Cotton Comes to Harlem

"Introducing COFFIN ED and GRAVEDIGGER. Two detectives only a mother could love."

1970 1h 37m EN

😐

6.2

MID

★6.2TMDB · 67

ActionComedyCrime

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Harlem's African-American population is being ripped off by the Rev. Deke O'Malley, who dishonestly claims that small donations will secure parcels of land in Africa. When New York City police officers Gravedigger Jones and Coffin Ed Johnson look into O'Malley's scam, they learn that the cash is being smuggled inside a bale of cotton. However, the police, O'Malley, and lots of others find themselves scrambling when the money goes missing.

“Introducing COFFIN ED and GRAVEDIGGER. Two detectives only a mother could love.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

ScreenPix Apple TV channelSubscription

ScreenPix Amazon Channel Subscription

Amazon VideoRent

Apple TV StoreRent

Google Play MoviesRent

Google Play MoviesBuy

YouTubeBuy

Fandango At HomeBuy

Cast

Godfrey Cambridge
Gravedigger Jones
Raymond St. Jacques
Coffin Ed Johnson
Calvin Lockhart
Rev. Deke O'Malley
Judy Pace
Iris
Redd Foxx
Uncle Bud / Booker Washington Sims
Emily Yancy
Mabel
John Anderson
Capt. Bryce
Lou Jacobi
Goodman

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Ossie Davis
Writers: Arnold Perl, Ossie Davis
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Shot for just $1.2M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

56 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "Gravedigger Jones and Coffin Ed Johnson Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Directed by Ossie Davis, shot by Gerald Hirschfeld. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Robert Q. Lovett shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Godfrey Cambridge and Raymond St. Jacques and Calvin Lockhart carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Introducing COFFIN ED and GRAVEDIGGER. Two detectives only a mother could love.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0065579 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Ossie Davis directs. Gerald Hirschfeld behind the camera. Robert Q. Lovett cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Shot for just $1.2M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
256 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Part of the "Gravedigger Jones and Coffin Ed Johnson Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
4Directed by Ossie Davis, shot by Gerald Hirschfeld. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Editor Robert Q. Lovett shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Godfrey Cambridge and Raymond St. Jacques and Calvin Lockhart carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "Introducing COFFIN ED and GRAVEDIGGER. Two detectives only a mother could love.".
8IMDB entry: tt0065579 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 67 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Gerald Hirschfeld
Editing: Robert Q. Lovett
Costume design: Anna Hill Johnstone
Runtime: 97 min · 1h 37m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $1,200,000
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970)

Awards

NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

Part of

Gravedigger Jones and Coffin Ed Johnson Collection

Based on the books by Chester Himes, featuring New York City police detectives "Coffin Ed" Johnson and "Gravedigger" Jones.

Also by

Ossie Davis

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

talisencrw2016-05-04
★ 8/10
A very different but strong angle on the typical Blaxploitation flick. I really enjoyed it. Unfortunately I haven't seen a lot of Ossie Davis' work, either directing (which he does here) or acting (besides 'Bubba Ho-Tep' from late in his career), but it makes me want to check out a lot more. Well worth your trouble to find, worth buying and rewatching, in fact.

Production companies