Crooklyn (1994)

From Spike Lee comes this vibrant semi-autobiographical portrait of a school-teacher, her stubborn jazz-musician husband and their five kids living in '70s Brooklyn.

Director:

Spike Lee

Writers:

Cinqué Lee, Joie Lee (screenplay),

Stars:

Alfre Woodard, Delroy Lindo, David Patrick Kelly

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alfre Woodard	...	Carolyn Carmichael
Delroy Lindo	...	Woody Carmichael
David Patrick Kelly	...	Tony Eyes / Jim
Zelda Harris	...	Troy
Carlton Williams	...	Clinton
Sharif Rashed	...	Wendell
Tse-Mach Washington	...	Joseph
Christopher Knowings	...	Nate
José Zúñiga	...	Tommy La La
Isaiah Washington	...	Vic
Ivelka Reyes	...	Jessica
Spike Lee	...	Snuffy
N. Jeremi Duru	...	Right Hand Man
Frances Foster	...	Aunt Song
Norman Matlock	...	Clem

Storyline

From Spike Lee comes this vibrant semi-autobiographical portrait of a school-teacher, her stubborn jazz-musician husband and their five kids living in '70s Brooklyn.

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Plot Keywords:

semi autobiographical | dog | domineering mother | poverty | 1970s | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for drug content

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 May 1994 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$14,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$13,640,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, Child Hood Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to Delroy Lindo, he was very intimidated by working with children as had not worked with children before and did not have his own children at the time.

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Goofs

In the beginning of the movie, Troy is playing stick ball wearing moccasin shoes, in the next scene, she is still wearing the moccasin shoes.

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Quotes

Carolyn Carmichael: Damn it, Woody, you bounced another check.
Woody Carmichael: I thought we had it covered. I'll get some money.
Carolyn Carmichael: When?
Woody Carmichael: When? What do you think I'm doing right here? Gem, Let me just finish this music.
Carolyn Carmichael: That's what I've always done. The problem is your music's not bringing anything into the house but music.
Woody Carmichael: Gem, the money will come.
Carolyn Carmichael: I'm waiting. I'm back teaching school again, and I am waiting, Woody.
Woody Carmichael: Just keep doing what you're doing, Gem. Now you know it wasn't always like this. I made money before. I'll make ...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

The closing credits play over old footage of several episodes of "Soul Train".

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Connections

Referenced in Stolen Summer (2002)

User Reviews

On the verge of classic

This was the first movie done by Spike Lee that I have ever seen, and I saw this movie by accident. Out of all of his films, why is this one of the least known? It is worth seeing, because so many things work. It's definitely one of the most thematic movies I have ever seen, and I can definitely relate to many of Spike Lee's memories. It is sad, but it is also hopeful. Alfre Woodard was awesome, and I definitely think that she is one of the best unrecognized actresses in the US today. Delroy Lindo played his character well too. The relationship between Troy and her brothers was especially memorable and so universal! The best scenes in the movie showcase the children in front of the television. This movie was on the verge of greatness but it didn't capture it just because some parts of the movie were melodramatic and drawn out. The movie itself was about 15 minutes too long.