6.8/10
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The Cool World (1963)

| Crime, Drama | 27 February 1965 (Japan)
The Cool World Poster
Filmmaker Shirley Clarke ("The Connection") directs this powerful, stark semi-documentary look at the horrors of Harlem ghetto slum life filled with drugs, violence, human misery, and a ... See full summary »

Director:

Shirley Clarke

Writers:

Shirley Clarke, Carl Lee | 2 more credits »

Stars:

Rony Clanton, Carl Lee, Yolanda Rodríguez | See full cast & crew »
Reviews
1 win & 1 nomination. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rony Clanton Rony Clanton ... Duke (as Hampton Clanton)
Carl Lee Carl Lee ... Priest
Yolanda Rodríguez Yolanda Rodríguez ... Luanne
Clarence Williams III ... Blood (as Clarence Williams)
Gary Bolling Gary Bolling ... Littleman
Bostic Felton Bostic Felton ... Rod
Gloria Foster ... Mrs. Custis
John Marriott ... Hurst
Georgia Burke Georgia Burke ... Grandma
Marilyn Cox Marilyn Cox ... Miss Dewpoint
Jerome Raphael Jerome Raphael ... Mr. Shapiro
Mel Stewart ... Con-man
Joe Dennis Joe Dennis ... Douglas Thurston (as Joseph Dennis)
Ronald Perry Ronald Perry ... Savage
Bruce Edwards Bruce Edwards ... Warrior
See full cast »
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Storyline

Filmmaker Shirley Clarke ("The Connection") directs this powerful, stark semi-documentary look at the horrors of Harlem ghetto slum life filled with drugs, violence, human misery, and a sense of despair due to the racial prejudices of American society. There is no patronizing of the black race in this cinematic cry for justice. A fifteen-year-old boy called Duke is ambitious to buy a "piece" (a gun) from an adult racketeer named Priest, to become president of the gang to which he belongs, and to return them to active "bopping" (gang fighting) which has declined in Harlem. It is a clearly patent allegory of an attempt by Duke to attain manhood and identity in the only way accessible to him - the antisocial one. Written by alfiehitchie

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

violence | ghetto | harlem manhattan new york city | black american | new york city | See All (31) »

Taglines:

HOOKER! FUZZ! JUNK! RUMBLE! These are words that mean big trouble in... See more »

Genres:

Crime | Drama

Parents Guide:

Add content advisory for parents »
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Details

Official Sites:

Zipporah Films

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 February 1965 (Japan) See more »

Also Known As:

Die lässige Welt See more »

Filming Locations:

Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA See more »

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Cool World,Wiseman Film Productions See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Film debut of Gloria Foster. See more »

Connections

References Hemingway's Adventures of a Young Man (1962) See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why isn't this fantastic film available on dvd for purchase or rental and when will it be?
See more »

User Reviews

 
The Cool Word is a Ground Breaking Film
24 December 2007 | by limnetic – See all my reviews

The Cool World is the first film about Harlem that was actually shot in Harlem. Hanging the camera from the ceiling provides a very personal experience for the viewer. The viewer is there as a participant, not as a spectator.

The Cool World is a very much not a Hollywood looking film with fast moving, up close, scenes. Dark yellow hued interior scenes capture the true feeling of the dwellings of the gang members. Shirley Clarke has taken us into The Cool World.

Little known trivia, is that Wally Cox's wife acted in this film. Another little known piece of trivia is that, since she lived in the Chelsea Hotel during the time that Sid Vicious also lived there, Shirley Clarke was a consultant on the film Sid and Nancy.
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