Cotton Comes to Harlem


1h 37m 1970

Brief Synopsis

Two black police detectives suspect a preacher's "Back to Africa" movement is a scam.

Film Details

MPAA Rating
Genre
Comedy
Crime
Release Date
Jan 1970
Premiere Information
Chicago opening: 27 May 1970
Production Company
Formosa Productions, Inc.
Distribution Company
United Artists Corp.
Country
United States
Location
Harlem, New York City, New York, USA
Screenplay Information
Based on the novel Cotton Comes to Harlem by Chester Himes (New York, 1965).

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 37m
Sound
Mono
Color
Color (DeLuxe)

Synopsis

At an outdoor barbecue, charismatic confidence man Rev. Deke O'Malley defrauds Harlem residents of $87,000 intended to transport blacks back to Africa. The money, however, is immediately seized by the black minister's white partner, Calhoun, who flees the scene in a meat truck, having secreted the money in a bale of cotton. O'Malley follows in an armored car, himself pursued by black police detectives Coffin Ed Johnson and Gravedigger Jones. The bale bounces from the truck during the chase, is found by Uncle Bud, a junkman, and sold as a prop to Mabel, an inventive stripteaser. As Mabel begins her act in Harlem's Apollo Theater, Calhoun and O'Malley appear onstage in "blackface," and fruitlessly comb the cotton for money. While so doing, the two are exposed and arrested by Coffin Ed and Gravedigger. The detectives subsequently coerce a Mafia don to compensate O'Malley's disgruntled congregation for the elusive $87,000. The pair later receives a postcard from Uncle Bud, who discloses that he has absconded with the missing money to Africa, where he is enjoying a new lifestyle.

Film Details

MPAA Rating
Genre
Comedy
Crime
Release Date
Jan 1970
Premiere Information
Chicago opening: 27 May 1970
Production Company
Formosa Productions, Inc.
Distribution Company
United Artists Corp.
Country
United States
Location
Harlem, New York City, New York, USA
Screenplay Information
Based on the novel Cotton Comes to Harlem by Chester Himes (New York, 1965).

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 37m
Sound
Mono
Color
Color (DeLuxe)

Articles

Eugene Roche (1928-2004)


Eugene Roche, the marvelous character actor who had a knack for shining in offbeat roles, such as Edgar Derby, ill-fated prisoner of war in Slaughterhouse Five (1972), and the murderous archbishop in Foul Play (1978), died in Encino, California of a heart attack on July 28. He was 75.

Born on September 22, 1928, in Boston, Massachusettes, Roche began his career when he was still in High School, doing voice characterization on radio in his native Boston. After he graduated, he served in the Army, then studied drama on the G.I. bill at Emerson College. Concentrating on acting, he found much stage work in San Francisco in the early `50s, then headed for New York in the early `60s and began appearing on televison (Naked City, Route 66) and on Broadway. 

It wasn't until he was in his forties did Roche began to get really good parts. His open, friendly face and stocky build made him the ideal choice to play the likable POW, Edgar Derby in Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse Five. His role as Edgar who saves an intact porcelain figurine from the ruins of Dresden only to be executed by his German captors for looting, may have been brief, but it was instantly memorable. Fine roles continued to come his way in films throughout the decade, the highlights included: They Might Be Giants (1971), Mr. Ricco (1975), The Late Show (1977), Corvette Summer (a deft comic performance as a high school auto shop teacher who is secretly running a car theft ring), and Foul Play (both 1978).

Yet, it would be on television where Roche would find lasting success. He became a household face when, as Squeaky Clean, he became the spokesman for Ajax household cleaner. Then he struck gold in sitcoms: Archie Bunker's practical joking nemesis, Pinky Peterson on All in the Family (1976-78), the madly romantic attorney, Ronald Mallu on Soap (1978-81), and the lovable landlord Bill Parker on Webster (1984-86).

Roche is survived by his wife, Anntoni; his brother, John; his sister, Clara Hewes; nine children, one of which, a son Eamonn, is a successful working actor; and nine grandchildren.

by Michael T. Toole
Eugene Roche (1928-2004)

Eugene Roche (1928-2004)

Eugene Roche, the marvelous character actor who had a knack for shining in offbeat roles, such as Edgar Derby, ill-fated prisoner of war in Slaughterhouse Five (1972), and the murderous archbishop in Foul Play (1978), died in Encino, California of a heart attack on July 28. He was 75. Born on September 22, 1928, in Boston, Massachusettes, Roche began his career when he was still in High School, doing voice characterization on radio in his native Boston. After he graduated, he served in the Army, then studied drama on the G.I. bill at Emerson College. Concentrating on acting, he found much stage work in San Francisco in the early `50s, then headed for New York in the early `60s and began appearing on televison (Naked City, Route 66) and on Broadway.  It wasn't until he was in his forties did Roche began to get really good parts. His open, friendly face and stocky build made him the ideal choice to play the likable POW, Edgar Derby in Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse Five. His role as Edgar who saves an intact porcelain figurine from the ruins of Dresden only to be executed by his German captors for looting, may have been brief, but it was instantly memorable. Fine roles continued to come his way in films throughout the decade, the highlights included: They Might Be Giants (1971), Mr. Ricco (1975), The Late Show (1977), Corvette Summer (a deft comic performance as a high school auto shop teacher who is secretly running a car theft ring), and Foul Play (both 1978). Yet, it would be on television where Roche would find lasting success. He became a household face when, as Squeaky Clean, he became the spokesman for Ajax household cleaner. Then he struck gold in sitcoms: Archie Bunker's practical joking nemesis, Pinky Peterson on All in the Family (1976-78), the madly romantic attorney, Ronald Mallu on Soap (1978-81), and the lovable landlord Bill Parker on Webster (1984-86). Roche is survived by his wife, Anntoni; his brother, John; his sister, Clara Hewes; nine children, one of which, a son Eamonn, is a successful working actor; and nine grandchildren. by Michael T. Toole

Quotes

One more word soul brother. You had it made. Black folks would have followed you anywhere. You could've been another Marcus Garvey or even another Malclom X. But instead you ain't nothin' but a pimp with a chicken-shit backbone.
- Gravedigger Jones
Was that black enough for you?
- Barry
It ain't, but it's gonna be.
- Uncle Bud
White Guys?
- Coffin Ed
White Guys? They had on masks. How did you know they were white?
- Gravedigger Jones
Oh Lordy, help me!
- Lo Boy
I'm asking you. How do you know they was white?
- Coffin Ed
They run white, dammit.
- Lo Boy
Now what would a bail of cotton be doing in Harlem?
- Mabel
Any black man might rat on Whitey. I might myself.
- Gravedigger Jones

Trivia

Notes

Location scenes were filmed in Harlem. Godfrey Cambridge and Raymond St. Jacques again starred as the detective team of "Gravedigger Jones" and "Coffin Ed Johnson" respectively, in the 1972 film Come Back Charleston Blue (see the entry below), also based on a novel by Chester Himes.

Miscellaneous Notes

Released in United States 1995

Released in United States May 27, 1970

Released in United States Winter January 1, 1970

Released in United States 1995 (Shown in New York City (Film Forum) as part of program "Blaxploitation, Baby!" June 23 - August 10, 1995.)

Released in United States Winter January 1, 1970

Released in United States May 27, 1970