| Cooley High | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Michael Schultz |
| Written by | Eric Monte |
| Produced by | |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Paul vom Brack |
| Edited by | Christopher Holmes |
| Music by | Freddie Perren |
| Distributed by | American International Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 117 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $750,000[1] |
| Box office | $13 million[2][3] or $2.6 million[4] |
Cooley High is a 1975 American independent[5] coming-of-age comedy-drama film that follows the narrative of two high school seniors and best friends, Leroy "Preach" Jackson (Glynn Turman) and Richard "Cochise" Morris (Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs). Written by Eric Monte and directed by Michael Schultz, the film, primarily shot in Chicago, was a major hit at the box office, grossing over $13 million (USD). The light-hearted-turned-tragic storyline was complemented by a soundtrack featuring many Motown hits.[6]
In a 40th-year retrospective by NPR in 2015, Cooley High was called a "classic of black cinema" and "a touchstone for filmmakers like John Singleton and Spike Lee."[7] In 2021, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".[8][9]
- ^ Aljean Harmetz (Aug 4, 1974). "The dime-store way to make movies-and money". The New York Times. p. 202.
- ^ Box Office Information for Cooley High. Worldwide Box Office. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
- ^ Mankiewicz, Ben. Comments on TCM broadcast 17 October 2013
- ^ Donahue, Suzanne Mary (1987). American film distribution : the changing marketplace. UMI Research Press. p. 300. ISBN 9780835717762. Please note figures are for rentals in US and Canada
- ^ Chicago-based Cooley High turns 40|Time Out Chicago
- ^ "Cooley High – Original Soundtrack | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2017-05-01.
- ^ John, Dereck. "40 Years Later, The Cast Of 'Cooley High' Looks Back". NPR. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
- ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (December 14, 2021). "National Film Registry Adds Return Of The Jedi, Fellowship Of The Ring, Strangers On A Train, Sounder, WALL-E & More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
- ^ 'Return of the Jedi,' 'Selena' and 'Sounder' added to National Film Registry|88.5 WFDD