Remake Cabin in the Sky - Cabin in the Sky (1943) Discussion

[–] stevehaynie 19 years ago

Sadly, many classics have also been remade as duds, too.

Cabin In The Sky has a perfect cast. The songs and the performances of those songs are wonderful. There is too much that can be lost in a remake. I would hate to see the movie "modernized" for today's audience.

It would be much better to release the movie as a DVD, but with a good promotion for its release. Cabin In The Sky really is a "must see" movie!

reply

[–] chemiche3 19 years ago

Considering the Horrible remakes of late, you've got a point.

But, I still think it could work if they really put the time into thinking it out and getting a cast with genuine talent and not just a big name.

reply

[–] aussie-20 19 years ago

Oh I think a total rap remake would be slammin' - consider the popularity of gospel musicals. The theme of the Good Woman praying her backsliding man out of Temptation is really workable.
I enjoyed the movie - it's not about acting or realism, it's just good storytelling and great musical expression, with a good jolt of sincerity and food for thought.

reply

[–] g_dekok 11 years ago

Not only NO, but heck NO.

reply

[–] johnd70978 18 years ago

CABIN IN THE SKY was a superb film featuring a superb cast. I wholly agree that Lena Horne, Ethel Waters, Eddie Anderson, Kenneth Spencer, Louis Armstrong, et al, gave definitive performances in the roles they played. Absolutely no one could top their talent and charisma. It might be worth undertaking, however, a CABIN IN THE SKY with perhaps an all-Asian cast. It could feature Anna May Wong and Myoshi Umeki in the title role with Victor Sen Yung in support. It's a shame that Jack Soo is no longer alive [as of this writing] to essay one of the principal roles as well. This time, though, I'd film it in color.

reply

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] macbug-1 18 years ago

They could not assembly a cast of that quality today, IF you could even get something that may work. Forget about duplicated the quality or talent of the original cast, with today’s super agents, and super stars the budget would be 800 million dollars. You would take years of retakes and the money people would have a stroke. Any female singer who thinks they could replace Lena Horne probably has a drug problem.

reply

[–] proverbialwife 18 years ago

I agree so much with you...especially about the dramatic budget increase for a renditon. I would probably be sitting on the couch pouting if I saw a commercial featuring in big bright letters and loud music, "An age-old classic brought to life..." Just imagining the females who would fill the roles of Lena Horne or Ethel Waters makes me cringe. Some things are better untouched. Be Blessed.

reply

[–] southbeachdiva 18 years ago

Ok, then how about this cast

Georgia brown- Alicia Keys or Beyonce (not a great choice in my eyes)
Petunia - Fantasia or Queen Latifah
Lil Joe - Rueben Studdard, he's not little, but he can sing. Or Carl Thomas, he needs a job!
Domino- Mos Def

But not hip hop. Straight R&B. Bluesy style. With the right Black director I think a remake could work. At least a remake of the concept, and not necessarily a tit for tat remake. How about a score by Babyface or another "sensitive" and talented songwriter. We just need positive movies so bad right now. I'd love to see a musical without rumpshaking. Maybe I'll write one!

reply

[–] jbwphoto1 17 years ago

This is an old post, but someone might see it. I could go for Queen Latifah playing Petunia. There's an episode of Living Single where she attends a party where a bunch of old guys say something to the effect she reminds them of Pearly Bailey, so I don't think playing Ethel Waters character would be much of a stretch.

reply

[–] bilsnod 16 years ago

Petunia- Have a Casting Call

Georgia Brown - Alicia Keys

Little Joe - Martin Lawrence

Domino Johnson - Wesley Snipes

reply

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] CaperGuy 16 years ago

Please, please, no remake of Cabin in the Sky. This cast is ageless, timeless and multi-talented and they deserve to be remembered for their performances. Rather than remake the film for younger audiences, we should encourage the young folk to watch the original version so they can see what entertainment really is and what talented actors look like. I routinely play the classics for my kids so they won't think a movie is supposed to be all about profanity, vulgarity, shoot-'em-ups and crashing and burning.

This film is definitely a product of its times but there again, it is good to see and understand how things were in the 1940s. I usually feel that movies from that era are generally more intelligently created and directed and they make for better entertainment than today's films.

As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. - Proverbs 23:7

reply

[–] sstarl1324 11 years ago

Remakes should be outlawed! Can you imagine how bad today's Hollywood would destroy this movie?

Remember Rabbit Ears with tin foil?

reply

[–] King_Of_Fuh 10 years ago

It should be remade note for note, same music, same arrangements, dance step for dance step, same dialogue, vocal inflections and accents, same facial expressions and affectations. The devil darker-skinned than the angel. All with today's technology.

It would be an international smash hit.

reply

[–] coldnaps 9 years ago

No, it likely wouldn;t. They probably WOULD cast Beyonce as GB, which would ruin the film already; she cannot act to save her life. But it would be tough to cast, period. The across-the-board talent of that level simply isn't there.

reply

[–] necoleman 9 years ago

I am formerly known as HillieBoliday....Member since May 2006.

I agree that they should not cast Beyonce as GB. She's already reprised the role of Carmen In "Carmen Brown a Hip Hopera."

But, however, I do think the talent is there. They probably would totally contemporarize it and change it completely! If they kept it in the setting and time frame just like the original, with the right cast; it would be very entertaining and a re-freshing change from what's out there now.

"OOhhhooo....I'M GON' TELL MAMA!"

reply

[–] coldnaps 9 years ago

I don't believe the talent of that level really isn't there beyond one or two people. And even if it were, putting Beyonce, Carey, Rhianna, etc -- in other words any mediocre talant -- in it would still destroy the film.

reply

[–] necoleman 9 years ago

I am formerly known as HillieBoliday....Member since May 2006

You're right....it definitely would not be the same. This is one of my favorites, and has been since I was 5 years old. I would hate to see it butchered.....like they did with the remake of 1939's, "The Women."

I only thought a possible remake with some of the visible talent we have today (excluding those mentioned above) would work and introduce it to the younger generations; if they kept it in same time, era, costumes, etc. But that IS NOT going to happen! There are quite a lot of young people today who appreciate the classics from the Golden Era of Hollywood; but for the most part.....most of them do not want to go back to 1943.

I guess it's best to leave well enough alone.

"OOhhhooo....I'M GON' TELL MAMA!"

reply

[–] coldnaps 9 years ago

I agree...leave italone. And yes, there are 2 groups of younger folks...those who are open-minded enough to appreciate older films, and those who ar so ignorant they think anything done more than 2 years ago is worthless.

reply