Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970)
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- R
- 1h 37min
- Action, Comedy
- 27 May 1970 (USA)
- Movie
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:
Writers:
Awards:
- 1 win & 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Godfrey Cambridge | ... |
Grave Digger Jones
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| Raymond St. Jacques | ... |
Coffin Ed Johnson
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| Calvin Lockhart | ... |
Rev. Deke O'Malley
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| Judy Pace | ... |
Iris
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| Redd Foxx | ... |
Uncle Budd / Booker Washington Sims
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Emily Yancy | ... |
Mabel
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| John Anderson | ... |
Capt. Bryce
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| Lou Jacobi | ... |
Goodman
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| Eugene Roche | ... |
Lt. Anderson
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| J.D. Cannon | ... |
Calhoun
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Mabel Robinson | ... |
Billie
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Dick Sabol | ... |
Jarema
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| Cleavon Little | ... |
Lo Boy
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| Teddy Wilson | ... |
Barry
(as Theodore Wilson)
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Maxwell Glanville | ... |
Caspar
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| Arnold Williams | ... |
Hi Jenks
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Van Kirksey | ... |
Early Riser
(as Van Kriksey)
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| Helen Martin | ... |
Church Sister
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Irwin C. Watson | ... |
Minister
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Gertrude Jeannette | ... |
Sister Minnie
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| Leonardo Cimino | ... |
Tom
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Simm Landres | ... |
Luddy
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Turk Turpin | ... |
Dum Dum
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| Tommy Lane | ... |
'44'
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| Gilbert Lewis | ... |
1st Black Beret
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Wally Taylor | ... |
2nd Black Beret
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William Pratt | ... |
3rd Black Beret
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| Lisle Wilson | ... |
4th Black Beret
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John D. Anthony | ... |
5th Black Beret
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| Anthony Chisholm | ... |
Black Plainclothesman
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| Tony Brubaker | ... |
John Hill
(as Anthony Brubaker)
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| Jonelle Allen | ... |
Secretary
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| Walter Scott | ... |
Cowboy
(as Walter Scott Jr.)
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Jimmy Hayeson | ... |
Wino
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Lawrence Cook | ... |
1st Young Black Man
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Vincent Hamill | ... |
Lead picket
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Rudy Townsend | ... |
2nd Picket
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| Vernee Watson | ... |
Woman
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Ernest Marks | ... |
Man
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| Al Fann | ... |
Billie Boy
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Alyce Webb | ... |
Angry Woman
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Louis Whitman | ... |
Chicken Man
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Kenneth Manigault | ... |
Traveling Man
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Don Bexley | ... |
Vendor in Crowd (uncredited)
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Vinnette Carroll | ... |
Reba (uncredited)
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Harold Gaetano | ... |
Plainclothesman (uncredited)
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Stanley Greene | ... |
Chep (uncredited)
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| Albert Hall | ... |
Backround Detective (uncredited)
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Gene Lindsey | ... |
Luddy (uncredited)
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| Melba Moore | ... |
Singer at the Apollo Theater (uncredited)
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Frederick O'Neal | ... |
(uncredited)
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Mama Lu Parks | ... |
Woman (uncredited)
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Lee Steele | ... |
Sidewalk Fur Coat Salesman (uncredited)
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| Demond Wilson | ... |
Rally Attendant (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Ossie Davis | ||
Written by
| Chester Himes | ... | (based upon the novel by) |
| Arnold Perl | ... | (screenplay) and |
| Ossie Davis | ... | (screenplay) |
Produced by
| Samuel Goldwyn Jr. | ... | producer |
Music by
| Galt MacDermot | ||
Cinematography by
| Gerald Hirschfeld | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Robert Q. Lovett | ||
Editorial Department
| John Carter | ... | associate editor |
| Barry Malkin | ... | associate editor |
| Marquis Shelton | ... | assistant editor |
Art Direction by
| Emanuel Gerard | ||
Costume Design by
| Anna Hill Johnstone | ||
Makeup Department
| Irvin Carlton | ... | makeup artist |
| Walter Fountain | ... | hair stylist: Miss Pace |
Production Management
| Stanley Neufeld | ... | executive in charge of production |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Sam Bennerson | ... | second assistant director |
| John Cates | ... | second assistant director |
| Domenic D'Antonio | ... | assistant director |
| Alan Hopkins | ... | assistant director |
| Max Kleven | ... | second unit director |
Art Department
| Robert Drumheller | ... | set dresser |
| Sheldon Haber | ... | sketch artist |
| Clint Marshall | ... | property master |
| Bruno Robotti | ... | scenic artist |
Sound Department
| Newton Avrutis | ... | production sound mixer |
| Robert Rogow | ... | boom operator (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Ira Anderson Jr. | ... | special effects (as Ira Anderson) |
Stunts
| Max Kleven | ... | stunt coordinator |
| Alan Oliney | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Ernest Robinson | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Enrique Bravo | ... | camera operator |
| Gil Geller | ... | photographer: second unit |
| Alec Hirschfeld | ... | first assistant camera (uncredited) |
| Ron Zarilla | ... | second assistant camera (uncredited) |
Casting Department
| Vic Ramos | ... | extras casting (as Victor Ramos Jr.) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Gertha Brock | ... | wardrobe coordinator |
| Catherine Gaudio | ... | set wardrobe |
Location Management
| Stanley E. Campbell | ... | location coordinator (as Stanley Campbell) |
Music Department
| George Adams | ... | music editor |
| Martin Banks | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Gary McFarland | ... | music arranger (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Julia Tucker | ... | continuity (as Judy Tucker) |
Additional Crew
| Al Fann | ... | assistant to producer |
| Roger Furman | ... | assistant to producer |
| Louis Johnson | ... | choreographer |
| Noni Rock | ... | production secretary |
| Bert Schneiderman | ... | production accountant |
| John Shabazz | ... | community relations |
Production Companies
Distributors
- United Artists (1970) (United States) (theatrical)
- Nova Film (1970) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1971) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1971) (France) (theatrical)
- Dear Film (1971) (Italy) (theatrical)
- Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1971) (Norway) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1971) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1971) (Argentina) (theatrical) (as Artistas Unidos)
- United Artists (1971) (Argentina) (theatrical) (as Artistas Unidos)
- United Artists (1971) (Japan) (theatrical)
- National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1973) (United States) (tv) (broadcast premiere)
- MGM Home Entertainment (1992) (United States) (VHS)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (United States) (DVD)
- Kino Lorber (2015) (United States) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Wicked-Vision Media (2022) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- Wicked-Vision Media (2022) (Germany) (DVD)
- Tubi TV (United States) (video) (streaming)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Sound Effects & Music (post-production)
- Marion Dougherty Associates (casting)
- DeLuxe Laboratories (color)
- F. Hillsberg (titles)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
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.
Written by John Vogel |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Introducing COFFIN ED and GRAVEDIGGER, two detectives only a mother could love. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
Additional Details
| Also Known As |
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Box Office
| Budget | $1,200,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | During Deke O'Mally's opening speech, Demond Wilson (who played Lamont Sanford) appears as a background rally attendant. See more » |
| Goofs | During the car chase, the mirror on the driver's side of the police car gets shot off. Once the police car collides with the watermelon cart a few seconds later, the mirror reappears. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in A Century of Black Cinema (2003). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Cotton Comes To Harlem See more » |
| Quotes |
Gravedigger Jones:
One more word, soul brother. You had it made. Black folks would have followed you anywhere. You could've been another Marcus Garvey or even another Malcolm X. But instead you ain't nothin' but a pimp with a chicken-shit backbone. See more » |