Cabin in the Sky (1943)
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- Passed
- 1h 38min
- Comedy, Drama
- 09 Apr 1943 (USA)
- Movie
A compulsive gambler dies during a shooting, but he'll receive a second chance to reform himself and to make up with his worried wife.
Directors:
Writers:
Awards:
- Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win & 2 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Ethel Waters | ... |
Petunia Jackson
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| Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson | ... |
Little Joe Jackson
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| Lena Horne | ... |
Georgia Brown
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| Louis Armstrong | ... |
The Trumpeter
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| Rex Ingram | ... |
Lucius / Lucifer Jr.
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Kenneth Spencer | ... |
The General / Rev. Green
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| John W. Bubbles | ... |
Domino Johnson
(as 'Bubbles' [John W. Sublett])
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| Oscar Polk | ... |
The Deacon / Fleetfoot
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| Mantan Moreland | ... |
First Idea Man
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| Willie Best | ... |
Second Idea Man
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Fletcher Rivers | ... |
Third Idea Man
(as Moke [Fletcher Rivers])
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Leon James | ... |
Fourth Idea Man
(as Poke [Leon James])
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| Bill Bailey | ... |
Bill
(as dancer Taking A Chance On Love)
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Ford Washington Lee | ... |
Messenger Boy
(as 'Buck' [Ford L. Washington])
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| Butterfly McQueen | ... |
Lily
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| Ruby Dandridge | ... |
Mrs. Kelso
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Nick Stewart | ... |
Dude
(as Nicodemus)
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| Ernest Whitman | ... |
Jim Henry
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| Duke Ellington Orchestra | ... |
Duke Ellington's Orchestra
(as Duke Ellington and his Orchestra)
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Hall Johnson Choir | ... |
Church Choir
(as The Hall Johnson Choir)
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Jules Adger | ... |
Specialty Dancer in Hell Sequence (uncredited)
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Doris Ake | ... |
Dancer / Jim Henry Paradise Patron (uncredited)
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Juliette Ball | ... |
Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited)
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Lennie Bluett | ... |
Dancer / Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited)
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Bernard Bradley | ... |
Specialty Dancer in Hell Sequence (uncredited)
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| Daisy Bufford | ... |
Dancer / Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited)
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Jas. Burch | ... |
Specialty Dancer in Hell Sequence (uncredited)
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Curry Lee Calmes | ... |
Specialty Dancer in Hell Sequence (uncredited)
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Rita Christiani | ... |
Specialty Dancer in Hell Sequence / Jitterbugger (uncredited)
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Vivian Dandridge | ... |
Dancer / Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited)
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June Decuire | ... |
Specialty Dancer in Hell Sequence (uncredited)
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Dorothea Durham | ... |
Dancer / Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited)
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| Duke Ellington | ... |
Duke Ellington (uncredited)
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Byron Ellis | ... |
Specialty Dancer in Hell Sequence (uncredited)
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| Joel Fluellen | ... |
Mr. Kelso / Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited)
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Louise Franklin | ... |
Dancer / Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited)
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William Gillespie | ... |
Soloist in 'Little Black Sheep' (uncredited)
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Suzette Harbin | ... |
Dancer / Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited)
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Avanelle Harris | ... |
Dancer / Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited)
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Kathleen Hartsfield | ... |
Dancer at Jim Henry's Paradise (uncredited)
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Maggie Hathaway | ... |
Dancer / Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited)
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| Juano Hernandez | ... |
Neighbour (uncredited)
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Cleo Herndon | ... |
Dancer / Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited)
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Lawaune Ingram | ... |
Specialty Dancer in Hell Sequence (uncredited)
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Bobby Johnson | ... |
Specialty Dancer in Hell Sequence (uncredited)
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Glenn Leedy | ... |
Boy in Church (uncredited)
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Meade 'Lux' Lewis | ... |
Whistling Solo in 'Take a Chance on Love' (uncredited)
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| Juanita Moore | ... |
Nightclub Patron / Churchgoer (uncredited)
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Tommie Moore | ... |
Dancer / Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited)
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| Jieno Moxzer | ... |
Specialty Dancer in Hell Sequence (uncredited)
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Florence O'Brien | ... |
Dancer / Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited)
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Roger Ohardieno | ... |
Dancer (uncredited)
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Neva Peoples | ... |
Dancer / Jim Henry Patron (uncredited)
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Amanda Randolph | ... |
