.gif)
Stormy Weather (1943 film)
Encyclopedia
Stormy Weather is a 1943 American musical film produced and released by 20th Century Fox
. The film is one of two major Hollywood musicals produced in 1943 with primarily African-American casts, the other being MGM's Cabin in the Sky
, and is considered a time capsule showcasing some of the top African-American performers of the time, during an era when black actors and singers rarely appeared in lead roles in mainstream Hollywood productions, particularly of the musical genre.
Stormy Weather takes its title from the 1933 song of the same title, which is performed near the end of the film. It is loosely based upon the life and times of its star, dancer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson
. Robinson plays "Bill Williamson," a natural born dancer who returns home in 1918 after fighting in World War I and tries to launch a career as a performer. Along the way, he woos a beautiful singer named Selina Rogers, played by Lena Horne
in one of her few non-MGM film appearances (and one of only two films from the 1930s-40s in which Horne played a substantial role). The character of Selina was invented for the film; Robinson did not have such a romance in real life. Dooley Wilson
co-stars as Bill's perpetually broke friend.
Other notable performers in the movie were Cab Calloway
and Fats Waller
(both appearing as themselves), the Nicholas Brothers
dancing duo, comedy team Miller
and Lyles
, singer Ada Brown
, and Katherine Dunham
with her dance troupe. Despite a running time of only 77 minutes, the film features some 20 musical numbers. This was Robinson's final film (he died in 1949); Waller died only a few months after its release.
The film's musical highlights include Waller performing his composition "Ain't Misbehavin'
," Cab Calloway leading his band in his composition "Jumpin' Jive
," and a lengthy sequence built around the title song, featuring the vocals of Lena Horne and the dancing of Katherine Dunham. Horne also performs in several dance numbers with Robinson.
The movie was adapted by Frederick J. Jackson
, Ted Koehler
and H.S. Kraft
from the story by Jerry Horwin and Seymour B. Robinson. It was directed by Andrew L. Stone
.
In 2001, Stormy Weather was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry
by the Library of Congress
as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." It was released on DVD in North America in 2005.
.
The performance of a "cakewalk
," for example, features flower headdresses reminiscent of the Little Black Sambo
figures used in historical misrepresentations of Black American males.
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
. The film is one of two major Hollywood musicals produced in 1943 with primarily African-American casts, the other being MGM's Cabin in the Sky
Cabin in the Sky
Cabin in the Sky is a 1943 American musical film with music by Vernon Duke, lyrics by John La Touche, and a musical book by Lynn Root. The musical premiered on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theatre on October 25, 1940. It closed on March 8, 1941 after a total of 156 performances...
, and is considered a time capsule showcasing some of the top African-American performers of the time, during an era when black actors and singers rarely appeared in lead roles in mainstream Hollywood productions, particularly of the musical genre.
Stormy Weather takes its title from the 1933 song of the same title, which is performed near the end of the film. It is loosely based upon the life and times of its star, dancer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson
Bill Robinson
Bill “Bojangles” Robinson was an American tap dancer and actor of stage and film. Audiences enjoyed his understated style, which eschewed the frenetic manner of the jitterbug in favor of cool and reserve; rarely did he use his upper body, relying instead on busy, inventive feet, and an expressive...
. Robinson plays "Bill Williamson," a natural born dancer who returns home in 1918 after fighting in World War I and tries to launch a career as a performer. Along the way, he woos a beautiful singer named Selina Rogers, played by Lena Horne
Lena Horne
Lena Mary Calhoun Horne was an American singer, actress, civil rights activist and dancer.Horne joined the chorus of the Cotton Club at the age of sixteen and became a nightclub performer before moving to Hollywood, where she had small parts in numerous movies, and more substantial parts in the...
in one of her few non-MGM film appearances (and one of only two films from the 1930s-40s in which Horne played a substantial role). The character of Selina was invented for the film; Robinson did not have such a romance in real life. Dooley Wilson
Dooley Wilson
Arthur "Dooley" Wilson was an American actor and singer. He was born in Tyler, Texas, and is remembered as piano-player "Sam" who sings "As Time Goes By" at the request of Ilsa Lund in the 1942 film, Casablanca - the Sam in the famously misremembered line "Play it again, Sam" -- a phrase which...
co-stars as Bill's perpetually broke friend.
Other notable performers in the movie were Cab Calloway
Cab Calloway
Cabell "Cab" Calloway III was an American jazz singer and bandleader. He was strongly associated with the Cotton Club in Harlem, New York City where he was a regular performer....
and Fats Waller
Fats Waller
Fats Waller , born Thomas Wright Waller, was a jazz pianist, organist, composer, singer, and comedic entertainer...
(both appearing as themselves), the Nicholas Brothers
Nicholas Brothers
The Nicholas Brothers were a famous African American team of dancing brothers, Fayard and Harold . With their highly acrobatic technique , high level of artistry and daring innovations, they were considered by many the greatest tap dancers of their day...
dancing duo, comedy team Miller
F. E. Miller
Flournoy Earkin Miller was an African American composer, singer, writer, and actor who appeared in vaudeville with Aubrey Lyles as Miller and Lyles....
and Lyles
Aubrey Lyles
Aubrey Lyles was an African American songwriter, lyricist, and vaudeville performer, appearing with F. E. Miller as Miller and Lyles...
