A Rage in Harlem (1991)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Bill Duke

Writers (WGA):

Chester Himes (novel)
John Toles-Bey (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

3 May 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Plot:

A beautiful black gangster's moll flees to Harlem with a trunkload of gold after a shootout, unaware that the rest of the gang...

Plot Keywords:

Moll | Gold | Harlem | Gangster | Mortuary

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Forest Whitaker	...	Jackson
Gregory Hines	...	Goldy
Robin Givens	...	Imabelle
Zakes Mokae	...	Big Kathy
Danny Glover	...	Easy Money
Badja Djola	...	Slim
John Toles-Bey	...	Jodie
Tyler Collins	...	Teena
Ron Taylor	...	Hank
Samm-Art Williams	...	Gus Parsons
Stack Pierce	...	Coffin Ed
Willard E. Pugh	...	Claude X
Helen Martin	...	Mrs. Canfield
Wendell Pierce	...	Louis
T.K. Carter	...	Smitty

Runtime:

Spain:108 min | USA:115 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | Iceland:16 | Australia:R | Finland:K-16 | Norway:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Company:

Miramax Films

Trivia:

Features the policemen Coffin Ed and the Grave Digger, also seen in the previously released Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970) and Come Back, Charleston Blue (1972), both from the 1970's. Those films took place in the then contemporary 1970's (despite adapting novels written in 1965 and 1966, respectively). However, A Rage in Harlem takes place in the 1950's (when the novel was published).

Movie Connections:

Follows Come Back, Charleston Blue (1972)

One the best gangster films ever

Robin Givens stars in this brilliant action-comedy-crime-thriller flick about a gangster's moll, who after a bloody shoot-out in the beginning, flees to Harlem with a trunkload of gold. She later finds herself involved with a shy assistant(the always dependable Forest Whitaker). They predictably fall in love and pretty soon Givens' presumed dead boyfriend comes to town looking for her and the gold.

As my one line summary states it, this is one the best gangster movies ever made. In the vein of such gangster films like "The Untouchables" or "Hoodlum", "A Rage in Harlem" ranks pretty high up there. Director Bill Duke who directed Laurence Fishburne in the very stylish "Deep Cover" and the gritty "Hoodlum" is at the top of his game here. The 1950s setting really adds to the overall greatness of this movie.

Robin Givens is excellent and very beautiful in a role that seems almost perfectly suited for her. Forest Whitaker plays his role almost too good. Not only does fit his part but he looks it as well.

To sum it up, this movie is excellent. The direction, acting, and casting are all top notch.

10/10