Broadway Melody of 1940--film on DVD

It's another Hollywood invention today. Broadway Melody of 1940 is the last of the three Broadway Melody films, and perhaps the most successful. It is primarily a dance film, although there are a couple of sung songs in the score, all of which is by Cole Porter, although they get short shrift compared to the wonderful dance offered up by the Queen of Tap, Eleanor Powell, and always-watchable Fred Astaire.

As Hollywood fluff goes, this is good stuff. There is nothing that is either heart-wrenching or remotely downbeat in the production. And the tap dancing is at times spectacular.

George Murphy displays a likable singing voice. The final production number is worth the wait. Filmed on a mirrored floor, it really shows off the crisp black-and-white photography. And of course everything ends happily for our hero and heroine.

Broadway Melody of 1940

Music and lyrics by Cole Porter

Released by MGM 1940

Cast: Eleanor Powell, Fred Astaire, George Murphy

Cabin in the Sky film version

Apparently there is nothin' that the love of a good woman can't overcome--sickness, greed, sloth, wickedness, and early 20th Century African-American vaudeville stereotypes.

I had run across the title of the show for years, but didn't know anything about Cabin in the Sky, so I was actually surprised to learn it was an all-Black show. Well, this show has not lasted the test of time, due mostly to its very strong religious theme and its out-dated Black humor--with a capital B, meaning the people, not a lower-case b meaning dark. Oh, golly there is no way to be truly sensitive about this, so forgive me if I offend.

The plot is a sort of a "It's a Wonderful Life" story, with Little Joe (Eddie "Rochester" Anderson) not being truly wicked, but rather often straying from the path his wife Petunia (Ethel Waters, reprising her role from the stage version) and the Lord would wish him to take. When Little Joe is shot in a gambling ring, his immortal soul is fought over between Lucifer Jr. (Rex Ingram, also from the stage version) and the General of God's Army (Kenneth Spencer). Lena Horne is the vixen whose honey in the honeycomb is a temptation to Little Joe.

The music is a mish-mosh of styles, including some spiritual-like numbers, big band songs, and novelty acts. "Taking a chance on Love" is the song from the score that's continued to have a life outside the theater.

Cabin in the Sky
Music by Vernon Duke
Lyrics by John LaTouche
Book by Lynn Root
MGM film released in 1943 based on the Broadway musical of 1940

Directed by Vincente Minnelli

Cast: Ethel Waters, Lena Horne, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, Louis Armstrong, Rex Ingram, Kenneth Spencer