Product: Stormy Weather [VHS] (1980)
Rating: 4.0
Stormy Weather? Not with all this Sunshine!
"Stormy Weather" is a musical extravaganca that still enthralls today after more than 65 years after its' intial release.This picture also has turned into a valuable musical historical treasure,showcasing some of the best black talents of the 20th Century.It is like an animated museum piece but there's no dust or relics here,brother.This film is still alive and vibrant and each performance still gives out and has as much to say now as it did in 1943.The plot is a trifle to be sure.The star Bill Robsinson is sitting on his front porch with some young relatives reminiscing about his career,which is told in extended flashbacks.Each flashback is filled with various musical numbers by his co-stars and/or himself.This continues unabated until the pictures' closing moments.The producer and director give all acts ample time to showcase their talents throughout and in most cases are given at least two numbers each;in Bill Robsinsons'and Lena Hornes' cases it is multiple numbers.Of course we all know the legend of Bill Robinson,his superior terpsichorean abilities and the inspiration he gave(and still gives)to so many dancers throughout the years,both black and white.Lena Horne was just coming into her own and she is showcased beautifully throughout the film with several numbers to her credit.Each song is sung in her intimitable style along with the famous title song.Several other acts appear here,some well known others not.The vaudeville team of Miller and Lyles puts in a funny appearance doing their broken down car sketch.The background group of dancers are the Katherine Dunham Dance Troupe.Katherine herself sings and leads the troupe visibly in every number.Legendary Fats Waller drops by to sing a song with famous songstress Ada Brown and one with his band.After witnessing Bill deck a rival for Lena's hand,Fats utters his famous line"One never knows do one".It's a delight.Cab Calloway is on hand to lend some "jumpin' jive'" to the proceedings in his patented zoot suit and his band is definitely hot.Near the end of the film come the dancers with no peer The Nicholus Brothers.And as usual they absolutely astound with their acrobatics on the dance floor.A phenomenon and a force of nature;when they're on they literally stop the picture.Throughout the film Dooley Wilson, fresh off his high profile appearance singing "As Time Goes By" in Casablanca,is on hand as Bill Robsinsons' old friend.Technically the print used in this transfer does have its' flaws and in some spots more than others and could have used a bit better clean up.But all in all it's more than adequate.Included with this is an audio commentary and two things you are not told about elsewhere.First is a folded insert by tv writer Sylvia Stoddard on the film and four 5"X7" repro lobby cards,a nice touch.In concluding this is a film that will appeal to many,many different people on several differents levels.If you are a dancing fan you will love Katherine Dunham and her troupe along with the Nicholas Brothers and its star Bill Robinson.If you like good music there is Lena Horne,Cab Calloway,Ada Brown and Fats Waller.If you like musicals this has everything you could ever want."Stormy Weather" is 77 minutes of pure dynamite and a lasting testament to the talent involved.Get yourself a copy and bring some real sunshine into your life.