An uneven classic
Added 8/9/2009
Remembering this as a true period piece in film, "Stormy Weather", nonetheless is both delightful and difficult to view. It's standard black stereotyping does nothing to enhance a miserable plot and bad acting. Yet, performances by Fats Waller, Cab Calloway, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson and the impressive Nicholas brothers are wonderful. Lena Horne, sings her signature piece, "Stormy Weather", of course. If one can get past the dialogue, there is much merit in the film.
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A Historical Treasure! A Larger than Life collection of Black Entertainment!!!,
Added 5/29/2009
Stormy Weather is a larger than life collection of an all-singing, all-dancing biographical showcase of the very best of black entertainment in 1943- promoting music & dance & how the related importance & contribution is significant to the American Culture at large. It is classified as a historical treasure, & undeniable agreed to be within the top 5 of all-time best Black Films. Filmed & produced during World War II when segregation was pretty much legal in most cases- the movie represents a "time capsule", emblematic as a historical archetype with its problematic stereotypical racism indicative of the society of the time with its dehumanizing representation of Black People as an accepted tradition. The comical representation (of people) , conniving personalities, minstrel entertainment "Miller & Lyles (i.e.-"Amos 'n' Andy type mentality), hyper obese (jolly) individuals, "forced Africanism", & vaudeville entertainment, were strictly addressed (& denoted) only to Black Folks.
Stormy Weather is an All Star Cast showcasing quality black performers. The narrative of the film is to set up the performances of the stars. The scene set-up is only secondary to the performance showcases themselves, so instead of only snippets of great Black music & dance- the movie offers a plethora of excellent Black art. It may be understood that Stormy Weather perhaps may be viewed as a "music video within a video", thus the narrative is the vehicle to aid in the music videos only, & thus the plot is essentially unimportant. Accordingly then, the story is a bit illogical whereas the film set-up is from the perspective of Bill "Bojangles" Robinson looking back & sharing his life, career & accolades on his porch with the neighbor children, or perhaps (it might be) a love story between the characters on screen played by actors Bojangles & Lena Horne.
There were more than 20 musical numbers in the film, undoubtedly a "gem of a musical" offering such a wonderful range of performers of different genre. Notably- the divine Lena Horne, Mr. Bill "Bojangles" Robinson (Fred Astaire called Mr. Robinson the greatest dancer of all time {additionally in four minutes eight seconds Robinson tapped 1,984 taps- that's eight per second a noted record breaker}), Cab Calloway & his Band is a major contributor to the quality of this movie (Mr. Calloway {IMHO} has more charisma than Marlon Brando, Paul Newman, & Armando Desante TOGETHER {some of Cab's most brilliant archival footage is right in this film!!!!!}), The Nicholas Brothers did an incomparable stereo & synchronized tap dance # to Cab's "The Jumpin; Jive" including "leap-frog" full splits (almost raggedy-Ann like) & returns (across dining tables, throughout the bands tables, down a staircase) in a brilliant artistic fashion (smiling nonstop), right into a chorus finale of 55 men & women dancers/singers doing "My My, Ain't that Somethin'" (Reprise). Other notables are Thomas "fats" Waller "Ain't Misbehavin'," (he's got real cool {and exaggerated} facial expressions on film), Ada Brown singing "That Ain't Right" to Fats Waller Bluesy Piano Band. Katherine Dunham's dance troupe of 10 doing "Stormy Weather Ballet" (Katherine Dunham led a world-famous dance troupe) was graceful & spectacular. Of Course Lena Horne doing "Stormy Weather", is a hit, but she did 3 other numbers that included some smooth & beautiful dance steps.
Stormy Weather is just what it was intended to be- diverting entertainment in a wartime world. Perhaps the stereotypes are bothersome, the story a bit illogical, but the talent and passion of the performers and the caliber of the music make it all worthwhile- then & now. So much of quality is lost in today's world. It was a pleasure to view this movie 10 times this week. :-)
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Entertainment Is The Name Of This Tune
Added 4/30/2009
Music, not story, is the name of the game here.
"Stormy Weather" provides an avenue for black singers, dancers and musicians of the mid-1940s to show off their talents. Too bad it was that way but at least putting these acts on screen in a movie format wasn't just black folks "preaching to the choir." This film gave a lot of white people a chance to see some great talent they might never have seen and, hopefully, helped some of these entertainers in their careers.
Bill Robinson and Lena Horne are the stars of the film, or should I say the main entertainers. Robinson is wonderful to watch throughout. He's not just a great dancer but an extremely likable guy. He comes across that way, anyway, and has in every film I've seen him. Horne has a good voice and a pretty face that became famous for almost never aging.
Since I prefer a little more up-tempo, Fats Waller, Cab Calloway and The Nicholas Brothers filled the bill nicely. They were awesome.
What little story there is centers around Robinson's character trying to break into show business. En route are also some funny lines and characters.
