Film
Cabin in the Sky
- Director
- Vincente Minnelli
- Certificate
- U
- Running Time
- 99 mins
He went on to direct the likes of An American in Paris and Meet Me in St. Louis, but Broadway import Vincente Minnelli‘s 1943 directorial debut was a rare example of an all-black musical. Based on the Broadway hit of the same title, it’s the story of compulsive gambler Little Joe Jackson (Eddie ‘Rochester’ Anderson), who perishes in a drunken brawl. Upon awakening in purgatory, he learns he will be sent back to Earth for six months to prove he deserves to be in heaven, while an angel, The General (Kenneth Spencer), and the devil’s son Lucifer Jr (Rex Ingram) fight for his soul. You may find some of the stereotyping a tad unwoke, but – hey – this was 1943. Watch out too for Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington and his orchestra.
It’s back on screen in the BFI musicals season and to launch the Watershed’s December run of hoofing Sunday brunches.
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