Cabin in the Sky
1943 · Movie · 98 min · ★ 6.5 · 80% critics
A compulsive gambler dies in a drunken fight and awakens in purgatory, where he’s sent back to Earth for six months to prove he deserves heaven. As he tries to do right by his devout wife, rival forces in the afterlife argue over his soul through temptations and tests.
Where to watch
Streaming on HBO Max — or rent from $2.99.
2 hours to watch.
Stream (included)
Rent
Streaming availability and prices may be inaccurate or change — verify with the provider before subscribing.
unSUB's subscription recommendations are informational only, not financial advice.
More value for your money
Similar titles, ranked by watch-hours per subscription dollar.
Details
- Years
- 1943
- Release date
- 1943-03-24
- Language
- English
- Runtime
- 98 min
- Critic score
- 80/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.5/10 (50 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a lighthearted, fantasy-tinged musical with angel-and-devil rivalry and plenty of singing and dancing; Not for you if you dislike older films with dated racial stereotypes or a moralizing, religiously framed storyline like in The Band Wagon or Broadway Melody of 1940.
Pros: joyful musical energy; standout performances; memorable songs | Cons: slow start; dated stereotypes; uneven tone
Themes
- angel
- prayer
- hell
- singer
- church
- gambler
Cast & crew
Ethel Waters
as Petunia Jackson
Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson
as Joseph 'Little Joe' Jackson
Lena Horne
as Georgia Brown
Louis Armstrong
as The Trumpeter
Rex Ingram
as Lucius / Lucifer Jr.
- KS
Kenneth Spencer
as The General / Rev. Greene
John 'Bubbles' Sublett
as Domino Johnson
Oscar Polk
as The Deacon / Fleetfoot
Mantan Moreland
as First Idea Man
Willie Best
as Second Idea Man
Directed by Vincente Minnelli