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Disappointed
Added 4/2/2009
I bought this DVD because I missed seeing it at a local theatre that features old films, but I was disappointed in that the story wasn't good or interesting. However, I wanted to see the dancers, the Step Brothers - I think they were called, where they did that fantastic dance down the stairs. That was unbelievable! Also wanted to see beautiful Lena Horne, but disappointed that they didn't have her in beautiful gowns. So, other than the Step Brothers dancing, I was bored.
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Stormy Weather? Not with all this Sunshine!
Added 2/3/2009
"Stormy Weather" is a musical extravaganca that still enthralls today after more than 65 years after its' intial release.This picture also has turned into a valuable musical historical treasure,showcasing some of the best black talents of the 20th Century.It is like an animated museum piece but there's no dust or relics here,brother.This film is still alive and vibrant and each performance still gives out and has as much to say now as it did in 1943.
The plot is a trifle to be sure.The star Bill Robsinson is sitting on his front porch with some young relatives reminiscing about his career,which is told in extended flashbacks.Each flashback is filled with various musical numbers by his co-stars and/or himself.This continues unabated until the pictures' closing moments.
The producer and director give all acts ample time to showcase their talents throughout and in most cases are given at least two numbers each;in Bill Robsinsons'and Lena Hornes' cases it is multiple numbers.Of course we all know the legend of Bill Robinson,his superior terpsichorean abilities and the inspiration he gave(and still gives)to so many dancers throughout the years,both black and white.Lena Horne was just coming into her own and she is showcased beautifully throughout the film with several numbers to her credit.Each song is sung in her intimitable style along with the famous title song.
Several other acts appear here,some well known others not.The vaudeville team of Miller and Lyles puts in a funny appearance doing their broken down car sketch.The background group of dancers are the Katherine Dunham Dance Troupe.Katherine herself sings and leads the troupe visibly in every number.Legendary Fats Waller drops by to sing a song with famous songstress Ada Brown and one with his band.After witnessing Bill deck a rival for Lena's hand,Fats utters his famous line"One never knows do one".It's a delight.Cab Calloway is on hand to lend some "jumpin' jive'" to the proceedings in his patented zoot suit and his band is definitely hot.Near the end of the film come the dancers with no peer The Nicholus Brothers.And as usual they absolutely astound with their acrobatics on the dance floor.A phenomenon and a force of nature;when they're on they literally stop the picture.Throughout the film Dooley Wilson, fresh off his high profile appearance singing "As Time Goes By" in Casablanca,is on hand as Bill Robsinsons' old friend.
Technically the print used in this transfer does have its' flaws and in some spots more than others and could have used a bit better clean up.But all in all it's more than adequate.
Included with this is an audio commentary and two things you are not told about elsewhere.First is a folded insert by tv writer Sylvia Stoddard on the film and four 5"X7" repro lobby cards,a nice touch.
In concluding this is a film that will appeal to many,many different people on several differents levels.If you are a dancing fan you will love Katherine Dunham and her troupe along with the Nicholas Brothers and its star Bill Robinson.If you like good music there is Lena Horne,Cab Calloway,Ada Brown and Fats Waller.If you like musicals this has everything you could ever want."Stormy Weather" is 77 minutes of pure dynamite and a lasting testament to the talent involved.Get yourself a copy and bring some real sunshine into your life.
2 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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This Seller Sucks!!
Added 9/12/2009
I ordered this DVD along with some other items on the same day from different sellers. I never received this item and I contacted the company to let them know. They in turn responded saying that it had been shipped and delivered. I told them that maybe it had been delivered to the wrong address because I never got it. All of the other products I ordered on the same day had been shipped and received in a timely fashion. I have not heard anything from the seller since. I am glad that I did not pay much for this DVD. I will never order from this company again.
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Light View of Good vs. Evil
Added 9/12/2009
I saw this movie years ago and I loved the classic view of angel vs. devil. Little Joe is constantly in a personal struggle to do the right thing, but loses often to the dismay of his wife. Cabin in the Sky is a classic tale.
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Good triumphs evil
Added 8/10/2009
Like "Stormy Weather", an all-black film also from 1943, "Cabin in the Sky" is a period piece and must be understood in the context of its time. While the film could not be made today it is a timely reminder of the stereotypes black actors were forced to confront, yet "Cabin in the Sky" offers some tender performances, especially between the ever-wise Petunia (Ethel Waters) and the well-meaning but hapless Little Joe (Eddie "Rochester" Anderson). There is a warmth to their relationship and Waters renders some lovely songs, especially the famous "Taking a Chance on Love".
"Cabin in the Sky", Vincente Minnelli's debut as a film director, presents a contest between good and evil and the persuasions and choices we sometimes face. In this regard it has "Wizard of Oz" overtones, right down to the cyclone in each movie....they must have been the same! A hidden bonus is actor Kenneth Spencer, a noted bass/baritone of his day, who plays the part of the soulful reverend....his mellifluous speaking voice fine tunes each line he utters. Viewed in the historical sense, "Cabin in the Sky" is a fine film.
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