Cooley High

Introduction and comments following Cooley High, 1975, with Clayton Davis and Jasmine Simpkins from the African American Film Critics Association.

Ben Mankiewicz introduces Cooley High, 1975.

Arguably the most satisfying cutting-class sequence ever made, Preach (Glynn Turman) guides Pooter (Corin Rogers) through the nosebleed routine, Cochise (Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs) out the back, Willie (Maurice Leon Havis) joining outside, Michael Schultz directing with the Steve Wonder recording of the song by Clarence Paul and Henry Cosby, on location in Chicago, early in Cooley High, 1975.

After school Preach (Glynn Turman) in a dice game with Stone and Robert (recruited Chicago gang members Rick Stone and Norman Gibson, in their first scene), joined by Cochise (Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs), the bothered Brenda (Cynthia Davis) and proprietor Martha (Juanita McConnell), Michael Schultz directing from Eric Monte's original screenplay, in Cooley High, 1975.

Interrupting a ragged, intoxicated doo-wop attempt, Stone (Rick Stone) at the window and Robert (Norman Gibson) at the wheel persuade Cochise (Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs) and Preach (Glynn Turman) to join them in their liberated Cadillac, headed for the Gold Coast of 1964 Chicago, in Cooley High, 1975.

Not accidentally idyllic, though the Chicago scenes and other elements confirm that the credit sequence was shot after 1964, when the story begins, with The Supremes’ recording of the Holland-Dozier-Holland song, and director Michael Schultz just introducing leads Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs and Glynn Turman, opening Cooley High, 1975.