MovieChat Forums > Cooley High (1978) Discussion > The funeral scene

The funeral scene

posted 13 years ago by Ilario1
9 replies | jump to latest

With the song by GC Cameron, the funeral scene in this movie has to be the most brilliant and most touching I have ever seen in a film. Preach watching from behind the bushes and sees everybody he has to walk away from. Then he comes out of hiding and the only person who sees him is Pooter as he's driving by. Then he proceeds to go alone to the grave and say his final goodbyes to his best friend alone. I cry like a baby every time I watch it.

"What happens to a dream deferred?"

[–] YouToober 13 years ago

Yes, it is a very touching scene.

Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs said he saw the film with John Travolta way back when. He (Jacobs) said that when Travolta saw the funeral scene he cried also.

[–] Sparky48 13 years ago

Yeah, that did happen. I remember seeing Jacobs on a TVOne talk show saying that.

I can handle the funeral, but Cochesse getting beaten to death was just too much for me, so much so that even today if I watch this movie on TV, I have to turn the channel and look at something else for five minutes when I know that the beating scene is imminent. I guess what makes it so sad was the injustice of it all.

[–] nsavage3-1 13 years ago

I completely agree. A perfect, bitter-sweet ending, and done so very perfectly.

The atmosphere was perfect- rainy/drizzle, and cloudy. As the family members and close friends leave, it appears that they are looking for Preech, wondering why he's not there. Preech didn't care about making an appearance for show or to prove anything. He wanted privacy for he and his best friend, to say goodbye.

The part I ALWAYS loose it on is when Pooter sees Preech walking toward the grave. He's crying and looks so sad, but his expression turns to comfort when he sees that Preech did show up.

I also love the end credits that show each person and where they went later in life. The song is perfect (Reach Out / I'll be there).

Just the right touches to make this movie stand out as a true classic.

[–] Sparky48 13 years ago

Yeah, you hit the nail on the head. But for me the entire movie was bitter-sweet.

"Cooley High" is without question one of the most hilarious movies to ever come out of Hollywood, but the irony is that it had one of saddest movie endings in cinema history.

[–] Ilario1 13 years ago

nsavage3-1

Thanks so much for articulating what I was feeling so much about this scene. It overwhelms when I watch it. That shot of Pooter when he sees preach just floors me too. Just perfect. I am so glad that someone else sees the beauty in that scene.

"What happens to a dream deferred?"

[–] nsavage3-1 13 years ago

Thanks Ilario-

That was a perfect moment. To top it off, the song (Its So Hard....) was building the scene to that moment when Preech walks over to the grave, and the song reaches a perfect place for that moment with Pooter. Then, the focus is all on Preech and Cochise, as the song ends.

I've seen other movies try to achive a moment like this, but they usually fall short of pulling the emotion like this scene at the end of Cooley High.

As someone else mentioned, the movie is mixed with lots of humor, but there is an element of sadness that exists in the backround. But, life goes on. And I love the credits too because we see that some had tragic ends, while others did alright.

It all adds a realistic quality to the movie, and much more realistic than most. Such an underappreciated classic.

PS-- I still know people that think this movie was a true story, just because of the end credits :) I try to tell them its all part of the story, but they swear its all true!

[–] Ilario1 13 years ago

nsavage3-1- Exactly!

At that moment Preach appears out of the brush, the part "and I'll take with me the memories" comes in loud and clear. I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed this.

Definitely underappreciated.

"What happens to a dream deferred?"

[–] Dodger20 (1) a year ago

Eric Monte, the screenwriter has stated in interviews on Youtube and other places that 'Cooley High" is a true story , and he is "Preach". The scene at the burial could not have been acted or directed any better. "It's so hard to say Goodbye to Yesterday" was written for the film and is used brilliantly. I started crying I believe as soon as I saw the hearse.

[–] 13 years ago

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