This is a timeless tale of 'Good vs. Evil' and the power of love. The film was made in 1943, and has an all black cast. It centers on the lives of little Joe Jackson (Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson) and his wife, Petunia (Ethel Waters). They are poor and live somewhere in America. A reflection of the times, their world and heaven is all black.
Little Joe doesn't deserve to have a loving devoted wife like Petunia. She's God fearing and wants him to repent and stop his gambling habits, besides that its no secret he's had an affair with town beauty, Georgia Brown (Lena Horne).
One day Petunia convinces Little Joe to go to Church. While in Church his gambling buddies Lucius (Rex Ingram), and Jim Henry (Ernest Whitman), get him to sneak out and play a game of dice with Domino Johnson (John William Sublett). Little Joe is seriously wounded when Domino attacks him for cheating.
Little Joe is taken home in a coma and even the doctor is unsure if he'll pull through. Petunia prays for Little Joe's salvation. It's during this time that the Lord's Army, led by The General (Kenneth Spencer) and Devil's from Hell led by the Devil's son Lucius Jr. fight for Little Joe's soul. Because of Petunia's 'powerful prayers' he's given another chance by God, six more months to live. There's a catch, during that time he must be good in order to get into heaven otherwise he's anxiously awaited in Hell.
When Little Joe awakes he has no memory of what happened. His wife Petunia takes care of him faithfully. Their love is highlighted by musical numbers like 'Cabin in the Sky' and 'Happiness is a Thing called Joe.'
Once Joe's able to go back to work, Georgia Brown starts having designs on him again. The Devils plot to let Little Joe win the lottery is hatched. At first it looks like its going fail. Little Joe can't read the telegram informing him about his windfall and throws it away. But Lucifer Jr. blows it in the path of sexy Georgia Brown who promptly delivers it to Little Joe at his home. Petunia's not home and Little Joe is relaxing in a hammock. Georgia Brown tries hard to tempt Little Joe to make love and a kiss is interupted when Joe's conscious catches up with him thanks to the prodding of The General who's watching over him for his six month reprieve. It's then that Georgia Brown reads the telegram and tells him that he's won the lottery. Little Joe is happy and tells Georgia Brown that he's going to buy her things like a fur coat as thanks. That's when Petunia comes back and overhears. Petunia is so enraged at Georgia Brown's presence that she kicks them both out. She is tearful and heartbroken that the man she loves has been unfaithful to her.
Cut to six month's from the day of Little Joe's injury. The great band Leader Duke Ellington and his band are playing at Jim Henry's Club thanks to Litte Joe's bankroll. Little Joe shows up in his chauffeur driven car with Georgia Brown. He's in a tuxedo complete with top hat, tails and a fancy cane. Georgia Brown is in a fancy dress that one patron says 'will still be in style one hundred years from now'. Showing her morals she exposed her fancy and expensive underwear for all to see.
Domino Johnson shows up at the Club to celebrate his release from jail
for injuring Little Joe. In a complete change of character Petunia shows up at the Club all dolled up in fancy clothes. Petunia makes it clear to Little Joe that he's going to pay for them. Little Joe is so fascinated at Petunia's beauty, saying ' he didn't know'. Petunia also tells him that he's going to hear from her lawyer to get her share of the money. Petunia even drinks liquor ordering a 'double King Kong'.
There's a showdown between Georgia Brown and Petunia for Little Joe's affection. Georgia Brown tells Little Joe to watch what he says to his wife. Petunia fires back saying that "She is still his wife and has the inside track!" The showdown gets even more interesting when Petunia thanks Domino for almost killing her husband and then dances him. She dances and kicks her leg up high showing that big women can be sexy too. Petunia's conscious and God fearing nature catches up to her when Domino starts making advances on her caressing and hugging her. Jealousy and the urge to protect Petunia overtake Little Joe and he fights once again with Domino.
Petunia calls for the Lord's intervention who sends a tornado emptying and destroying the Club, but in the process both Petunia and Little Joe are fatally wounded. At the gates of Heaven , The General tells them that only Petunia can go to heaven, but Petunia once again pleads for Joe to go as well. She points out that it was her behavior that caused the disaster. Petunia is forgiven by Little Joe is not.
It looks like he won't be entering heaven until we hear that Georgia Brown has repented and gave everything she owned including most of Little Joe's money to the church. In the end they both are allowed into heaven. Its during the climb of the stairway to heaven that Little Joe awakes out of his coma. Turns out the past six months have all be a horrible dream.
Little Joe swears off gambling forever and asks for his dice and lottery ticket to be destroyed. Viewers are left feeling that Petunia and Little Joe lived happily ever after.
The film was directed by legendary Director Vincent Minnelli. It's also a rare chance to see the talents of black entertainers of the time. One can only imagine the competition for roles in this film. It's too bad that Hollywood didn't make more black movies, in its early years. It was a time when the only roles for Blacks in Hollywood were idiots, maids and butlers and hired hands.
