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Cotton Comes to Harlem

Cotton Comes to Harlem

Action · Comedy · Crime · 1970

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.

Movie details

Cotton Comes to Harlem

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

1970 Action · Comedy · Crime 1h 37m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.2 / 10

Community rating

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.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Cotton Comes to Harlem?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Ossie Davis

Written by

Arnold Perl · Ossie Davis

Godfrey Cambridge

Godfrey Cambridge

Gravedigger Jones

Raymond St. Jacques

Raymond St. Jacques

Coffin Ed Johnson

Calvin Lockhart

Calvin Lockhart

Rev. Deke O'Malley

Judy Pace

Judy Pace

Iris

Redd Foxx

Redd Foxx

Uncle Bud / Booker Washington Sims

Emily Yancy

Emily Yancy

Mabel

John Anderson

John Anderson

Capt. Bryce

Court is in session

Put Cotton Comes to Harlem on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Adrenaline Seeker

“Momentum is a formal choice.”

The velocity sharpens instinct and tension, making every beat land before self-importance can settle in.

The prosecution The Auteur Devotee

“Speed as an alibi.”

The film races past its weak spots and hopes acceleration will keep the audience from inspecting the evidence.