Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970)

Two Harlem cops investigate a robbery, believing that a reverend has staged it in order to steal the money he's collected for a local fundraiser.

Director:

Ossie Davis

Writers:

Chester Himes (based upon the novel by), Arnold Perl (screenplay)

Stars:

Godfrey Cambridge, Raymond St. Jacques, Calvin Lockhart

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Godfrey Cambridge	...	Grave Digger Jones
Raymond St. Jacques	...	Coffin Ed Johnson
Calvin Lockhart	...	Rev. Deke O'Malley
Judy Pace	...	Iris
Redd Foxx	...	Uncle Budd / Booker Washington Sims
Emily Yancy	...	Mabel
John Anderson	...	Capt. Bryce
Lou Jacobi	...	Goodman
Eugene Roche	...	Lt. Anderson
J.D. Cannon	...	Calhoun
Mabel Robinson	...	Billie
Dick Sabol	...	Jarema
Cleavon Little	...	Lo Boy
Teddy Wilson	...	Barry (as Theodore Wilson)
Maxwell Glanville	...	Caspar

Storyline

Gravedigger Jones and Coffin Ed Johnson are two black cops with a reputation for breaking the odd head. Both are annoyed at the success of the Reverend Deke O'Mailey who is selling trips back to Africa to the poor on the installment plan. When his truck is hijacked and a bale of cotton stuffed with money is lost in the chase, Harlem is turned upside down by Gravedigger and Coffin Ed, the Reverend, and the hijackers. Much of the humor is urban black, which was unusual in 1970.

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Plot Keywords:

pool hall | cigar smoking | shoulder holster | shoulder | shot with flare gun | 

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Taglines:

Introducing COFFIN ED and GRAVEDIGGER, two detectives only a mother could love.

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Crime

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Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

MGM

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 May 1970 (USA)

Also Known As:

Le casse de l'oncle Tom

Filming Locations:

Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,200,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Formosa Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (DeLuxe Color)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Included among the American Film Institute's 2000 list of the 500 movies nominated for the Top 100 Funniest American Movies.

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Goofs

When Jarema puts on the paper bag, there is only one hole cut out - for his nose. Moments later, when he runs out into the hall, the bag now has eyeholes as well.

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Quotes

Coffin Ed: White guys?
Gravedigger Jones: White guys? They had on masks. How did you know they were white?
Lo Boy: [crying] Oh Lordy, help me!
Coffin Ed: I'm asking you. How do you know they was white?
Lo Boy: They run white, dammit.

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Connections

Referenced in Parkinson: Episode #4.15 (1974)

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Soundtracks

Ed and Digger
(uncredited)
Written and performed by Galt MacDermot

User Reviews

Funny, energetic cop movie from Ossie Davis

Based on a novel by Chester Himes, Cotton Comes to Harlem boasts sharp dialogue and super performances from top to bottom. Cult favorites Calvin Lockhart and Redd Foxx are great, but the real fire belongs to the sublime Godfrey Cambridge as wise police detective Gravedigger Jones. The colorful story follows Gravedigger and his partner Coffin Ed Johnson (Raymond St. Jacques) as they keep tabs on charlatan evangelist Lockhart during his high-octane revival campaign. The film has solid action, but is also very funny. Upon seeing it, one will wonder why Cambridge never became a much bigger star.