MovieChat Forums > Cooley High (1978) Discussion > When Cocheese Died

When Cocheese Died

posted 18 years ago by FrankZitto
15 replies | jump to latest

Although this was a tough moment in the film. A good guy like Cheese to die the way he did. This film displays just how most young guys would deal with one another in the 70's and before. Even though violence is violence, at least they would fight with their hands, and not shoot each other like they do today. If Cheese did not hit his head on the metal bar of the train fixture, he would have lived. He would have been beat up, but he wouldn't have died. You see back then if you got beat up, you could live to talk about it. Today, it's another story.

That's one of the reasons why this was a great film. Remebering how it used to be. There was hope and respect as well. Even when that bad ass Damen walks into the party, at least he had the courtesy to remove his hat and his jacket, while in Dorothy's house. Or when everyone would hang out at Big Mama's joint. They didn't just hang out there and loiter. They would either pay their money to dance, or to eat a meal. Okay, Preech would try to be slick and play craps in the back. But when big mama caught him with the cleaver, Preech headed out the door quick, because he knew he was wrong. Still, all about respect.

Great Film

Happy 30th Anniversary Eric Monte, and the entire Cooley High class of 74.

[–] JoeLoebner 18 years ago

Class of 75.

[–] FrankZitto 18 years ago

Thanks for the correction Joe.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] Mincom 18 years ago

I remember seeing that movie and scene and you're right that he would have survived the beating if he hadn't hit his head, from the looks of it he probably would have just suffered a few busted ribs and lots of bruises too....

[–] TahitianVeronica 16 years ago

You know, I know that him hitting the railing didn't help him, but I don't think that's what ultimately killed him.

After reading this post, I watched Cooley High again. I closely analyzed the beating scene over and over. I even played it in slow motion to see just how his head made contact with the metal beam.

If you watch it closely, you will see that Cochise hit neither the top nor side of his head on the railing. I swear it looks like he hit around the chin area. Now, he hit it pretty darn hard, but even with the severity of that blow, it alone would not result in his sudden death. If anything, he would've gotten a broken jaw or fractured chin at he most. I believe the beating itself killed him. I believe he suffered too many fists/blows to the head and succumbed to that instead. I mean he was beaten pretty bloody before he even made contact with the metal beam. And he even tried to get up before he died.

[–] blue_smoke 16 years ago

Keep in mind that the scene isn't real. They're only acting.

[–] nsavage3-1 16 years ago

I like what the original poster of this thread said about the difference in behavior of people in the 70's, versus the youth of today.

Back then, there was always a certain amount of respect for adults, especially older folks. Even the thugs were decent compared to the way teenagers act today. Today, a place like "Martha's" would probably have to hire security to keep folks in line, or put up bullet-proof glass inside.

[–] YouToober 16 years ago

Yeah, its messed up today. The proliferation of guns, drugs, STDs - Man! Kids today are exposed to MORE things than the kids of the '70s.

But, in my opinion, it still begins in the home. Mom, Daddy, Older brother, sister - someone that kid comes home to has to get to them while they're young. Get involved in their lives. Talks around the dinner table, family activites, etc.

There are positive kids out there now, too. Not to trash ALL kids today. But I believe do things could get better if the family comes together.

[–] MrsMonroe74 15 years ago

when Cocheese gets killed I can't even look at that part. I stop watching when brenda tells preach he's looking for him.

[–] uoficpa 15 years ago

As a young boy that grew up in Chicago, I remember seeing this movie with my friends as an 8th grader and to this day,it still resonates with me. I thought that the scenes there were what high school was going to be like.
I was even inspired to play basketball in highschool because of all the ladies that playing got Chocise.

But everytime I see it, I too have to turn away before he gets killed.

I know its a movie, but it still breaks my heart.

[–] Calinks 15 years ago

Man, I'm happy I saw this movie the other night before seeing this topic!

"Cool will get ya dead." -Former NBA Power Forward, Karl Malone

[–] Sparky48 13 years ago

Yeah, I hear you Mrs. Bonner.

Whenever I see this movie on TV, and it comes to the part where Chochise asks Brenda about Preech's whereabouts, I have to turn the channel and look at something else for about five minutes so I can evade the beating scene. I turn the channel back to the movie after the five-minute period so I can catch the start of Cocheese's funeral.

This was one of the funniest movies that I have ever seen, but the irony is that it has one of the saddest endings.

[–] Avitone248 14 years ago

I'm glad that this thread explained the scene for me. Whenever I watched Cooley High, I was always annoyed at how he died, because it didn't seem like his beating was so severe that it would be fatal. I didn't know that he hit his head on a pipe.

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[–] 13 years ago

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