Cotton Comes to Harlem is a 1970 blaxploitation film starring Godfrey Cambridge, Raymond St. Jacques, and Redd Foxx based on Chester Himes' novel of the same name. The plot revolves around the efforts of the two Harlem detectives to recover the life savings of 87 poor black families which have been stolen in a Back to Africa swindle; the money is concealed in a bale of cotton, which keeps changing hands. The film was directed by Ossie Davis.
Gravedigger Jones and Coffin Ed Johnson are two black cops with a reputation for breaking the odd head. Both are annoyed at the success of the Reverend Deke O'Mailey who is selling trips back to Africa to the poor on the installment plan. When his truck is hijacked and a bale of cotton stuffed with money is lost in the chase, Harlem is turned upside down by Gravedigger and Coffin Ed, the Reverend, and the hijackers. Much of the humor is urban black, which was unusual in 1970. Written by John Vogel
The Charismatic black nationalist leader Rev Deke O'Malley is trying to sell the people of Harlem a dream. Invest $100 in his company and live in Africa. But cops Gravedigger and Coffin know all about Deke and his fraudulent schemes that take advantage of the poor and the ignorant and can't wait for a chance to expose him. When a barbecue O'Malley is apparently 'robbed' they get their chance to take him and his cohorts down. Written by Estifanos
