Stormy Weather (1943)

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

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:

The Nicholas Brothers' "Jumpin Jive" dance number was done in one take.

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:

Referenced in Be Kind Rewind (2008)

Soundtrack:

I LOST MY SUGAR IN SALT LAKE CITY

Rare Glimpse of Early 1940s Black Entertainers

Vaguely based on the life of Bill "Bojangles" Robinson himself, STORMY WEATHER offers the story of a WWI vet who falls in love with a singer--and under her influence goes into show business, only to find that their careers draw them in different directions. As a story, it is pretty slim stuff... but as a collection of musical turns by some of the early 1940s best black talent, it simply can't be beat.

Robinson was, of course, one of the truly great dancers of his era. Made late in his career, this film doesn't really manage to capture the scope of his talents, but he remains a constant joy to watch. A very young and remarkably beautiful Lena Horne also offers several enjoyable songs, including one that she would go on to perform with increasing sophistication and ultimately make entirely her own: the title tune "Stormy Weather." In addition to Calloway and Horne, STORMY WEATHER offers great performances by such under-filmed artists as Cab Calloway, Katherine Dunham, Fats Waller (performing his signature tune, "Ain't Misbehaving"), the brilliant Nicholas Brothers, and Ada Brown, as well as the popular comic actor Dooley Wilson. Expect nothing from the story or production values, but you won't be disappointed by this rare glimpse at some truly remarkable talents.

Gary F. Taylor, aka GFT, Amazon Reviewer