Cabin in the Sky

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Cabin in the Sky

1943

1h 38m

Musical

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Popcornmeter

81%

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48 Reviews

80%

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1,000+ Ratings

When compulsive gambler Little Joe Jackson (Eddie "Rochester" Anderson) dies in a drunken fight, he awakens in purgatory, where he learns that he will be sent back to Earth for six months to prove that he deserves to be in heaven. He awakens, remembering nothing and struggles to do right by his devout wife, Petunia (Ethel Waters), while an angel known as the General (Kenneth Spencer) and the devil's son, Lucifer Jr. (Rex Ingram), fight for his soul.

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Critics Consensus

Cabin in the Sky's racial stereotypes are impossible to ignore -- but so are its irresistible musical numbers and brilliantly talented cast.

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Marjory Adams

Boston Globe

12/16/2020

[Cabin in the Sky] is one of the most charming, entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable pictures that Hollywood has sent out in some time.

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Wanda Hale

New York Daily News

12/16/2020

3.5/4

It is something for you to go out of your way to see and hear.

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Mildred Martin

Philadelphia Inquirer

12/16/2020

The chief fault, it seems to us, is the unimaginative direction of Vincente Minnelli who never takes full advantage of the motion picture medium's facilities for creating fantasy... If Minnelli has fumbled his opportunities, Miss Waters has not.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

02/10/2024

3/4

Despite the tomfoolery on view, the story manages to build to a moving finale.

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Harry Levette

California Eagle

12/16/2020

As a whole it is excellent entertainment, and has proven to be a fine vehicle for the talents and versatility of the notable cast.

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Moira Wallace

San Francisco Examiner

12/16/2020

Ethel Waters has great emotional power not only in her singing of "Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe" and "Taking a Chance On Love," but in every gesture and mood she portrays.

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Horror fan 4

@Horrorfan4life 5d

An amazing movie that feature's a all black cast. Great songs sung by wonderful people drive this story about little Joe and all his bad habits. Tim Treakle

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Tamara K

@Tamarak 10/08/2023

One of the most enjoyable movies I have seen. Actually I have probably watched it four or five times. It's a pity that so many people never got to see it since it was originally banned in the south for having an all black cast.

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Thomas M

@TMProofreader 01/27/2019

The best, GREATEST musical romance movie ever made! With the best movie song ever sung: Happiness Is Just a Thing Called Joe!

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06/29/2018

Really cute. Lena Horne, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and of course the main stars, Ethel Waters and Eddie "Rochester" Anderson with his wonderful scratchy voice. What a plethora of talent!

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01/17/2017

Worth watching for many different reasons - just browse the credits. Though the plot this musical seems a bit contrived (& likely played better on the stage), it works OK as a movie. Just a shame that so many of these actors never became household names.

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01/18/2016

Important all-African-American cast adaptation of the Broadway musical with a Faustian, gospelized and Wizard of Oz twist(er). Early Lena Horne The great cast includes Louie Armstrong and Duke Ellington as well. Ain't it the truth.

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Vincente Minnelli

Director

Busby Berkeley

Director

Ethel Waters

Petunia Jackson

Eddie "Rochester" Anderson

Joe Jackson

Lena Horne

Georgia Brown

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Synopsis

When compulsive gambler Little Joe Jackson (Eddie "Rochester" Anderson) dies in a drunken fight, he awakens in purgatory, where he learns that he will be sent back to Earth for six months to prove that he deserves to be in heaven. He awakens, remembering nothing and struggles to do right by his devout wife, Petunia (Ethel Waters), while an angel known as the General (Kenneth Spencer) and the devil's son, Lucifer Jr. (Rex Ingram), fight for his soul.

Director: Vincente Minnelli, Busby Berkeley
Producer: Arthur Freed
Screenwriter: Marc Connelly, Lynn Root, Joseph Schrank
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Genre: Musical
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 9, 1943, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009
Runtime: 1h 38m