Product: Stormy Weather [VHS] (1980)
Rating: 5.0
fine extravaganza with a feast for the eyes and ears
Stormy Weather gives us magical performance after magical performance after magical performance. The plot may be loosely based on the life of Bill Robinson; but the plot nevertheless remains rather thin--you watch this movie for the more than twenty musical song and dance numbers it contains. We see some of the greatest performances on film by Fats Waller, Lena Horne, Cab Calloway, Bill Robinson, Dooley Wilson and the Nicholas Brothers. WOW!The story begins when Bill Williamson (Bill Robinson) tells his life story in flashback to a group of children on the front porch of his home. Bill starts his story when he and his friends were much younger soldiers just back from World War I service overseas. Immediately Bill falls for Selina Rogers (Lena Horne) and although Selena likes Bill she certainly doesn't want to settle down. We also meet Bill's fast-talking friend Gabe, so ably played by Dooley Wilson.Selina continues in New York City show business as Bill goes down to New Orleans where he works in a club on Beale Street. It is in this club that we get such special moments: Fats Waller performs "Ain't Misbehavin'" and Ada Brown sings beautifully, too. Just by chance in walks Selina with her manager Chick Bailey (Emmett 'Babe' Wallace) and Selina convinces Chick to give Bill a part in their show opening in Chicago. Well, Bill gets the job all right--but it doesn't exactly last.The story moves along, telling how Bill and Selina go their different ways in show business. The remarkably thin plot, even for a 1940s Hollywood musical, gives the producers of this movie just enough reason to showcase incredible, stunning performances by Cab Calloway and his band. We also get Lena Horne singing "Stormy Weather;" and the Nicholas Brothers dance up a storm with a dance number the likes of which I simply never saw before in my life. Lena also sings "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" and we get so much more, too.Of course, the ending is somewhat predictable. However, even the happy ending is subordinate to the way they deliver the happy ending. There is so much levity with Cab Calloway, Bill Robinson and Lena Horne that you just couldn't be blue watching THIS ending!The stunning choreography never stops nor do the dancers ever miss a beat. The cinematography works wonders in the numerous scenes in which dozens of dancers on the stage are all pictured in one screen. Excellent!Stormy Weather was filmed in glorious black and white. I think it enhances the artistic quality of this motion picture.The main DVD extra is an optional audio commentary by Dr. Todd Boyd, Professor of Critical Studies at USC. You get a couple of previews for other films on DVD as well.Stormy Weather remains one of the greatest musicals of the entire twentieth century. No matter how many times I watch this film something new always pops out at me that I never noticed before. I could watch the Nicholas Brothers dance a million times over and never be bored. Moreover, Bill Robinson and Lena Horne turn in flawless performances.I highly recommend this film for fans of classic musicals from Hollywood's golden era; and people who are fond of African American cinema will be delighted with this masterpiece. It is extremely rare that so much talent is packed into a single film; and any film student would do well to study this piece as a prime example of a fine motion picture.Enjoy!