Crooklyn (1994)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Spike Lee

Writers:

Cinqué Lee (writer)
Joie Lee (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

13 May 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

From Spike Lee comes this vibrant semi-autobiographical portrait of a school-teacher, her stubborn jazz-musician husband and their five kids living in '70s Brooklyn. |

Plot Keywords:

Semi Autobiographical | Schoolteacher | Child's Point Of View | Family Relationships | Mother Daughter Relationship

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Alfre Woodard	...	Carolyn Carmichael
Delroy Lindo	...	Woody Carmichael
David Patrick Kelly	...	Tony Eyes / Jim
Zelda Harris	...	Troy
Carlton Williams	...	Clinton
Sharif Rashed	...	Wendell
Tse-Mach Washington	...	Joseph
Christopher Knowings	...	Nate
José Zúñiga	...	Tommy La La
Isaiah Washington	...	Vic
Ivelka Reyes	...	Jessica
Spike Lee	...	Snuffy
N. Jeremi Duru	...	Right Hand Man
Frances Foster	...	Aunt Song
Norman Matlock	...	Clem
Patriece Nelson	...	Viola
Joie Lee	...	Aunt Maxine
Vondie Curtis-Hall	...	Uncle Brown
Manny Perez	...	Hector
Tiasha Reyes	...	Minnie
Raymond Reliford	...	Possom / George
Harvey Williams	...	Possom / Tracey
Peewee Love	...	Possom / Greg
Bokeem Woodbine	...	Richard
Mildred Clinton	...	Mrs. Columbo
Emelise Aleandri	...	Florence
Omar Scroggins	...	Quentin
Daniel K. Thomas	...	Diane
Asia Gilyard	...	Cathy
Carmen Tillery	...	Brenda
Taneal Royal	...	Poochie
Kendell Freeman	...	Ronald
Kewanna Bonaparte	...	Peanut
Gary Perez	...	Juan
Arthur French	...	West Indian Store Manager
Yolande Morris	...	Sheila
Dan Grimaldi	...	Con Ed Man
Susan J. Jacks	...	Tammy (as Susan Jacks)
Christopher Wynkoop	...	TV Evangelist
Rene Ojeda	...	Louie
Tracy Vilar	...	Monica
Michele Shay	...	Drunk Woman
Hector M. Ricci	...	Tito
Nadijah Abdul-Khalia	...	Vicki
Bruce Hawkins	...	Funeral Mourner
Richard Whiten	...	Neighbour
Michelle Rosario	...	Neighbour
Maurie A. Chandler	...	Judy
Monet A. Chandler	...	Jody
Zay Smith	...	Boy in Street
Derrick Peart	...	Supermarket Customer
Ulysses Terrero	...	Supermarker Customer
Johnette Cook	...	Supermarket Customer
Desiree Murray	...	Supermarket Customer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Emalise Aleandri	...	Florence
RuPaul	...	Bodega Woman
Rich Pierrelouis	...	Store customer (uncredited)
Bob Wolff	...	Baseball Announcer (uncredited)

Directed by
Spike Lee

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Cinqué Lee		writer
Joie Lee		screenplay (as Joie Susannah Lee)
Joie Lee		story (as Joie Susannah Lee)
Spike Lee		writer

Produced by
Jon Kilik	....	executive producer
Cinqué Lee	....	associate producer
Joie Lee	....	associate producer
Spike Lee	....	producer
Monty Ross	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Terence Blanchard

Cinematography by
Arthur Jafa

Film Editing by
Barry Alexander Brown

Casting by
Robi Reed-Humes
Rob Reed

Production Design by
Wynn Thomas

Art Direction by
Chris Shriver

Set Decoration by
Ted Glass

Costume Design by
Ruth E. Carter

Makeup Department
Larry M. Cherry	....	key hair stylist
Mary Cooke	....	hair stylist
Alvechia Ewing	....	makeup artist
Diane Hammond	....	makeup artist
Andrea Miller	....	makeup artist
Annij Prestoria	....	hair designer: afrocentric hair

Production Management
Preston L. Holmes	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Lee Davis	....	second second assistant director
Mike Ellis	....	first assistant director
Sarah Gyllenstierna	....	second second assistant director
Tracey Hinds	....	key second assistant director

