Cabin in the Sky
by Vincente Minnelli
List Price:
Our Price: $9.95
You Save: $9.98 (50%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $8.95 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD details
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD details
Actor: Cab Calloway, Eddie Rochester Anderson, Ethel Waters, Louis Armstrong, Rex IngramDirector: Vincente Minnelli
Brand: Warner Brothers
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 1.0; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 1.0
Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: Academy Ratio, 1.33:1
Running Time: 98 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-01-10
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Model: 67678
Studio: Warner Home Video
Product features:
- 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
DVD Reviews of Cabin in the Sky
DVD Review: fine Ethel Waters vehicle with more stars than there were in the heavens to support her...
Summary: 5 Stars
Cabin In The Sky was only the third or fourth film to be made with an all African American cast after "talkies" were introduced. MGM bought the film rights to the stage play of the same name and gave the project to first time director Vincente Minnelli. Wow, how wonderfully it all worked out!
The action begins with Little Joe Jackson (Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson) and his wife Petunia (Ethel Waters) going to church on a Sunday morning. Trouble is, the very religious Petunia worries that Little Joe won't make it to heaven because of his gambling problems. Although Joe goes into the church with Petunia, he soon sneaks out to meet up with his old gambling buddies. They remind Joe of his gambling debts to them; and they convince Joe to come with them and gamble just one more time at Club Paradise.
Well, at The Paradise Club Joe is mortally wounded in a shooting; and then the action REALLY begins. Back at home, Joe fights for his life; but there's also another struggle beginning. Lucifer, Jr. (Rex Ingram), the son of the Devil who wants Joe to go to hell for gambling, becomes entangled with The General (Kenneth Spencer), an agent of the Lord, who wants Joe to get into heaven. It is decided that Joe can live another six months so that they can determine where Joe will go--heaven or hell.
The Devil's agents throw the "temptation" of money and the remarkably attractive Georgia Brown (Lena Horne, seen here in her screen debut) at Joe to make him gamble and womanize as he cheats on Petunia. Meanwhile the agents of God stay equally close to Joe, coaching him all the way to help him stay the course and be a good man.
Will Joe manage to prove himself to the Lord that he is worthy of heaven--or will he be sent to hell for his sins? What happens between Petunia and Joe when Petunia sees Joe with Georgia Brown? How will the agents of both God and the Devil fight amongst themselves over which side gets Joe? No spoilers here, folks; you'll just have to watch the movie to find out.
The choreography couldn't be better; the dancing and the crowd scenes are extremely well done. The cinematography is equally good. The plot moves along at a good pace; and the musical performances by Ethel Waters stun me with her sensitive delivery of each ballad. Look for Ethel to sing "Taking A Chance On Love" and "Happiness Is Just A Thing Called Joe." Duke Ellington also happens to perform at The Paradise Club; they make awesome music! Louis Armstrong makes a brief cameo appearance as one of the devil's agents; his talent was completely wasted in this movie. Butterfly McQueen, who plays Lily, a friend of Petunia's, also gets a role much too small for her. Sigh.
The film has many talented actors and performers in it; but truthfully it belongs to Ethel Waters who gives a riveting performance as Petunia Jackson.
The DVD extras include commentary and audio outtakes with still photos while you listen to what was left out of the movie. You also get outtake footage of Lena Horne performing "Ain't It The Truth."
Cabin In The Sky remains a fantastic motion picture jammed full of remarkable talent from an all African American cast. The morality concept of the struggle between heaven and hell is somewhat dated; and the racial stereotypes that were considered "OK" when this movie was made are practically embarrasing.
Despite the flaw regarding racial stereotypes, I still highly recommend this film for fans of African American cinema because it is one of the first movies to have an all black cast. In addition, people who enjoy classic MGM musicals will love the numerous musical numbers in this film as well.
Enjoy!
Description of Cabin in the Sky
CABIN IN THE SKY - DVD MovieBestsellers in DVD
![The Story of Jeremiah [VHS] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
The Story of Jeremiah [VHS]Vision Video; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Wresting With God [VHS]by Vision Video
Vision Video; Published: 1990-10-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
Study Bible Video with Workbook [VHS]Spring Arbor Distributors; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops:
Tempo:Childrens TV Favourites Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $9.17
Price in other shops:
Tempo.Herbs:Parseley'Sb/ Party Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
![Strike the Original Match [VHS] Image](/images/Strike-the-Original-Match-VHS-0001374079-X.jpg)
Strike the Original Match [VHS]New Liberty Films; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
![Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS] Image](/images/Medjugorje-The-Miracles-and-the-Message-VHS-0001373293-X.jpg)
Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS]JPN Film Production; Release date: 1995-12-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.99
Mayo Clinic Echocardiography Review Course for Boards and Recertification DVD 2008by Mayo
DVD
Price in other shops:
Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging DVD: Single Userby Oakstone
DVD
Price in other shops:
Cost Accounting [VHS]by Charles T. Horngren, George Foster, Srikant M. Datar, Howard Teall
Pearson Canada, Toronto; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
A Raisin in the SunPOITIER,SIDNEY; Release date: 2000-02-22; DVD
Best price: $6.82
Price in other shops:
Race Movies: The Duke Is Tops/ The Black King/ Spirit Of Youth/ The GloveEcho; Release date: 2004-01-01; DVD
Best price: $1.98
Price in other shops:
Race Movies: Hi-De-Ho/ The Devil's Daughter/ Beware/ Reet, Petite, and GoneEcho; Release date: 2004-01-01; DVD
Best price: $1.98
Price in other shops:
Imitation of Life (1934/ 1959)Universal Studios; Release date: 2004-02-10; DVD
Best price: $17.31
Price in other shops:
The Green PasturesWarner Brothers; Release date: 2006-01-10; DVD
Best price: $49.88
Anna LucastaSony; Release date: 2005-01-25; Published: 2005-01-01; DVD
Best price: $7.19
Price in other shops:
PinkyCRAIN,JEANNE; Release date: 2006-01-10; DVD
Best price: $6.95
Price in other shops:
HallelujahWarner Brothers; Release date: 2006-01-10; DVD
Best price: $9.86
Price in other shops:
Carmen JonesFox; Release date: 2002-01-22; DVD
Best price: $4.42
Price in other shops:
Stormy WeatherFox; Release date: 2006-01-10; DVD
Best price: $7.19
Price in other shops: