THE COOL WORLD

Duke, a black adolescent and member of the Royal Pythons. lives in Harlem with his mother and grandmother. Following the departure of their friend Littleman's father, the Pythons appropriate the apartment, installing Luanne as resident prostitute. Despite the fact that Luanne is Python president Blood's girlfriend, she and Duke fall in love. Discovering that Blood is a heroin addict, Duke assumes leadership of the gang. During an idyll at Coney Island, however, Luanne vanishes, and Duke returns to Harlem. During a halfhearted battle with the Wolves, a rival gang, Duke stabs an antagonist. Seeking refuge, he rushes to Python headquarters, where he discovers the corpse of a friend. At home he is apprehended by police.

Director and editor: Shirley Clarke.
Screenplay: Shirley Clarke, Carl Lee, da un romanzo di Warren Miller.
Director of photography: Baird Bryant, Leroy McLucas.
Luci: Tom Magravite.
Art director: Roger Furman.
Music: Mal Waldron.
Musica Jazz: Dizzy Gillespie, Yusuf Lateef, Mal Waldron, Aaron Bell, Arthur Taylor.
Musica Rock: Herb Lowell, Charles Jackson, Julian Euell, Hal Singer.
Musica Gospel: Barbara Webb ("Calliope" eseguita da Stan Free).
Cast: Hampton Clanton (Richard "Duke" Custis), Yolanda Rodriguez (Luanne), Carl Lee (Priest), Georgia Burke (Grandma), Bostic Felton (Rod), Charles Richardson (Beep Bop), Bruce Edwards (Warrior), Teddy McCain (Saint), Gary Bolling (Littleman), Ronald Perry (Savage), Lloyd Edwards (Foxy), Ken Sutherland (Big Jeff), Billy Taylor (Mission), Jay Brooks.
Production company: Frederick Wiseman.