The Cotton Club (film)

The Cotton Club (film)
source
Name	The Cotton Club
Director	Francis Ford Coppola
Producer	Robert Evans
Writer	William Kennedy, Francis Ford Coppola
Starring	Richard Gere, Gregory Hines, Diane Lane, Lonette McKee, Bob Hoskins, James Remar, Nicolas Cage, Fred Gwynne, Maurice Hines
Music	John Barry
Cinematography	Stephen Goldblatt
Editing	Barry Malkin, Robert Q. Lovett
Studio	Zoetrope Studios
Distributor	Orion Pictures
Country	United States
Language	English

The Cotton Club (film). Directed by Francis Ford Coppola and produced by Robert Evans, this 1984 American crime drama musical intertwines the lives of musicians, gangsters, and performers at the famed Harlem nightclub during the Prohibition era. The film features an ensemble cast including Richard Gere, Gregory Hines, and Diane Lane, blending fictional narratives with real-life figures from the Jazz Age and the organized crime underworld. Its production was notoriously troubled and over-budget, becoming a famous case study in Hollywood excess, yet it received an Academy Award nomination for its art direction and is noted for its elaborate musical numbers.

Plot

The narrative follows two parallel stories connected by the legendary Cotton Club in New York City. One thread centers on cornetist Dixie Dwyer (Richard Gere), who becomes a driver for mobster Dutch Schultz (James Remar) and falls for Schultz's mistress, Vera Cicero (Diane Lane). The other follows talented tap dancer Sandman Williams (Gregory Hines) and his brother Clay Williams (Maurice Hines) as they navigate the club's racially segregated policies, with Sandman pursuing a romance with Lila Rose Oliver (Lonette McKee), a light-skinned singer passing as white. The plots converge amidst the violence of the criminal underworld, involving figures like Owney Madden (Bob Hoskins) and Lucky Luciano (Joe Dallesandro), culminating during the Harlem riot of 1935.

Cast

Richard Gere portrays the musician Dixie Dwyer, while Gregory Hines stars as the dancer Sandman Williams. Diane Lane plays gangster's moll Vera Cicero, and Lonette McKee is singer Lila Rose Oliver. The criminal element is represented by Bob Hoskins as club owner Owney Madden, James Remar as volatile mobster Dutch Schultz, and Nicolas Cage as Schultz's enforcer, Vincent Dwyer. Supporting roles include Fred Gwynne as Frenchy Demange, Maurice Hines as Clay Williams, and appearances by Laurence Fishburne as Bumpy Rhodes and Gwen Verdon as Tish Dwyer. Notable cameos feature musicians like Duke Ellington (played by Larry Marshall) and a performance by Cab Calloway.

Production

The project originated with producer Robert Evans, who enlisted author William Kennedy to write the screenplay. Francis Ford Coppola was brought in to rewrite and direct, leading to a famously chaotic and expensive shoot. Financed by Arabella Investments and Las Vegas investors, the budget ballooned due to elaborate set constructions at Kaufman Astoria Studios and constant script revisions. Cinematography was handled by Stephen Goldblatt, with choreography by Michael Smuin. The production was marred by lawsuits, including one from The Shubert Organization, and intense media scrutiny in publications like Variety and The New York Times, making it a symbol of directorial indulgence during the early 1980s.

Reception

Upon release by Orion Pictures, the film received mixed reviews from critics and was a commercial disappointment, failing to recoup its massive budget. Some praise was directed at its stylistic ambition, choreography, and the performances of Gregory Hines and Bob Hoskins. It earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration for Richard Sylbert and George Gaines. However, many reviewers felt the complex narrative was unfocused. Over time, a director's cut was released, which garnered a more favorable reassessment from some film historians and outlets like The Criterion Collection, acknowledging its artistic vision amidst its production woes.

Soundtrack

The musical score was composed by John Barry, featuring a blend of original themes and period jazz standards. The film prominently showcases performances of classic songs by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler, such as "Stormy Weather" sung by Lonette McKee. Gregory Hines and Maurice Hines perform several intricate tap numbers, while arrangements evoke the sound of big band leaders like Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway. The soundtrack album was released on Geffen Records and includes contributions from jazz musicians like Bob Wilber, helping to authentically recreate the sound of the Roaring Twenties and early 1930s.

Historical context

The film uses the Cotton Club, a real Harlem nightspot operated by Owney Madden during the Prohibition era, as a microcosm of American society in the 1920s-30s. It depicts the club's policy of featuring celebrated African American performers like Duke Ellington and Lena Horne for exclusively white audiences, highlighting stark racial segregation. The backdrop includes the violent rivalries of organized crime syndicates such as those led by Dutch Schultz and Lucky Luciano, the Great Depression, and the cultural ferment of the Harlem Renaissance. Events like the Harlem riot of 1935 signal the end of the era portrayed, reflecting broader social tensions.

Category:1984 films Category:American crime drama films Category:Musical drama films