Overall, on talent, Cabin in the Sky makes us long for more. On story, the film is one with a message that transcends time and race.
Little Joe doesn't deserve to have a loving devoted wife like Petunia. She's God fearing and wants him to repent and stop his gambling habits, besides that its no secret he's had an affair with town beauty, Georgia Brown (Lena Horne).
One day Petunia convinces Little Joe to go to Church. While in Church his gambling buddies Lucius (Rex Ingram), and Jim Henry (Ernest Whitman), get him to sneak out and play a game of dice with Domino Johnson (John William Sublett). Little Joe is seriously wounded when Domino attacks him for cheating.
Little Joe is taken home in a coma and even the doctor is unsure if he'll pull through. Petunia prays for Little Joe's salvation. It's during this time that the Lord's Army, led by The General (Kenneth Spencer) and Devil's from Hell led by the Devil's son Lucius Jr. fight for Little Joe's soul. Because of Petunia's 'powerful prayers' he's given another chance by God, six more months to live. There's a catch, during that time he must be good in order to get into heaven otherwise he's anxiously awaited in Hell.
When Little Joe awakes he has no memory of what happened. His wife Petunia takes care of him faithfully. Their love is highlighted by musical numbers like 'Cabin in the Sky' and 'Happiness is a Thing called Joe.'
Once Joe's able to go back to work, Georgia Brown starts having designs on him again. The Devils plot to let Little Joe win the lottery is hatched. At first it looks like its going fail. Little Joe can't read the telegram informing him about his windfall and throws it away. But Lucifer Jr. blows it in the path of sexy Georgia Brown who promptly delivers it to Little Joe at his home. Petunia's not home and Little Joe is relaxing in a hammock. Georgia Brown tries hard to tempt Little Joe to make love and a kiss is interupted when Joe's conscious catches up with him thanks to the prodding of The General who's watching over him for his six month reprieve. It's then that Georgia Brown reads the telegram and tells him that he's won the lottery. Little Joe is happy and tells Georgia Brown that he's going to buy her things like a fur coat as thanks. That's when Petunia comes back and overhears. Petunia is so enraged at Georgia Brown's presence that she kicks them both out. She is tearful and heartbroken that the man she loves has been unfaithful to her.
Cut to six month's from the day of Little Joe's injury. The great band Leader Duke Ellington and his band are playing at Jim Henry's Club thanks to Litte Joe's bankroll. Little Joe shows up in his chauffeur driven car with Georgia Brown. He's in a tuxedo complete with top hat, tails and a fancy cane. Georgia Brown is in a fancy dress that one patron says 'will still be in style one hundred years from now'. Showing her morals she exposed her fancy and expensive underwear for all to see.
Domino Johnson shows up at the Club to celebrate his release from jail
for injuring Little Joe. In a complete change of character Petunia shows up at the Club all dolled up in fancy clothes. Petunia makes it clear to Little Joe that he's going to pay for them. Little Joe is so fascinated at Petunia's beauty, saying ' he didn't know'. Petunia also tells him that he's going to hear from her lawyer to get her share of the money. Petunia even drinks liquor ordering a 'double King Kong'.
There's a showdown between Georgia Brown and Petunia for Little Joe's affection. Georgia Brown tells Little Joe to watch what he says to his wife. Petunia fires back saying that "She is still his wife and has the inside track!" The showdown gets even more interesting when Petunia thanks Domino for almost killing her husband and then dances him. She dances and kicks her leg up high showing that big women can be sexy too. Petunia's conscious and God fearing nature catches up to her when Domino starts making advances on her caressing and hugging her. Jealousy and the urge to protect Petunia overtake Little Joe and he fights once again with Domino.
Petunia calls for the Lord's intervention who sends a tornado emptying and destroying the Club, but in the process both Petunia and Little Joe are fatally wounded. At the gates of Heaven , The General tells them that only Petunia can go to heaven, but Petunia once again pleads for Joe to go as well. She points out that it was her behavior that caused the disaster. Petunia is forgiven by Little Joe is not.
It looks like he won't be entering heaven until we hear that Georgia Brown has repented and gave everything she owned including most of Little Joe's money to the church. In the end they both are allowed into heaven. Its during the climb of the stairway to heaven that Little Joe awakes out of his coma. Turns out the past six months have all be a horrible dream.
Little Joe swears off gambling forever and asks for his dice and lottery ticket to be destroyed. Viewers are left feeling that Petunia and Little Joe lived happily ever after.
The film was directed by legendary Director Vincent Minnelli. It's also a rare chance to see the talents of black entertainers of the time. One can only imagine the competition for roles in this film. It's too bad that Hollywood didn't make more black movies, in its early years. It was a time when the only roles for Blacks in Hollywood were idiots, maids and butlers and hired hands.
Overall, on talent, Cabin in the Sky makes us long for more. On story, the film is one with a message that transcends time and race.