Director: Vincent Minnelli
Screenwriter(s): Lynn Root (play) & Joseph Schrank
Starring: Ethel Waters, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, Lena Horne & Louis Armstrong
Genre(s): musical/fantasy
Premiere: April 9th, 1943
Run Time: 98 minutes
Producer(s): Arthur Freed & Albert Lewis
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
My Rating: ★★★★
Movie Trailer:
Storyline: Chronic gambler and carouser "Little" Joe Jackson is shot by Domino Johnson at Jim Henry's gambling club over an outstanding gambling debt. Little Joe's wife, the God-fearing Petunia Jackson, prays not only for her husband's mortal life, but also his eternal soul as she's afraid that if he dies now, he, despite not being an evil man, won't make it into heaven. As Little Joe is close to death, he is visited by agents of both the Lord and of Lucifer. They make a deal with him: they will give him six months to atone for the errors of his human life. Once back on Earth, he won't remember the deal but both the Lord and Lucifer will be watching over him, trying to get him to see things their way. As both sides try to get Little Joe's soul, they figure that some of the most powerful tools they have at their disposal are the women in Little Joe's life: Petunia on behalf of the Lord.
My Review: If you're looking for a great all Black casted movie, I recommend this one, but only if you like musicals as well. When you have two powerhouse voices in Ethel Waters and Lena Horne, how can you NOT expect there to be a song or two? Rochester is my favorite. I knew him from the many appearances he made in Charlie Chan movies and various other supporting roles that he never got nominated for back then but always left a lasting impression with me.
It's a simple story of good versus evil surrounding a highly susceptible man, who happens to be married to a God-fearing woman, willing to stand by her man no matter what. It's short, it's sweet, and worth giving a try since it is a movie TCM likes to play a few times throughout any given year.
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