| Cotton Comes to Harlem | |
|---|---|
_film_poster.jpg) Theatrical release poster by Robert McGinnis | |
| Directed by | Ossie Davis |
| Written by | Ossie Davis Arnold Perl |
| Based on | Cotton Comes to Harlem by Chester Himes |
| Produced by | Samuel Goldwyn Jr. |
| Starring | Godfrey Cambridge Raymond St. Jacques Calvin Lockhart |
| Cinematography | Gerald Hirschfeld |
| Edited by | Robert Q. Lovett |
| Music by | Galt MacDermot |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date |
|
Running time | 97 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1.2 million |
| Box office | $5.2 million (rentals)[1] |
Cotton Comes to Harlem is a 1970 American neo-noir[2] action comedy film[3] co-written and directed by Ossie Davis and starring Godfrey Cambridge, Raymond St. Jacques, and Redd Foxx.[4] The film, later cited as an early example of the blaxploitation genre, is based on Chester Himes' novel of the same name.[5] The opening theme, "Ain't Now But It's Gonna Be", was written by Ossie Davis and performed by Melba Moore. The film was one of the many black films that appeared in the 1970s and became overnight hits. It was followed two years later by the sequel Come Back, Charleston Blue (1972).
- ^ "Big Rental Films of 1970". Variety. 6 January 1971. p. 11.
- ^ Spicer, Andrew (2010). Historical Dictionary of Film Noir. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press. p. 427. ISBN 978-0-8108-5960-9.
- ^ "Cotton Comes to Harlem". Variety. December 31, 1969.
- ^ "Cotton Comes to Harlem". Turner Classic Movies. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner). Retrieved June 7, 2017.
- ^ Himes, Chester (1966). Cotton comes to Harlem. New York City: Dell Publishing. ASIN B0007EYQFO.