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Cooley High

Play trailer Poster for Cooley High PG 1975 1h 47m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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83% Tomatometer 53 Reviews 88% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Richard "Cochise" Morris (Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs), a local basketball hero, and Leroy "Preach" Jackson (Glynn Turman), who dreams of a career in writing, are likable Chicago high school students in 1960s Chicago. They're into hanging out with friends, pretty girls and the Motown sounds so popular during the era. Each wants to make it big in his own way, but not everybody they meet is looking out for them, as they learn when a seemingly harmless outing goes awry.
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Cooley High

Cooley High

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Critics Consensus

Cooley High crackles with vibrant energy and authenticity, elevated by an impressively natural cast and Michael Schultz's effortless direction.

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Critics Reviews

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Bryan Johnson Globe and Mail Oct 8
Preach and Cochise have their adventures, a lot of them patently comic or tragic -- but seldom, to me, either very funny or very moving. Go to Full Review Margo Jefferson Newsweek Aug 15
It is a smart, very affecting movie. Go to Full Review James Walcott Village Voice Aug 15
The surprise of Cooley High is that it is a schlock concept which transcends its limitation by becoming a celebration of black brotherhood. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Scott M Sep 14 Tries it's best to be a sentimental coming of age film in inner city Chicago. But it doesn't quite make it. Needed better directing. But it did have a solid core of acting by Glynn Turman and Lawrence Hilton Jacobs. See more Gael C 01/29/2025 ME GUSTO MUCHO COOLEY HIGH 1975 ME GUSTARÍA VERLA OTRA VEZ EN PRIME VIDEO See more Horror fan 4 12/24/2024 What a great coming of age movie. The soundtrack alone is amazing but the performances were really good to. Heartbreaking movie to say the least. Tim Treakle See more CodyZamboni Z @CodyZamboni 07/06/2024 Pleasant , you are there, realistic depiction of 1964 teenage life in Chicago, An American Graffiti type story, a slice of life, with appealing performances, a good soundtrack, a sobering ending, See more Mike F 09/16/2023 This film is a true classic that I was fortunate enough to discover as a teenager in the early 90's and have enjoyed watching many times. Compelling dramatic story about black teens growing up in a tough Chicago neighborhood with some drizzles of comedy sprinkled in just right. See more 06/25/2023 Featuring the music of Mo-Town it’s one of the early 1970s pictures that changed the landscape of black cinema Unlike many of the blaxploitation films that came out where that were fierce and over the top this one takes a more relatable approach A group of kids growing up in the Chicago projects during the 1960s just trying to survive and live their finest years even if it means cutting class parading around the city One student named Preach wants to become a successful writer, his buddy Cochise is applying for a scholarship for basketball They just have to work their way around joyriding, girls, and avoid getting tangled with street thugs Directed by Robert Townsend the film truly represents its Chicago residents about the poverty-stricken, racially oppressed, and the black identity But it gives hope that just because someone is from the hood doesn’t mean they will not be good to have a future and make a life for themselves ‘Cooley High’ speaks to the black community about of a lot of things and that’s always welcome See more Read all reviews
Cooley High

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Cast & Crew

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Michael Schultz

Director

Glynn Turman

Preacher

Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs

Richard "Cochise" Morris

Garrett Morris

Mr. Mason

Cynthia Davis

Brenda

Corin Rogers

Pooter

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Cooley High

Cooley High (1975) Cooley High (1975) Cooley High (1975) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Richard "Cochise" Morris (Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs), a local basketball hero, and Leroy "Preach" Jackson (Glynn Turman), who dreams of a career in writing, are likable Chicago high school students in 1960s Chicago. They're into hanging out with friends, pretty girls and the Motown sounds so popular during the era. Each wants to make it big in his own way, but not everybody they meet is looking out for them, as they learn when a seemingly harmless outing goes awry.
Director
Michael Schultz
Producer
Steve Krantz
Screenwriter
Eric Monte
Distributor
American International Pictures
Production Co
American International Pictures (AIP)
Rating
PG
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 1, 1975, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 11, 2017
Runtime
1h 47m
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