Churchgoer (uncredited)
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Louise Ritchie | ... |
Specialty Dancer in Hell Sequence (uncredited)
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Henry Phace Roberts | ... |
Dancer / Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited)
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Carmencita Romero | ... |
Dancer / Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited)
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| Clinton Rosemond | ... |
Doctor (uncredited)
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| Archie Savage | ... |
Dancer / Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited)
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Edward C. Short | ... |
Soloist in 'Little Black Sheep' (uncredited)
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Johnny Thomas | ... |
Dancer / Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited)
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Ernestine Wade | ... |
Churchgoer (uncredited)
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Arthur Walker | ... |
Soloist in 'Little Black Sheep' (uncredited)
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Katherine Yorke | ... |
Woman in Audience (uncredited)
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Artie Young | ... |
Specialty Dancer in Hell Sequence (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Vincente Minnelli | ||
| Busby Berkeley | ... | (director: "Shine" sequence) (uncredited) |
Written by
| Joseph Schrank | ... | (screen play) |
| Lynn Root | ... | (based upon the book of the musical play by) |
| Marc Connelly | ... | (contributing writer) (uncredited) |
Produced by
| Arthur Freed | ... | producer |
| Albert Lewis | ... | associate producer |
Music by
| George Bassman | ... | (uncredited) |
| Roger Edens | ... | (uncredited) |
Cinematography by
| Sidney Wagner | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Harold F. Kress | ... | film editor |
Art Direction by
| Cedric Gibbons | ||
Set Decoration by
| Edwin B. Willis | ... | (set decorations) |
Costume Design by
| Irene | ... | (costume supervision) |
Production Management
| Gilbert Kurland | ... | unit production manager (uncredited) |
| Charles Levin | ... | unit manager (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Al Shenberg | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Hugh Hunt | ... | associate set decorator |
| Leonid Vasian | ... | associate art director |
Sound Department
| Douglas Shearer | ... | recording director |
| William Steinkamp | ... | sound (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Howard Shoup | ... | associate costume supervisor (as Shoup) |
| Gile Steele | ... | costumes: men's |
| Eugene Joseff | ... | costume jeweller (uncredited) |
Music Department
| George Bassman | ... | orchestrator |
| Vernon Duke | ... | music by |
| Roger Edens | ... | musical adaptation |
| Hall Johnson | ... | choral arrangements |
| John La Touche | ... | lyrics by (as John Latouche) |
| George Stoll | ... | musical director (as Georgie Stoll) |
| Barney Bigard | ... | musician: clarinet, tenor sax (uncredited) |
| George 'Red' Callender | ... | musician: acoustic double bass (uncredited) |
| Jimmy Maxwell | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Lee Young | ... | musician: drums (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Vinton Freedley | ... | produced on the stage in association with |
| Albert Lewis | ... | produced on the stage by |
| Al Hirschfeld | ... | poster designer (uncredited) |
| Millie Monroe | ... | stand-in (uncredited) |
| Archie Savage | ... | dance director (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1943) (United States) (theatrical)
- Regal Films (1943) (Canada) (theatrical) (as Regal Films, Ltd.)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1943) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (1943) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1943) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer A/B (1944) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1946) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1946) (Belgium) (theatrical)
- MGM Home Entertainment (1985) (United States) (VHS)
- Turner Entertainment (1986) (United States) (tv)
- MGM Home Entertainment (1999) (United States) (VHS)
- MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1999) (United States) (video) (LaserDisc)
- Warner Home Video (2006) (United States) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) (this picture made under the jurisdiction of)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Chronic gambler and carouser "Little" Joe Jackson is shot by Domino Johnson at Jim Henry's gambling club over an outstanding gambling debt. Little Joe's wife, the God-fearing Petunia Jackson, prays not only for her husband's mortal life, but also his eternal soul as she's afraid that if he dies now, he, despite not being an evil man, won't make it into heaven. As Little Joe is close to death, he is visited by agents of both the Lord and of Lucifer. They make a deal with him: they will give him six months to atone for the errors of his human life. Once back on Earth, he won't remember the deal but both the Lord and Lucifer will be watching over him, trying to get him to see things their way. As both sides try to get Little Joe's soul, they figure that some of the most powerful tools they have at their disposal are the women in Little Joe's life: Petunia on behalf of the Lord, and Georgia Brown, a gold-digging floozy, on behalf of Lucifer. As hard as both the Lord and Lucifer try to get Little Joe on their side, they don't factor into the equation human judgment, which turns some of their work against them. Written by Huggo |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Ethel Waters (Famed Torch Singer) See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $662,141 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | This film is generally credited with the first appearance of the "moon walk" dance step. It is performed by Bill Bailey, brother of Pearl Bailey. See more » |
| Goofs | During the nightclub fight between Domino Johnson and Little Joe, the gunshot he fires accidentally hits Petunia. She falls down on the steps of the staircase, where she drapes her right arm twice over the side. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in The Men Who Made the Movies: Vincente Minnelli (1973). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Li'l Black Sheep See more » |
| Quotes |
Petunia Jackson:
[after she runs Jim Henry and his crony off]
Oh, Lord! Please forgive me for backsliding, but sometimes when you fight the Devil you've got to jab him with his own pitchfork! See more » |