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

On a Clear Day You Can See Forever film on DVD

She's back. And the hair, nails, the glamorous costumes, and the nose are all still intact from Barbra Streisand's last appearance in my Year, Funny Girl. The film version of On a Clear Day You Can See Forever was released in 1970, about five years after the Broadway version opened. I'm going to need to find the album of the orginal cast, because all but the songs for Daisy and Marc are excised from the film. Marc was played on Broadway by baritone favorite John Cullum--all the more reason to listen to the cast album.

The time-shifting elements of the story work really well on film. How did they worked on stage? The supporting cast, including Jack Nicholson and Bob Newhart are grossly underutilized in the film.

I had heard the title song before, as well as the opening "Hurry, It's Nice Up Here" and "Come Back To Me". I liked the other songs, as well, although I missed hearing characters sing together, which they seem to have done in the stage version.

This film reminded me of two other Broadway shows: Lady in the Dark and My Fair Lady. The psychological aspects of the show are like the Weill, and the mentor/student relationship of the two leads are like the Lerner and Loewe.

On a Clear Day You Can See Forever

Music by Burton Lane

Lyrics and Book by Alan Jay Lerner

film directed by Vincente Minnelli

Cast: Barbra Streisand, Yves Montand, Jack Nicholson, Bob Newhart