Cotton Comes to Harlem (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.
11 Kinolab Clips
Opening Sequence
Deke "Reverend" O'Malley (Calvin Lockhart) drives back into Harlem.
Duration: 00:03:01
Contributor: Eduardo Mendoza
We Are Going Home
A robbery ensues at Deke O'Malley's (Calvin Lockhart) rally for the Black Beauty, a Back-to-Africa movement ship, which detectives Gravedigger Jones (Godfrey Cambridge) and Coffin Ed Johnson (Raymond St. Jacques) patrol.
Duration: 00:07:33
Timestamp: 00:02:59
Contributor: Eduardo Mendoza
Chase Through Harlem
Gravedigger Jones (Godfrey Cambridge) and Coffin Ed Jones (Raymond St. Jacques) chase the robbers and Deke O'Malley (Calvin Lockhart), and a bale of cotton falls out of one of the cars.
Duration: 00:05:12
Timestamp: 00:10:32
Contributor: Eduardo Mendoza
Visiting the Wreck
Gravedigger Jones (Godfrey Cambridge) and Coffin Ed Johnson (Raymond St. Jacques) investigate the car wreck and discover bits of raw, unprocessed cotton.
Duration: 00:03:19
Timestamp: 00:19:10
Contributor: Eduardo Mendoza
25?
Uncle Budd (Redd Foxx), a scavenger, sells the bale of cotton for $25.
Duration: 00:02:24
Timestamp: 00:43:23
Contributor: Eduardo Mendoza
White Shit About to Hit Black Fan
Two rival groups, one led by Deke O'Malley (Calvin Lockhart) and the other by his ex-partner Calhoun (J.D. Cannon), search the pier for the bale of cotton, as Gravedigger Jones (Godfrey Cambridge) and Coffin Ed Johnson (Raymond St. Jacques) stake them out.
Duration: 00:07:21
Timestamp: 00:46:57
Contributor: Eduardo Mendoza
Nailed
Gravedigger Jones (Godfrey Cambridge) and Coffin Ed Johnson (Raymond St. Jacques) bring Rev. Deke O'Malley (Calvin Lockhart for questioning, as well as his mistress Iris Brown (Judy Pace).
Duration: 00:03:52
Timestamp: 00:54:13
Contributor: Eduardo Mendoza
Free Deke O'Malley
The police department grows worried a riot might start as a crowd forms demanding the police free Deke O'Malley (Calvin Lockhart).
Duration: 00:07:06
Timestamp: 00:59:03
Contributor: Eduardo Mendoza
Prisoners of Cotton
Billie (Mabel Robinson) uses the bake of cotton as a prop for a performance at the Apollo Theater, drawing the attention of Deke O'Malley (Calvin Lockhart), Calhoun (J.D. Cannon), and Gravedigger Jones (Godfrey Cambridge).
Duration: 00:07:09
Timestamp: 01:18:41
Contributor: Eduardo Mendoza
My Salvation
Coffin Ed Johnson (Raymond St. Jacques) and Deke O'Malley (Calvin Lockhart) fight in the prop room of the Apollo Theater.
Duration: 00:06:23
Timestamp: 01:25:46
Contributor: Eduardo Mendoza
Closing Sequence
Gravedigger Jones (Godfrey Cambridge) and Coffin Ed Johnson (Raymond St. Jacques) work out a deal with mob boss Tom (Leonardo Cimino) for the missing $87,000.
Duration: 00:03:48
Timestamp: 01:35:49
Contributor: Eduardo Mendoza