- Directed by
- Minnelli, Vincente, American, 1903 - 1986
- Subject of
- Waters, Ethel, American, 1896 - 1977
- Anderson, Eddie, American, 1905 - 1977
- Horne, Lena, American, 1917 - 2010
- Armstrong, Louis, American, 1901 - 1971
- Ingram, Rex, American, 1895 - 1969
- Moreland, Mantan, American, 1902 - 1973
- Dandridge, Ruby, American, 1900 - 1987
- Ellington, Duke Orchestra, American
- Ellington, Duke, American, 1899 - 1974
- Bubbles, John, American, 1902 - 1986
- Polk, Oscar, American, 1899 - 1949
- Best, Willie, American, 1913 - 1962
- Owned by
- D.C. Public Library, American, founded 1896
- Date
- 1943
- Medium
- acetate film
- Dimensions
- Duration (Reel 1): 18 Minutes
- Length (Film): 650 Feet
- Duration (Reel 2): 39 Minutes
- Length (Film): 1400 Feet
- Duration (Reel 3): 33 Minutes
- Length (Film): 1200 Feet
- Caption
- Cabin in the Sky was the first 'All-Negro Musical" produced by MGM, starring Ethel Waters, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, and Lena Horne in 1943. The film follows Little Joe, played by Anderson, as he battles a gambling problem despite the pleads and prayers of his loving wife, Petunia. Framed as a classic "good verses evil" narrative, Cabin attempts to visualize the perils of sin and temptation in order to champion for pious living. The song from the film "Happiness is a Thing Called Joe" was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song.
- This film was a part of the Washington D.C. Public Library's circulating 16mm film collection housed at the Martin Luther King Jr. Central Library. The collection is particularly noted for the wide variety of African American and African diaspora content.
- Description
- A musical comedy with the title Cabin in The Sky. It consists of three (3) reels of black-and white 16mm acetate film with optical sound.
- The film follows Little Joe Jackson (Eddie Anderson) who has a gambling problem and is killed in a shootout with gangsters. While on his death bed, Little Joe is visited by agents of God and Satan who both entice him to heaven and hell respectively. God grants Little Joe six more months on Earth to prove himself worthy and enter heaven.
- Place used
- Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
- Place filmed
- Los Angeles, California, United States, North and Central America
- Collection title
- DC Public Library Film Collection
- Classification
- Time-based Media - Moving Images
- Type
- sound films
- black-and-white films (visual works)
- feature films
- 16mm (photographic film size)
- Topic
- Actors
- Film
- Hollywood (Film)
- Music
- Musical films
- Race films
- Singers (Musicians)
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Object number
- 2017.55.59.1abc
- Restrictions & Rights
- Restrictions likely apply. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




