Cotton Comes To Harlem

I originally posted this on another blog but am re-posting it here today as the film was originally released 50 years ago on May 27, 1970.

FILM REVIEW

I recently found this movie on Netflix and for reason’s I can’t figure out I decided to watch the flick.  Released in 1970 I’m not sure if this film is considered Blaxploitation or not, but it does feature some great lines such as “Honkies on the wood pile” & “Is that Black Enough For Ya?”

This film, based on a novel of the same name, is about the Revered Deke O’Malley and how he is here to save his fellow black man by taking them back to Africa aboard his ship The Black Beauty and charging them handsomely to do so.  You’d never guess it but the good Revered is a crooked and just wants that money for himself.  ON the case are tow hard nosed NYPD Detectives “Coffin” Ed Johnson (Raymond St. Jacques) and his partner Gravedigger Jones (Godfrey Cambridge) whose facial expression never changes through-out the film no matter what is happening.  Coffin and Digger treat Harlem likes it’s their own wild west town, they rule the roost and everyone else be damned.

White people play the dupes and apparently no one is afraid to hit a lady when she expresses her opinion. At the end of the day though, I enjoyed the flick.

The only actor I recognized was Red Foxx of Sanford and Son fame who had a bit role.  Apparently Clevon Little made his feature film debut, he’s better known for playing Sherriff Bart on Blazing Saddles, one of my all-time favorite movies.

Back in the day this flick was an overnight success and even generated a sequel two years later “Come Back, Charleston Blue” once again featuring the antics of Detectives Coffin and Digger.

Check out the trailer

Later Readers