Ep855: There's No Stalgia Like Nostalgia: CABIN IN THE SKY (1943)
Ian and Pat kick off a year of anniversary movies with a look at 1943's Cabin in the Sky!
Vincente Minnelli's big-screen adaptation of the hit Broadway play was also the first all-Black feature from a major movie studio. In this musical dramedy, hardcore gambler "Little Joe" Jackson (Eddie "Rochester" Anderson) is mortally wounded during a dice game; his wife, Petunia (Ethel Waters), prays for his soul--resulting in a wager between Heaven and Hell as to whether or not Little Joe would turn his life around if given another six months on earth.
Featuring supporting performances from Louis Armstrong, Butterfly McQueen, Mantan Moreland, and a musical guest spot by Duke Ellington, Cabin in the Sky is a vibrant and visually inventive morality play that really got Ian and Pat talking.
From its deft handling of faith-based material; to its place in pop cultural and civil rights history; and its various connections to Gone with the Wind, the film sparks a lot of discussion points that the guys may revisit throughout the year!
Show Links:
Watch the Cabin in the Sky trailer.
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