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and, though it probably wasn&#8217;t intended that way, the hell-raising looks to be more fun.&#8221; He advises us to &#8220;forget Joseph Schrank&#8217;s script and enjoy the precious footage of some of the most famous black performers at their peaks&#8221;, including Waters, Anderson, Horne, John &#8216;Bubbles&#8217; Sublett, and Duke Ellington&#8217;s band, as well as Ingram reminding &#8220;us of the shrewd, intelligent, boldly laughing genie he played in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=46264\"><em>The Thief of Bagdad<\/em><\/a>.&#8221; As one of two all-black musicals produced that year &#8212; along with <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=51553\"><em>Stormy Weather<\/em> (1943)<\/a> &#8212; this film remains worth a look for historical purposes alone, but viewers will likely find themselves appreciating the chance to see Waters at her finest; her role here and in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=43843\"><em>The Member of the Wedding<\/em> (1952)<\/a> indicate that she should have been given far more opportunities to grace us with her presence on screen. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ethel Waters as Petunia<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cabin-in-the-Sky-Waters.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cabin-in-the-Sky-Waters.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-51776\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cabin-in-the-Sky-Waters.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cabin-in-the-Sky-Waters-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cabin-in-the-Sky-Waters-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cabin-in-the-Sky-Waters-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Many fine musical numbers<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cabin-in-the-Sky-Musical.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cabin-in-the-Sky-Musical.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-51779\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cabin-in-the-Sky-Musical.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cabin-in-the-Sky-Musical-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cabin-in-the-Sky-Musical-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cabin-in-the-Sky-Musical-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cabin-in-the-Sky-Horne.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cabin-in-the-Sky-Horne.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-51778\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cabin-in-the-Sky-Horne.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cabin-in-the-Sky-Horne-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cabin-in-the-Sky-Horne-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cabin-in-the-Sky-Horne-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Sidney Wagner\u2019s cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cabin-in-the-Sky-Cinematography.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cabin-in-the-Sky-Cinematography.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-51777\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cabin-in-the-Sky-Cinematography.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cabin-in-the-Sky-Cinematography-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cabin-in-the-Sky-Cinematography-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Cabin-in-the-Sky-Cinematography-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, once, for its historical significance. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Historically Relevant<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0035703\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s1861sky.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.tcm.com\/this-month\/article\/17710%7C0\/Cabin-in-the-Sky.html\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.moriareviews.com\/fantasy\/cabin-in-the-sky-1942.htm\">Moria Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Sometimes when you fight the devil, you got to jab him with his own pitchfork.&#8221; Synopsis: When a lazy gambling addict named Little Joe (Eddie &#8216;Rochester&#8217; Anderson) is nearly killed, his devout wife (Ethel Waters) prays hard enough that a heavenly angel (Kenneth Spencer) heeds her call and agrees to give Little Joe six more months to reform &#8212; but Lucifer&#8217;s son (Rex Ingram) and his henchmen (Mantan Moreland, Willie Best, and Louis Armstrong) are eager to get Joe down&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=51773\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-51773","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51773","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=51773"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51773\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97871,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51773\/revisions\/97871"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=51773"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=51773"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=51773"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}