, singer Ada Brown
Ada Brown
Ada Brown was an American blues singer. She is best known for her recordings of "Ill Natural Blues", "Break O' Day Blues", and "Evil Mama Blues.-Biography:...
, and Katherine Dunham
Katherine Dunham
Katherine Mary Dunham was an American dancer, choreographer, songwriter, author, educator, and activist...
with her dance troupe. Despite a running time of only 77 minutes, the film features some 20 musical numbers. This was Robinson's final film (he died in 1949); Waller died only a few months after its release.
The film's musical highlights include Waller performing his composition "Ain't Misbehavin'
Ain't Misbehavin' (song)
"Ain't Misbehavin" is a 1929 song written by Thomas "Fats" Waller, Harry Brooks and Andy Razaf . Waller recorded the original version that year for Victor Records and also later performed the song in the 1943 film Stormy Weather. It was used in the off-broadway musical Connie's Hot Chocolates...
," Cab Calloway leading his band in his composition "Jumpin' Jive
Jumpin' Jive
"Jumpin' Jive" is a famous jazz/swing composition, written by Cab Calloway, Frank Froeba and Jack Palmer. originally recorded on July 17, 1939, on Vocalion Records, it sold over a million copies...
," and a lengthy sequence built around the title song, featuring the vocals of Lena Horne and the dancing of Katherine Dunham. Horne also performs in several dance numbers with Robinson.
The movie was adapted by Frederick J. Jackson
Frederick J. Jackson
Frederick J. Jackson was an American screenwriter. He wrote for over 50 films between 1912 and 1946. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and died in Hollywood, California.-Selected filmography:...
, Ted Koehler
Ted Koehler
Ted L. Koehler was an American lyricist.-Life and career:Koehler was born in Washington, D.C. He started out as a photo-engraver but was attracted to the music business, where he started out as a theater pianist for silent films. He moved on to write for vaudeville shows and Broadway, and he also...
and H.S. Kraft
Hy Kraft
Hyman Solomon Kraft , aka Hy Kraft or H.S. Kraft, was an American screenwriter, playwright, and theatrical producer....
from the story by Jerry Horwin and Seymour B. Robinson. It was directed by Andrew L. Stone
Andrew L. Stone
Andrew L. Stone was an American screenwriter, director, and producer. Best known for his hard hitting, realistic films, Stone frequently collaborated with his wife, editor and producer Virginia Lively Stone Andrew L. Stone (July 16, 1902, Oakland, California – June 9, 1999, Los Angeles,...
.
In 2001, Stormy Weather was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry
National Film Registry
The National Film Registry is the United States National Film Preservation Board's selection of films for preservation in the Library of Congress. The Board, established by the National Film Preservation Act of 1988, was reauthorized by acts of Congress in 1992, 1996, 2005, and again in October 2008...
by the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." It was released on DVD in North America in 2005.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack has been released on CD by 20th Century Fox references 7822-11007, though Sunbeam Records released the soundtrack on vinyl in 1976. This record included Lena Horne singing "Good For Nothin' Joe," a song that did not appear in the movie.Critical reception
Shane Vogel suggests that Lena Horne's and Katherine Dunham's performances of "Stormy Weather" in the film are, like Ethel Waters's performance of the song in The Cotton Club Parade of 1933, African American modernist critiques of American culture.Performance
The musical numbers in the movie contain elements of MinstrelsyMinstrelsy
Minstrelsy can refer to:* The music and poetry of the medieval minstrels.* The songs, dances, skits, and stagecraft of the 19th century American blackface minstrel show....
.
The performance of a "cakewalk
Cakewalk
The Cakewalk dance was developed from a "Prize Walk" done in the days of slavery, generally at get-togethers on plantations in the Southern United States. Alternative names for the original form of the dance were "chalkline-walk", and the "walk-around"...
," for example, features flower headdresses reminiscent of the Little Black Sambo
Little Black Sambo
The Story of Little Black Sambo is a children's book written and illustrated by Helen Bannerman, and first published by Grant Richards in October 1899 as one in a series of small-format books called The Dumpy Books for Children....
figures used in historical misrepresentations of Black American males.
External links
- Stormy Weather pictures gallery
- Review of Stormy Weather (1943) at TVGuide.com
- Several articles about Stormy Weather (in French)
- Five-minute sequence from Stormy Weather from Google Video. Fred AstaireFred AstaireFred Astaire was an American film and Broadway stage dancer, choreographer, singer and actor. His stage and subsequent film career spanned a total of 76 years, during which he made 31 musical films. He was named the fifth Greatest Male Star of All Time by the American Film Institute...
said this sequence, by the Nicholas Brothers, was the finest piece of tap dancing ever filmed.