The Cotton Club (1984)

The Cotton Club was a famous night club in Harlem. The story follows the people that visited the club, those that ran it, and is peppered with the Jazz music that made it so famous.

Director:

Francis Ford Coppola

Writers:

William Kennedy (screenplay), Francis Ford Coppola (screenplay),

Stars:

Richard Gere, Gregory Hines, Diane Lane

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Gere	...	Dixie Dwyer
Gregory Hines	...	Sandman Williams
Diane Lane	...	Vera Cicero
Lonette McKee	...	Lila Rose Oliver
Bob Hoskins	...	Owney Madden
James Remar	...	Dutch Schultz
Nicolas Cage	...	Vincent Dwyer
Allen Garfield	...	Abbadabba Berman
Fred Gwynne	...	Frenchy Demange
Gwen Verdon	...	Tish Dwyer
Lisa Jane Persky	...	Frances Flegenheimer
Maurice Hines	...	Clay Williams
Julian Beck	...	Sol Weinstein
Novella Nelson	...	Madame St. Clair
Laurence Fishburne	...	Bumpy Rhodes (as Larry Fishburne)

Storyline

The Cotton Club was a famous night club in Harlem. The story follows the people that visited the club, those that ran it, and is peppered with the Jazz music that made it so famous.

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Plot Keywords:

jazz | orchestra | ethnic hatred | flapper | drive by shooting | 

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Taglines:

It was the jazz age. It was an era of elegance and violence. The action was gambling. The stakes were life and death.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Music

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

14 December 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cotton Club

Filming Locations:

5th Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$58,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$25,900,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Zoetrope Studios, PSO International, Totally Independent

Technical Specs

Runtime:

127 min 123 min (video)

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) Dolby (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The role of Vera Cicero was originally assigned to Brooke Shields. However she turned down the offer in order to study French Literature at the Princeton University.

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Goofs

When Dixie goes to ransom Frenchy there is a different amount of shaving cream on Mad Dog's face in every shot.

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Quotes

Vera: Mr. Flynn was a bootlegger. That's how they live in this world. Maybe one day you'll wise up, sap!

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Connections

Referenced in Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex, Drugs and Rock 'N' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood (2003)

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Soundtracks

"Ring Dem Bells"
Music by Duke Ellington and Irving Mills
Chimes: Gordon Gottlieb
Clarinet and Alto Sax: Bob Wilber
Baritone Sax Solo: Joe Temperley
Trumpet Solo: Lew Soloff
Trombone Solo: Joel Helleny
Vocals-Dave Brown

User Reviews

An absolute classic, the more times you watch it, the more you become mesmerised by it.

The first time I saw this movie I loved the music and dancing and appreciated the setting. I found it strange and couldn't follow it properly. I watched it a second and third time, partly to see the dancing again, and listen to the music, and the plot completely grew on me. I absolutely love this movie. It is complex, and extremely accurate in its portrayal of the time when gangsters owned stars. If you love jazz music and know a little about its history, you will be enraptured by this movie.

The acting is incredible, and highlights the subtle twists in the plot beautifully. The cinematography is done in a most expert fashion. Richard Gere and Gregory Hines are absolutely charming, and Diane Lane is perfect is Vera Cicero. Lonette McKee has one of the most beautiful voices you will ever hear, it is no wonder she received a Tony award. Any viewer will be surprised by the guest appearances including Nicholas Cage, Bob Hoskins, Lawrence Fishburne, and on-screen and real-life brother of Gregory, Maurice Hines. Not only one of Coppola's best, but one of the best of all time.