| Cooley High | |
|---|---|
 DVD cover |
|
| Directed by | Michael Schultz |
| Produced by | Steve Krantz |
| Written by | Eric Monte |
| Starring | Glynn Turman Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs |
| Music by | Freddie Perren |
| Distributed by | AIP |
| Release date(s) | June 25, 1975 |
| Running time | 107 min. |
| Country |  |
| Language | English |
| Followed by | What's Happening |
| IMDb profile | |
Cooley High is a 1975 feature film produced and released by American International Pictures and written by Eric Monte (co-creator of Good Times). The film, set in 1964 Chicago, Illinois, stars Glynn Turman and Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, and featuring a soundtrack primarily comprised of 1960s Motown hits. The film is considered a classic of black cinema and features a new Motown recording, G.C. Cameron's hit single "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday", on its soundtrack. "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" was covered in 1991 by Motown act Boyz II Men. Boyz II Men's version of "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye" was included on the group's first LP, named Cooleyhighharmony in honor of this film. Cooley High is frequently compared favorably to the 1973 George Lucas film American Graffiti. ABC had planned a television adaptation. The pilot was poorly received, and ABC had Monte retool the show. As a result, Monte created the TV show What's Happening!!, which was loosely based on Cooley High and ran from 1976 to 1979. Monte based the film on his experiences from attending the real-life Cooley High School that served students from the Cabrini-Green public housing projects in Chicago. While the film was set in and around the Cabrini-Green, it was primarily filmed at another Chicago-area housing project. Monte has said that he wrote the film to dispel myths about growing up in the projects: "I grew up in the Cabrini-Green housing project and I had one of the best times of my life, the most fun you can have while inhaling and exhaling"[1]. This movie ranked #23 on Entertainment Weekly's list of the 50 Best High School Movies.)
Plot
The story explores the adventures and relationships of Leroy "Preach" Jackson and Richard "Cochise" Morris, two black high school students at Edward J. Cooley High School whose carefree lives take a turn for the worse through several twists of fate.
Cast
- Glynn Turman as Leroy "Preach" Jackson
- Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs as Richard "Cochise" Morris
- Garrett Morris as Mr. Mason
