This month marks the 75th anniversary of the release of “Stormy Weather” (1943), loosely based on the life of its star Bill “Bojangles” Robinson. The film, which was produced and distributed by 20th Century Fox, stars Lena Horne, whose character Selina was created for the film and sings the title song.
Co-stars include Dooley Wilson; F.E. Miller; the Nicholas Brothers; Ada Brown; Katherine Dunham and her dance troupe; and Cab Calloway and Fats Waller, who both appear as themselves. The story was written by Jerry Horwin and Seymour B. Robinson; and adapted for the screen by Frederick J. Jackson, Ted Koehler and H.S. Kraft. The film, originally titled “Thanks Pal,” was directed by Andrew L. Stone.
Bill Robinson is well known for his “stair dance” routines, including the one with Shirley Temple in “The Little Colonel” (1935), also released by Fox. “Stormy Weather” was Robinson’s final film, as he passed away in 1949. In 2001, the Library of Congress selected “Stormy Weather” to be included in the National Film Registry.
Please enjoy these select images for “Stormy Weather” from our photography, publicity and art collection:
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The Fox Archives is mandated to collect, catalog, preserve and make accessible the following assets of the 20th Century Fox studios: props, set decoration, photographs, art department and publicity materials from our film and television productions, and from the 20th Century Fox studio itself. We work primarily with internal Fox groups but also from time to time with outside organizations such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry.
