''Straight to Heaven'' is an American film released in 1939. It was produced by

Million Dollar Productions Million Dollar Productions was a movie studio in the United States active from 1937 until 1940. It was established to produce films with African American casts. It was a partnership between Harry M. Popkin, Leo C. Popkin and Ralph Cooper. Histor ...

. It was advertised as having an all colored cast. Arthur A. Leonard directed.

Sack Amusement Enterprises Alfred N. Sack (1898 –1969) was an American businessperson, newspaper publisher and the proprietor of film distribution, production, and the theater-owning business Sack Amusements. Biography Sack was born in Greenville, Mississippi. He worked ...

was the distributor. The story features a cabaret singer, her singer son, and the criminal underworld. The film starred

Nina Mae McKinney Nina Mae McKinney (June 12, 1912 – May 3, 1967) was an American actress who worked internationally during the 1930s and in the postwar period in theatre, film and television, after beginning her career on Broadway and in Hollywood. Dubbed ...

in her last major film role and Jackie Ward, a 12 year old performer from Harlem. Ward performs three songs in the film and McKinney one.

Cast

as Cabaret Singer Ida Williams * Jack Carter *Jackie Ward *

Lionel Monagas Lionel John Monagas (June 26, 1889 – September 3, 1945) was an American actor originally from Caracas, Venezuela. A member of the original Lafayette Players company of Harlem, he appeared in theatrical and film productions. Theatre credits ...

James Baskett James Franklin Baskett (February 16, 1904 – July 9, 1948) was an American actor who portrayed Uncle Remus, singing the song "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" in the 1946 Disney feature film '' Song of the South''. In recognition of his portrayal of Remus, h ...

References

{{Reflist American black-and-white films 1939 films