![Ethel Waters and Eddie Anderson lead an African-American cast in the classic musical, "Cabin in the Sky" (1943).](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_content_width/hash/1d/e5/1de50703318d638c4f3e1885620d6637.jpg?itok=5EuUDdEy "Ethel Waters and Eddie Anderson lead an African-American cast in the classic musical, "Cabin in the Sky" (1943).")
The Screening Room at the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library will present a free showing of the 1943 musical, "Cabin in the Sky," on Sunday, February 3, 2013, at 2 p.m. The event, which is open to the public, kicks off a celebration of Black History Month.
Directed by Vincente Minnelli, "Cabin in the Sky" features an African-American cast of classic stars, including Ethel Waters, Eddie Anderson, Lena Horne, Louis Armstrong, Rex Ingram, Willie Best, and Butterfly McQueen. The Faustian story earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song for the number, "Happiness is a Thing Called Joe."
The African-American cast makes "Cabin in the Sky" a rarity in classic Hollywood, where black performers were typically stuck with supporting roles as domestic servants. Other films where African-American actors get to take center stage include "Stormy Weather" (1943) and "Carmen Jones" (1954).
The Screening Room series frequently offers free classic movies for public entertainment. Visit the library's website for more information about this and other upcoming events. The Florence-Lauderdale Public Library is located at 350 N. Wood Avenue in downtown Florence.
Jennifer Garlen writes as the Huntsville and National Classic Movies Examiner. Her book, "Beyond Casablanca: 100 Classic Movies Worth Watching," is now available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.com
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