Benalto Film Series with Beaufield Berry

The Benalto Film Series brings the classics back to life with screenings of films from the Criterion Collection between 1921-1971, curated by local filmmakers, movie buffs and historians. After the screening they will lead us through conversation and audience talk backs on the films that made Hollywood blossom.

This month we’re sitting down with local playwright and historical film enthusiast, Beaufield Berry.

Beaufield’s Film of Choice: Cabin in the Sky

Cabin in the Sky is a 1943 American musical film based on the 1940 Broadway musical of the same name. The first feature film directed by Vincente Minnelli,[2] Cabin in the Sky features an all-black cast[2] and stars Ethel Waters, Eddie “Rochester” Anderson and Lena Horne. Waters and Rex Ingram reprise their roles from the Broadway production as Petunia and Lucifer Junior, respectively. The film was Horne’s first and only leading role in an MGM musical. Louis Armstrong is also featured in the film as one of Lucifer Junior’s minions, and Duke Ellington and his Orchestra have a showcase musical number in the film.

In 2020, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.