Cabin in the Sky

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Cabin in the Sky

1943

1h 38m

Musical

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Popcornmeter

81%

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48 Reviews

80%

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1,000+ Ratings

When compulsive gambler Little Joe Jackson (Eddie "Rochester" Anderson) dies in a drunken fight, he awakens in purgatory, where he learns that he will be sent back to Earth for six months to prove that he deserves to be in heaven. He awakens, remembering nothing and struggles to do right by his devout wife, Petunia (Ethel Waters), while an angel known as the General (Kenneth Spencer) and the devil's son, Lucifer Jr. (Rex Ingram), fight for his soul.

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Critics Consensus

Cabin in the Sky's racial stereotypes are impossible to ignore -- but so are its irresistible musical numbers and brilliantly talented cast.

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Marjory Adams

Boston Globe

Dec 16, 2020

[Cabin in the Sky] is one of the most charming, entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable pictures that Hollywood has sent out in some time.

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Wanda Hale

New York Daily News

Dec 16, 2020

3.5/4

It is something for you to go out of your way to see and hear.

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Mildred Martin

Philadelphia Inquirer

Dec 16, 2020

The chief fault, it seems to us, is the unimaginative direction of Vincente Minnelli who never takes full advantage of the motion picture medium's facilities for creating fantasy... If Minnelli has fumbled his opportunities, Miss Waters has not.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Feb 10, 2024

3/4

Despite the tomfoolery on view, the story manages to build to a moving finale.

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Harry Levette

California Eagle

Dec 16, 2020

As a whole it is excellent entertainment, and has proven to be a fine vehicle for the talents and versatility of the notable cast.

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Moira Wallace

San Francisco Examiner

Dec 16, 2020

Ethel Waters has great emotional power not only in her singing of "Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe" and "Taking a Chance On Love," but in every gesture and mood she portrays.

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 22, 2026

Cabin In The Sky = a *4* star Movie!

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David K

@RT61474040 Sep 19, 2026

Just a lot of fun with a great cast of actors not to mention the music. I don't know why I'm only giving it 4.5 stars. It pushes 5, for sure.

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Horror fan 4

@Horrorfan4life Apr 22, 2026

An amazing movie that feature's a all black cast. Great songs sung by wonderful people drive this story about little Joe and all his bad habits. Tim Treakle

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Tamara K

@Tamarak Oct 8, 2023

One of the most enjoyable movies I have seen. Actually I have probably watched it four or five times. It's a pity that so many people never got to see it since it was originally banned in the south for having an all black cast.

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Thomas M

@TMProofreader Jan 27, 2019

The best, GREATEST musical romance movie ever made! With the best movie song ever sung: Happiness Is Just a Thing Called Joe!

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Jun 29, 2018

Really cute. Lena Horne, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and of course the main stars, Ethel Waters and Eddie "Rochester" Anderson with his wonderful scratchy voice. What a plethora of talent!

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Vincente Minnelli

Director

Busby Berkeley

Director

Ethel Waters

Petunia Jackson

Eddie "Rochester" Anderson

Joe Jackson

Lena Horne

Georgia Brown

Louis Armstrong

The Trumpeter

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Synopsis

When compulsive gambler Little Joe Jackson (Eddie "Rochester" Anderson) dies in a drunken fight, he awakens in purgatory, where he learns that he will be sent back to Earth for six months to prove that he deserves to be in heaven. He awakens, remembering nothing and struggles to do right by his devout wife, Petunia (Ethel Waters), while an angel known as the General (Kenneth Spencer) and the devil's son, Lucifer Jr. (Rex Ingram), fight for his soul.

Director: Vincente Minnelli, Busby Berkeley
Producer: Arthur Freed
Screenwriter: Marc Connelly, Lynn Root, Joseph Schrank
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Genre: Musical
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 9, 1943, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009
Runtime: 1h 38m

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