#cabin in the sky

[classicfilmblr]

Lena Horne as Georgia Brown Cabin in the Sky (1943) dir. Vincente Minnelli

[kemetic-dreams]

Reginald Cliff Ingram, M.D., better known as Rex Ingram, graduated from Northwestern University, where he was an athletic star and earned his Doctor of Medicine. Ingram graduated with honors and was the first member of the university to cross as Phi Beta Kappa. Soon after, Ingram left for California to practice medicine but soon realized that he would never attain his ambitions as a doctor because "the white man was too thoroughly ensconced in the mantle of science," and he found that they relegated him to clean up after them.

So instead, he decided to pursue an acting career. In July 1936, Ingram said in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, "For weeks, I hung around the studios of Hollywood waiting for a chance. I had many ambitions, most of which concerned raising my people's intellectual and cultural standards. But a man must eat, so when they offered a job as an extra, I took it. I appeared first as the cannibal chief in 'Tarzan of the Apes in 1918. Elmo Lincoln was the star." After several small roles throughout the silent era, Ingram finally caught his big break in "The Green Pastures."

Rex appeared in "Cabin in the Sky" (1943) and "Anna Lucasta" (1958), giving an outstanding performance for moviegoers. He has an excellent speaking voice and captures the attention of many. Rex is a pioneering actor that has paved ways for many African performers today.

[1000-year-old-virgin]

Lena Horne - Ain't it the Truth? [Deleted Scene from Cabin in the Sky 1943]

[citizenscreen]

Lena Horne and Eddie Anderson behind the scenes on CABIN IN THE SKY (1943)

[pygartheangel]

[tomoleary]

Constantin Alajálov (also Aladjalov) (1900-1987)

[oldshowbiz]

The entertaining MGM musical Cabin in the Sky (1944) was a big hit upon release, but it was not without its detractors.

Lena Horne recalled her audition for this flashy update of Uncle Tom’s Cabin: 

“They asked Rochester and me to do a screen test together. They wanted me to match Rochester’s color so they kept smearing dark make-up on me … I looked as if I were some white person trying to do a part in blackface … It was even funny to me … 

“But the consequences weren’t funny at all. For one thing, they set the make-up department to work on creating a kind of pancake that would make me look as dark as they thought I should [be]. Eventually they came up with a shade that they called ‘Light Egyptian’ which had an unfortunate side effect. They used it on white actresses they wanted to play Negro … which meant there was even less work for the Negro actors…” 

Time magazine trashed the film: “The Negroes are apparently regarded less as artists than as picturesque, Sambo-style entertainers.” 

The New Republic called it “no less Jim Crow than a bus where whites sit in front and Negroes in back, because the film is owned, operated and directed by whites, even to the song writers.”

[adamwatchesmovies]

Cabin in the Sky (1943)

When you finally see Cabin in the Sky, I know exactly what your reaction will be. You'll be yelling at the screen saying "How is it I’m only getting to this movie now?" With an all-black cast, this musical from the forties should by all reason be a classic. Even with its heavy Christian themes and a storytelling style that you don’t see much anymore (and I’m not talking about the singing), it’s so playful and innocent it should have a much larger following than it does.

Little Joe (Eddie "Rochester" Anderson) has been trying to put away his gambling obsession with the help of his strong-willed wife, Petunia (Ethel Waters). When he is killed over a gambling debt, the angel "The General" (Kenneth Spencer) gives him one more chance to change his ways but only because he committed a single sin too many and is facing an eternity in Hell. Feeling cheated, Lucifier Jr. (The son of Satan himself, played by Rex Ingram) doubles down on his efforts to make Little Joe return to his sinful ways.

It’s hard not to think of The Wizard of Oz and It’s a Wonderful Life when viewing Cabin in the Sky. The actors who play "The General" and Lucifer Jr. also play characters in Little Joe’s life. His death at the beginning of the film is an opportunity for him to return to the real world and see how different choices could affect his life (but in this case, for the better). There’s a lot of talk about Heaven and Hell but the film is showing us its own interpretation of what one’s battle for their soul might look like rather than sticking to what the Pastor might say. It’s in black and white. It’s a musical. All of these make it feel like a movie you’ve gathered around and watched with the family dozens of times over the years. Doubly so if you're Black because of the cast, the good message and the overall tone, which is perfectly suited for every member of the family.

While the songs featured may not stick in your head long after the movie ends, they fit the story so well that taking them out would be unthinkable. They’re wonderfully playful and expertly performed. Ethel Waters, in particular, is so strong she'll make you forgive the film for cutting short Louis Armstrong’s trumpeting solo (which leaves him with only a small part as one of Lucifer Jr.’s minions). Whenever she and Eddie Anderson are together, you completely believe them as a couple. You can feel the love between them and this makes you crave a happy ending. If only Little Joe can figure himself out!

There’s an air of innocence about the whole thing, even when beautiful gold-digger Georgia Brown (Lena Horne) comes around to seduce Little Joe (what he could’ve done to ever garner her attention is a mystery so you just know she’s up to no good). Lucifer Jr.’s menacing but not all that scary and when Rex Ingram smiles, you can’t help yourself; you do too. His smile is so infectious… maybe the apple does fall far from the tree sometimes? Probably not but he’s so charismatic you kind of like him as the villain.

If certain aspects of the film feel like they’re a little bit on-the-nose, a bit much, just give the film the benefit of the doubt and keep watching. Things all come together in the end in an unexpected way… but simultaneously not. "Oh, of course!" you’ll say as the picture closes. "In this kind of movie, that’s exactly how things should go!" If it were made today, you’d call it a cheat and it is a bit in a way but it’s fine to make the choices it makes once in a while. Particularly in these older movies, it just feels right.

Cabin in the Sky is a product of its time and some of the characters might be described as broad or stereotypical but it’s just so charming you won't care. It’s fine to have a movie like this one once in a while. You could say the same thing about musicals as a whole. Its performers, songs, jovial tone and uplifting story, along with a nostalgic feel throughout make it a winner, maybe even a new favorite. (June 18, 2021)

[erstwhile-punk-guerito]

At times, his films can feel like an exercise in fussy scenery and color blocking. At others, like a rapturous emotional and psychological examination of the friction between the surface textures and the interior complexities of the characters.

[vangoghcore]

by herry.with.an.e

[prince-o-sky]

[peacephotography]

Kosciuszko, Australia Photograph: Josselin Cornou

[tomoleary]

Al Hirschfeld “Cabin in the Sky” Theatrical release posters (1943)

[scoutingthetrooper]

christophe oliver

[petiteredthinker]

Austria 🌿⛰️

Photos by giuliogroebert