Description: One of the most influential Soul Cinema pix ever to shoot onto the screen, Cotton Comes To Harlem spawned the blaxploitation boom by delivering a "refreshingly different detective action yarn with soul and humor" (Cue) and an unbeatable mix of "fast-paced adventure [and] comic lunacy" (Pacific Film Archive). Detectives "Gravedigger" Jones (Godfrey Cambridge) and "Coffin Ed" Johnson(Raymond St. Jacques) are on the case and in everyone's face when they investigate Rev. Deke O'Malley (Calvin Lockhart)a brother whose "Back To Africa" campaign is nothing more than a big scam forbigga' bucks. But when $87,000 of O'Malley's laundered cash gets stashed in a bail of cotton, Gravedigger and Coffin find they're not the only dudes suddenly interested in soaring cotton prices! Trailing the bale all over Harlem, the detectives come up against the mafia, the police, black militantsand more in an all-out dash to nab the $87,000 cashand to 86 anyone who stands in the way!
Amazon.com: Based on Chester Himes's novel, this film marked actor-writer Ossie Davis's directing debut. Godfrey Cambridge and Raymond St. Jacques play Himes's volatile police detectives, Gravedigger Jones and Coffin Ed Johnson, who are on the trail of white men who pulled an armed stickup at a Back to Africa rally in Harlem. The money belongs to the poor people who paid for a chance to return to the motherland--but was it really a stickup? Or is the flashy preacher at the center of the Back to Africa movement (Calvin Lockhart) involved in a scam to rip off his own people? The plot drags; the best part of the film are the performances (as well as spotting cameos by such actors as the then-unknown Cleavon Little) and the on-location shooting in parts of New York where a camera had rarely ventured previously. Redd Foxx shows up in a small part as a ragpicker that led to his role in TV's Sanford and Son. --Marshall Fine
How about ME? 'Am I Black enough for you?' That was the question the Right, Righteous, Reverend, Deke O'Malley asked of the people. I saw this when I was 14, in 1971 and have never forgotten it. Calvin Lockhart, Raymond St. Jacques, Godfrey Cambridge and the Drop-Dead Gorgeous...Judy Pace, made me sit in the State Theater and watch this at least 4 times running...right on my brother...Right On!!!
The cameo by Redd Foxx gave it a sense of legitimacy too, because as cool as he was, he was comfortable playing a junk man...didn't forget where he came from.
Great African American Movie A must see, funy, dramatic and a joy to watch, over and over agian. WOW! Made in the 70's, Awesome.
Semi-bore Pauline Kael was raising this film to a pedestal, claiming that it was a milestone of a so called "soul movies", exited with its humor and gusto. Well, one thing is sure: Afro-American ladies are really good-looking, guys are kinda interesting, there is some announcement of a "Super fly - Shaft" rocking gimmicks, but overall,it is semi-bore movie despite some surprising scene-solutions I've never seen before. Look up for the sequel, "Come Back, Charleston Blue", that one shakes the floor. Three stars with effort.
Very funny movie. One of those 70's classic films that is a must have in your dvd collection. It would be nice if they could release the sequel to this movie. "Come Back Charleston Blue" was just as good. I wonder what are they waiting on?
It Got Soul! Cotton Comes To Harlem is a movie produced in the time of Black Exploitation films. Fortunately, this movie doesn't fit the mode. It got a lot of soul and laughter. A very good cast.
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