The Cool World (1964) - Turner Classic Movies

Brief Synopsis

A young Harlem man rises to power in his street gang after taking inspiration from a Black Muslim preacher who spreads a dogma of hate against white oppressors.

Cast & Crew

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Shirley Clarke

Hampton Clanton

Richard "Duke" Custis

Yolanda Rodriguez

Carl Lee

Georgia Burke

Bostic Felton

Film Details

Genre

Adaptation

Drama

Release Date

Jan 1964

Premiere Information

New York opening: 20 Apr 1964

Production Company

Wiseman Film Productions

Distribution Company

Cinema V Distributing, Inc.

Country

United States

Screenplay Information

Based on the novel The Cool World by Warren Miller (Boston, 1959) and the play The Cool World by Robert Rossen (New York, 22 Feb 1960).

Technical Specs

Duration

1h 45m

Sound

Mono

Color

Black and White

Synopsis

Duke, a black adolescent and member of the Royal Pythons, lives in Harlem with his mother and grandmother. Following the departure of their friend Littleman's father, the Pythons appropriate the apartment, installing Luanne as resident prostitute. Despite the fact that Luanne is Python president Blood's girl friend, she and Duke fall in love. Discovering that Blood is a heroin addict, Duke assumes leadership of the gang. During an idyll at Coney Island, however, Luanne vanishes, and Duke returns to Harlem. During a halfhearted battle with the Wolves, a rival gang, Duke stabs an antagonist. Seeking refuge, he rushes to Python headquarters, where he discovers the corpse of a friend. At home he is apprehended by police.

Director

Shirley Clarke

Cast

Hampton Clanton

Richard "Duke" Custis

Yolanda Rodriguez

Carl Lee

Georgia Burke

Bostic Felton

Charles Richardson

Bruce Edwards

Teddy Mccain

Gary Bolling

Ronald Perry

Lloyd Edwards

Ken Sutherland

Billy Taylor

Jay Brooks

Littleman's father

Clarence Williams Iii

Claude Cave

Marilyn Cox

Gloria Foster

Jerome Raphel

Joe Oliver

J. C. Lee

John Marriott

Bert Donaldson

Joseph Dennis

Douglas Thurston

Maurice Sneed

William Ford

Alfred Callymore

Ted Butler

Pheta Canegata

Nettie Avery

Riley Mac

Sandra Mcpherson

Coney Island girl

Wilbur Green

Val Bisoglio

Vic Romano

Dean Cohen

Peter De Anda

Alan Mercer

William Canegata

George W. Goodman

Richard Ward

Esther Bodie

Irma Williams

Milton Williams

Evadney Canegata

Crew

Madeline Anderson

Bill Blachy

Baird Bryant

Director of Photography

Shirley Clarke

Shirley Clarke

Stan Free

Calliope played by

Roger Furman

Alex Goitein

Assistant Director

David Jones

Sound Recording

Carl Lee

Tom Mangravite

Interior lighting

Leroy Mclucas

Addl Photographer

Dorothy Oshlag

Production Manager

Hugh A. Robertson Jr.

Mal Waldron

Music comp & Arrangements

Barbara Webb

Frederick Wiseman

Film Details

Genre

Adaptation

Drama

Release Date

Jan 1964

Premiere Information

New York opening: 20 Apr 1964

Production Company

Wiseman Film Productions

Distribution Company

Cinema V Distributing, Inc.

Country

United States

Screenplay Information

Based on the novel The Cool World by Warren Miller (Boston, 1959) and the play The Cool World by Robert Rossen (New York, 22 Feb 1960).

Technical Specs

Duration

1h 45m

Sound

Mono

Color

Black and White

Quotes

Trivia

This film was selected to the National Film Registry, Library of Congress, in 1994.

First-ever film credit for legendary documentary director 'Fred Wiseman' , who served as producer of this non-documentary feature.

Notes

Filmed on location in Harlem. Venice Film Festival (1963) running time: 125 min.

Miscellaneous Notes

Released in United States Spring April 1964

Selected in 1994 for inclusion in the Library of Congress' National Film Registry.

Released in United States Spring April 1964

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