Cotton Comes To Harlem [DVD]

Director Ossie Davis delivers not only a taut police thriller but a film that inserts the concerns of the civil rights movement circa 1970 in a fascinating way. Filmed on actual locations the film just exudes authenticity and atmosphere. For a film that keeps it real I found it interesting that the film's score was composed by Galt McDermott of "Hair" fame(?!). Another minor quibble is that the violence in the film was at times over-the-top. Godfrey Cambridge as Gravedigger Jones and Raymond St. Jacques as Coffin Ed Johnson make an engaging pair. They assume their duty as New York police detectives is to protect their people from predators whether they be black or white even if at times they are at odds with their white captain. Calvin Lockhart is deliciously smarmy as Reverend Deke O'Malley who bilks his congregants out of cash for a bogus back to Africa scheme. Judy Pace is seductively evil as Iris, O'Malley's main squeeze. Redd Foxx is underutilized here as a junk dealer but his character does prove integral to the film's plot.

Excellent movie!!

Great movie

GREAT MOVIE

Keeps my father in law entertained when he’s over so that’s a plus.

Love my item.

great movie brings back memories.

It was awesome.

Great quality

I am completely satisfied! With The Picture Quality👍The Sound Quality👍The Color Quality👍The Disc Case and ease of use👍Just as impressive is the delivery time of my product✔😃WOW!

Staring Godfrey Cambridge and Raymond St Jacques as Harlem police in this funny, sometimes cliche filled movie. Lots of fun. If you’re one of the “sensitive” people that can’t cope with the past go back to your “safe space” a skip this movie.

Good movie,but I liked come back Charleston blue better

I screened this last night and enjoyed it very much. Very good to see old New York again and feel that 1970's vibe. It is always good to take a look at our past history. I had read Chester Himes's "The Real Cool Killers" in a crime anthology so it was very interesting to see an interpretation of "Grave Digger" and "Coffin Ed" on screen.

Have not seen it yet , but I saw it when it first came out , the best movie from back in the day , just loved it . See it . You LL love it .

I grew up in a small farming community in the 60's with just a few very well liked blacks in the community. I grew up watching the Blaxploitation movies on TV and loved all their smooth tough lead characters. I was surprised when I grew up to find people criticized them, because I thought their heroes were the best. I mean seriously who didn't want to be Shaft LOL. In Cotton Comes to Harlem it's a comedy/action picture, with down and outers, crime figures, drug dealers, and a few dedicated cops fighting for control of the poor and disenfranchised people trapped in the community. The heroes in this movie are detectives Gravedigger Jones played by Godfrey Cambridge, and Coffin Ed Johnson played by Raymond St. Jacques trying to find a bale of cotton stuffed with $87,000 dollars stolen from the poor community while it was being conned from them by The Reverend Deke O'Malley played by Calvin Lockhart, who made his film debut in this movie. This movie is filled with small funny parts like and marked the film debut of Redd Foxx, Clevon Little and Judy Pace. Cotton Comes to Harlem was co-written and directed by the great Ossie Davis who also wrote the opening theme. There would be a sequel two years later Come Back Charleston Blue with Cambridge and St.Jacques again playing Gravedigger Jones and Coffin Ed Johnson

Cotton Comes to Harlem is an old Black Comedy Classic directed and produced in the 70's. Very well made movie with lots of Old School Acting. I have this movie on Video Cassette and decided to purchase the DVD. Love this movie and will always be a comedy favorite.

I visit a man who was reminiscing about these movies and I watched them to try to discover what about them he was loving. He grew up in the hills of North Carolina in the 30s and 40s in a very segregated world. These spoke to new possibilities for African Americans in the U.S. Pretty violent and some sexual content too, though. But it helped me see the world through his eyes for a while.

A pure classic. A movie filled with great actors and good action. I had the original DVD and upgraded to the Kino Lorber Blu-ray edition. Much improvement on the video transfer compared to the DVD. I wish it had more special features or interviews. It seems the Blu-ray is bare bones with only the trailer. But that is fine. Great release from Kino Lorber. Hopefully Superfly and Superfly TNT is next in the works.

My husband and I were really excited to find these old movies on DVD, we couldn't pass it up. We purchased a few other titles as well. The quality of the picture is fabulous and the prices are good. I'd recommend these DVDs to anyone who wants to add some oldies but goodies to their movie collection, you won't be disappointed.

Of course, this is the same great movie that we all knew and loved. My copy came in the ridiculous Full Screen view, which pissed me off to no end...but I got over it after seeing Judy Pace take off her clothes!One good thing about my copy, it was the original as-packaged and not some previously viewed, tried-to-pass-off-as-new crap.