A beautiful black gangster's moll flees to Harlem with a trunkload of gold after a shootout, unaware that the rest of the gang, and a few other unsavoury characters, are on her trail. A ... See full summary
A Rage in Harlem (1991) Online
A beautiful black gangster's moll flees to Harlem with a trunkload of gold after a shootout, unaware that the rest of the gang, and a few other unsavoury characters, are on her trail. A pudgy momma's boy becomes the object of her affections and the unlikely hero of the tale.
Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Forest Whitaker | - | Jackson | |
Gregory Hines | - | Goldy | |
Robin Givens | - | Imabelle | |
Zakes Mokae | - | Big Kathy | |
Danny Glover | - | Easy Money | |
Badja Djola | - | Slim | |
John Toles-Bey | - | Jodie | |
Tyler Collins | - | Teena | |
Ron Taylor | - | Hank | |
Samm-Art Williams | - | Gus Parsons | |
Stack Pierce | - | Coffin Ed | |
Willard E. Pugh | - | Claude X | |
Helen Martin | - | Mrs. Canfield | |
Wendell Pierce | - | Louis | |
T.K. Carter | - | Smitty |
Vanessa Williams, Pam Grier, Olivia Brown, and Jasmine Guy all auditioned for the role of Imabelle.
Features the policemen Coffin Ed and the Grave Digger, also seen in the previously released Wenn es Nacht wird in Manhattan (1970) and Wenn es dunkel wird in Harlem (1972), both from the 1970s. Those films took place in the contemporary 1970s (despite adapting novels written in 1965 and 1966, respectively). However, A Rage in Harlem takes place in the 1950s (when the novel was published).
Da Lench Mob sampled the line, "We'll shut this motherfucker down!" for the song "Ain't Got No Class" from their 1992 debut album "Guerillas in the Mist."
Received a five-minute standing ovation when it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.
Robin Givens had to be literally sewn into her signature red dress.
Probably the only time you see someone put a gun to the head of a Pomeranian.
One of the stipulations that screenwriters William Horberg and John Toles-Bey had was that the film had to be directed by a black director.
300 actresses were seen for the role of Imabelle before Robin Givens got the part.
Halfway through production, produced Stephen Woolley who had set up the film as a drama with comedic undertones was in heated discussions with director Bill Duke and realized that he was taking the film too seriously. The two disagreed on the ultimate approach.
Bill Duke was given the directorial assignment because of his experience helming several episodes of Polizeirevier Hill Street (1981).
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