Stormy Weather (1943)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Andrew L. Stone

Writers:

Jerry Horwin (story)
Frederick J. Jackson (screenplay)

Release Date:

17 November 1943 (Sweden)

Genre:

Musical

Plot:

The relationship between an aspiring dancer and a popular songstress provides a retrospective of the great African American entertainers of the early 1900s.

Plot Keywords:

African American | Dancer | Singer | Beautiful Woman

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Lena Horne	...	Selina Rogers
Bill Robinson	...	Bill Williamson
Cab Calloway	...	Himself
Katherine Dunham	...	Herself
Fats Waller	...	Himself
Fayard Nicholas	...	Himself (as Nicholas Brothers)
Harold Nicholas	...	Himself (as Nicholas Brothers)
Ada Brown	...	Herself
Dooley Wilson	...	Gabe Tucker
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson	...	(scenes deleted)
Zutty Singleton

Runtime:

USA:78 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

UK:U | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:Approved (certificate #9101)

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

This was Fats Waller's last screen performance. On December 15, 1943, less than five months after the film's July 21 opening in Manhattan, Mr. Waller, age 39, died of pneumonia on a train stopped at Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri. Having fallen ill during an engagement at the Zanzibar Room in Hollywood, he had boarded the Santa Fe Chief in Los Angeles and was headed for New York City.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: The first time Selena says "Bill Williamson" (in the first scene, before her character has met him) her mouth quite clearly says "Bill Robinson. Bill Robinson played Bill Williamson.

Movie Connections:

Edited into American Pop (1981)

Soundtrack:

STORMY WEATHER

singin in the rain

A sensational treat for anyone who does NOT love musicals to re wire their brain into why 40s dance musicals are often a major discovery. In Australia in 1944 - and I am sure many other Anglo countries, this awesome musical was NOT released! It was considered 'not for us' by the dim censorship board of the time. It was seen in a major release in Sydney in the late 80s and scored a bullseye with modern audiences immediately. Other commenters here will fill you in on the storyline and some sneer pointlessly, but take the general consensus that this is the major showcase of black talent on film from the time. Seen in a cinema the audience nearly loses their mind (and seats ) during the finale with the Nicholas Brothers. I like the woman listed here who showed it to high school kids who loved it...and that is the real test of a great old' film. I have had the same unforgettable experience in cinemas showing this film. It is absolute dynamite! Teenage boys especially watching this get the shock of their young minds at a genuine 1943 rap scene on board a paddleboat. The 90s rap performer EEK-A-MOUSE definitely got his look from this film!