The Cool World
“HOOKER! FUZZ! JUNK! RUMBLE! These are words that mean big trouble in...”
Synopsis
A fifteen-year-old boy wants to buy a gun from an adult racketeer named Priest, in order to become president of the gang to which he belongs, and to return them to active "bopping" (gang fighting) which has declined in Harlem.
Top Cast
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Release History & Theatrical Window
April 20, 1964
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Shirley Clarke
- Screenplay & Story
- Shirley Clarke, Carl Lee, Warren Miller, Robert Rossen
- Original Score
- Mal Waldron
- Original Title
- The Cool World
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 45m
- Production Studios
- Wiseman Film Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Shirley Clarke
Shirley Clarke, Carl Lee, Warren Miller, Robert Rossen
Mal Waldron
Baird Bryant
Shirley Clarke
Frederick Wiseman
Department Leadership Roster
Shirley Clarke
Director
Shirley Clarke
Writer
Carl Lee
Writer
Shirley Clarke
Editor
Mal Waldron
Original Music Composer
Frederick Wiseman
Producer
Baird Bryant
Director of Photography
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Cool World.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Cool World.
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die (All editions 2003-2024). A cumulative list including films subsequently removed in later editions. Totaling 1,260 films as of Nov 2024. 《1001部死前必看的电影》（2003-2024 全版本累积版）： 包含自2003年首版至2024年11月德语版修订的所有影片。即使在后期版本中被剔除的电影也予以保留。 *注：榜单源数据中包含部分剧集/迷你剧，由于本片单只收录纯电影，故不再收录以下非电影条目：* • [#019] Lovers Rock (2020) • [#418] Dekalog (1989) *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-18 07:40:36 UTC+8)*
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National Film Registry
Films preserved in the Library of Congress National Film Registry.
My Film List
ESSENTIAL FILMS BY WOMEN
Imported from MUBI list: https://mubi.com/en/lists/essential-films-by-women
ESSENTIAL FILMS BY WOMEN
Imported from MUBI list: https://mubi.com/en/lists/essential-films-by-women
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Cool World
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Cool World about?
A fifteen-year-old boy wants to buy a gun from an adult racketeer named Priest, in order to become president of the gang to which he belongs, and to return them to active "bopping" (gang fighting) which has declined in Harlem.
Who directed The Cool World?
The Cool World was directed by Shirley Clarke.
Who stars in The Cool World?
The principal cast of The Cool World includes Rony Clanton, Carl Lee, Yolanda Rodríguez, Clarence Williams III, Gary Bolling.
When was The Cool World released and how long is it?
The Cool World was released in 1964 with a total runtime of 1h 45m.
Who composed the musical score for The Cool World?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Cool World was composed by Mal Waldron.
Is The Cool World based on a book or true story?
The Cool World is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Warren Miller".