Vincente Minnelli Director Busby Berkeley Director Ethel Waters Petunia Jackson Actor Eddie "Rochester" Anderson Joe Jackson Actor Lena Horne Georgia Brown Actor Louis Armstrong The Trumpeter Actor Rex Ingram Lucifer Jr., Lucius Actor Kenneth Spencer The General, Rev. Greene Actor John William Sublett Domino Johnson Actor Oscar Polk The Deacon, Fleetfoot Actor Mantan Moreland First Idea Man Actor Willie Best Second Idea Man Actor Fletcher Rivers Third Idea Man Actor Poke Leon James Fourth Idea Man Actor Bill Bailey Bill Actor Ford L. Washington Messenger Boy Actor Butterfly McQueen Lily Actor Ruby Dandridge Mrs. Kelso Actor Nick Stewart Dude Actor Ernest Whitman Jim Henry Actor Duke Ellington Self Marc Connelly Writer Lynn Root Writer Joseph Schrank Writer Arthur Freed Producer Albert Lewis Associate Producer Sidney Wagner Cinematographer Harold F. Kress Film Editing Harold Arlen Original Music Vernon Duke Original Music Cedric Gibbons Art Director Edwin B. Willis Set Decoration