Stormy Weather 1943

Posted on by womo



Stormy Weather is a 1943 American musical film produced and released by 20th Century Fox. I do not own any of this footage, but it is a gem of classic musical talents and many more young people should see it!!

The movie is considered one of the best Hollywood musicals with African-American casts during an era when African-American actors and singers appeared rarely in lead roles in mainstream Hollywood productions, especially ones of the musical genre.

It is based upon the life and times of its star, dancer Bill “Bojangles” Robinson. Robinson plays “Bill Williamson,” a talented born dancer who returns home in 1918 after fighting in World War I and tries to pursue a career as a performer. Along the way, he approaches a beautiful singer named Selina Rogers, played by Lena Horne in one of her few non-MGM film appearances. The character of Selina was invented for the film; Robinson did not have such a romance in real life.

Other notable performers in the movie were Cab Calloway and Fats Waller (both appearing as themselves), the Nicholas Brothers dancing duo, comedian Miller, singer Ada Brown, and Katherine Dunham with her dance troupe. Despite a running time of only 77 minutes, the film features some 20 musical numbers.

ENJOY! :]

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40 Replies to “Stormy Weather 1943”

  7. Thanks to whoever uploaded this great film. I first saw it when I was six years old and has never forgotten.that first experience of watching a "Black" film.

  8. so sad the world missed this era due to there stupid views,the talent and music lost,with the little found there talent shines above any white act, emagine what kind of music it would be now instead of the crap that's out there now and again mainly white people

  11. Really glad to be able to enjoy films like this wonderful piece of history. Although most were produced prior to my arrival I grew up with the music and was fortunate enough to see several of these performers on stage, (albeit in their later years) it is still a privilege to know that by what standards prevail today, these artists had class.

  14. Hollywood made a movie of Ray Charles played by Jamie Foxx, and a James Brown movie (Get on Up) played by Chadwick Boseman, yet nothing of Lena Horne who could perfectly be played by Alicia Keys. Still waiting Hollywood!!!

  16. "One Never Knows Do One?" Classic Fats, Glad he had a few extra months left until he past a few months after the movie.

  19. Love the simplicity of the "Golden Years"………. Lena Horne….. such a lovely voice.  To think of this fabulous era, with the magnificent lyrics and music……. and the "CRAP RAP" people listen to today…….  amazing!  From Filet to spoiled hamburger.

  21. This movie never slows down, it's one great performance after another. If I had been around in those days and gone to see it on the big screen I would have left feeling like I got a lot more than the price of my ticket.

  22. This was my mom's favorite movie I got it for her for Christmas. Interesting she wanted to be his wife not a housewife. It is still hard to get a person who loves to earn and spend their own money to settle down and take yours.

  27. Thank you for posting this invaluable (and luckily preserved on film) collection of talent from days gone by. I'd seen lots of bits and pieces of it over the years, without ever knowing they all came from this one wonderful film.

  30. Salt Lake City Blues and That Ain't Right are probably my favourites out of this film. The 40's sound like they sucked, what with the war and all, but this film certainly didn't.

  37. @16:59 we're given a glimpse at Horne's dancing abilities.  Hollywood missed a great opportunity in not exploiting those very skills.  Horne was marketable, and her dancing skills could have made it past conservative critics of the day.  There was still a lot of fine wine in that bottle.  I was fortunate to catch her at the old Coconut Grove in Los Angeles.  With peripheral vision you could've caught me out of the corner of your eyes.  Directly in front of Horne, however, was Mickey Cohen, with the best seat in the house.  Sometime thereafter, my day at work was ruined.  As I ran to catch public transportation, I briefly noticed the headline in the defunct Los Angeles Herald that Horne had run afoul of some racist at an eatery in Beverly Hills, The Luau, owned by the husband of Lana Turner and father of Cheryl Crane, later involved in a murder case that caught international attention.  I was not a happy camper!

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