Vincente Minnelli’s musical Cabin in the Sky is remarkable for featuring a cast comprised entirely of African American performers in 1943. This morality tale about a gambler whose soul is being fought over by the forces of heaven and hell has touches of a comic Faust about it, and the central relationships are an absolute delight to watch unfold. Even in this early work, Minnelli finds ways to keeps his camera gliding across the set, keeping the energy buoyant and light. And this is one of the few musicals of its time to feature music that moves that helps tell the story. While the film manages avoids some of the more exaggerated stereotypes of African American characters found in more mainstream Hollywood fare, the film does come close enough to caricature to be uncomfortable and problematic. Still, no matter how much these performers were boxed in by the conventions and expectations of the day, their brilliance and talent shine through.