Genius director Vincente Minnelli's debut remains a wonderful celebration of the talent of his all-black cast. It's also interesting showcase of the technique he would fully use later in his career in integrating musical numbers with plot seemingly effortlessly. While I do think the plot, the fight for the soul of Little Joe by the Devil and God, is a little thin and takes a while to heat up, there is plenty to enjoy in this film. Ethel Waters is quite astonishing as Joe's good wife, Petunia- what a performer! And Lena Horne sizzles (how often in the 40's did we get to see the back of a woman's bra? OK, it's hardly a big deal now, but I can't recall seeing anything like it in a 40's movie) as bad girl Georgia who could lead Joe into sin. Curious to see the DVD comes with a disclaimer that apologies for the racist attitudes prevalent in the time, and apparently evident in the film. Well, I do not question the prevailing attitudes of the age, but where are they present in this movie? I actually saw this film as a great celebration of African-American talent, not as a way of demeaning them or anything. Racist would be replacing the talented cast with white performers...and they didn't. I thought every cast member was portrayed with intelligence, even if the plot was simplistic.
Review of Cabin in the Sky