Art Department
Gary Aharoni	....	first set dresser
Adrienne Anderson	....	production assistant: props (as Adrienne 'Andy' Anderson)
Stephen Barth	....	scenic artist
Sam Bender	....	construction electric
Vinnie Biscaino	....	key construction grip
Peter Blechman	....	set builder
Glen Bowen	....	key construction grip (as Glenn Bowen)
Erwin Brown	....	construction grip trainee
Philip Canfield	....	set dresser
Rodney Clark	....	set builder
Lerone B. Cole	....	art production assistant
Lorenzo Contessa	....	scenic artist
Thomas Costabile	....	construction coordinator
Gregory Criscuolo	....	set builder
Chris Cumberbatch	....	scenic artist
James Curry	....	set builder
Anthony Dimeo	....	on-set dresser
Lauren Doner	....	scenic artist
Joe Donohue III	....	construction grip
Joe Donohue Jr.	....	construction grip
Deborah Dreyer	....	set dresser
Rochelle Edelson	....	camera scenic artist
John W. Farraday	....	set dresser
Robert Feltman	....	set dresser
David Flaiz	....	set builder
Christine Gardyasz	....	assistant set decorator
James Geyer	....	scenic shop person
Jeffrey L. Glave	....	chargeman scenic
Howard Goldstein	....	set dresser
Pedro Hernández	....	construction grip
Eugene J. Hines	....	set builder
Harold Horn	....	set builder
Gary Jennings	....	scenic artist
Roberto Jiménez	....	construction electric
Eric Knight	....	art department researcher
Robin Koenig	....	lead man
George Kouzoujian	....	set builder
Steve Krieger	....	set dresser
Joyce Kubalak-Szafilita	....	scenic artist
Kevin Ladson	....	property master
Michael Leather	....	set dresser
Bill Lehne	....	shop foreman
Joyce Leipertz	....	scenic artist
Virginia Lim	....	second scenic artist
Elizabeth Linn	....	scenic artist
Todd MacNicholl	....	key construction grip
Kevin Mahon	....	second assistant props
Mark Mann	....	set builder
Jann McClary	....	first assistant props
Ivan McDonald	....	assistant to set decorator
Jeffrey D. McDonald	....	assistant art director
John Merrick	....	key construction grip
Paul Moore	....	scenic artist
Ronald L. Norsworthy	....	assistant art director
Rudy Pelikan	....	construction foreman
Roberta Polito	....	construction grip
Louis J. Porzio	....	set builder
Steven Richetts	....	scenic shop person
Donna Jean Roberts	....	art department office coordinator
Jeffrey Rollins	....	set dresser
James Sherman	....	set dresser
Larry Steinberg	....	key construction grip
Peter Swaine	....	construction assistant
Lois Thompson	....	construction grip
Maria Christina Williams	....	art department office coordinator (as Maria Christina)
Robert Woods Jr.	....	construction grip
Nina Zarnett	....	key construction grip
Harriet Zucker	....	set dresser
Rosalie Russino	....	scenic artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Andy Aaron	....	sound effects recordist
Gina Alfano	....	adr assistant
Michael Barry	....	pre-mix engineer
Thornton Bayliss Jr.	....	cable person
David Boulton	....	adr engineer
Larry DeCarmine	....	cable person
Stuart Deutsch	....	boom operator
Euza Faley	....	foley editor
Chris Fielder	....	sound assistant
Tom Fleischman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Eugene Gearty	....	sound effects editor
Robert Hein	....	supervising sound editor
Frank Kern	....	foley editor
Hal Levinsohn	....	adr editor
Jeff Levison	....	stereo sound consultant: DTS
Skip Lievsay	....	sound designer
Marissa Littlefield	....	adr editor
Karen McMullen	....	adr assistant
Sylvia Menno	....	sound assistant
Todd Milner	....	apprentice sound
Rolf Pardula	....	sound mixer
Glenfield Payne	....	sound assistant
Bruce Pross	....	foley supervisor
Jim Rodnunsky	....	cable person
Fred Rosenberg	....	dialogue editor
Greg Speed	....	sound assistant
Philip Stockton	....	dialogue supervisor
Steven Visscher	....	foley editor
Shawn M. Williams	....	sound intern
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Russell Berg	....	assistant special effects
Wilfred Caban	....	assistant special effects
Steven Kirshoff	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Daniel Leung	....	visual effects
Jerome M. Siegel	....	opticals

Stunts
Jeff Ward	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Stuart Allen	....	crane operator: Louma crane
Robert M. Andres	....	key grip
John Bentham	....	camera production assistant
Beverly Cable	....	electrician
Paul Colangelo	....	additional second assistant camera
Lamont Crawford	....	grip
Christian Epps	....	electrician
Thomas Ford	....	electrician
David Hausen	....	assistant camera
Tom Kudlek	....	crane grip
Tom Kudlek	....	dolly grip
Reginald F. Lake	....	gaffer
David Lee	....	still photographer
Jonathon Leigh	....	electrician
Rick Marroquin	....	grip
Geary McLeod	....	camera operator
Robin Melhuish	....	second assistant camera
Anastas N. Michos	....	Steadicam operator
Ed Newins Jr.	....	second grip
Phil Oetiker	....	additional camera operator
George Pattison	....	additional camera operator
Christopher T. Paul	....	additional second assistant camera
Christopher T. Paul	....	second assistant camera
Robert Ragozzine	....	additional second assistant camera
Peter Ramos	....	additional second assistant camera
Floyd A.B. Rance III	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Rick Raphael	....	Steadicam operator
Ricardo Sarmiento	....	additional second assistant camera
Malik Hassan Sayeed	....	best boy (as Malik Sayeed)
Joseph Sciretta	....	gaffer: New York
Chris Skutch	....	grip
Jeffery J. Tufano	....	additional camera operator
Paul Wachter	....	best boy
Kevin Walsh	....	electrician
Robert Woods Jr.	....	grip (as Robert Woods)

Casting Department
Aisha Coley	....	casting assistant
Yolande Gerai	....	principal casting associate
Yolanda D. Hunt	....	principal casting associate
Jean Kalanzi	....	extras casting production assistant
Renton Kirk	....	extras casting assistant
Tammy Rosen	....	principal casting associate
Winsome Sinclair	....	extras casting
Eren Washington	....	production assistant: extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Donna Berwick	....	associate costume designer
Barbara Chenault	....	wardrobe assistant
Mona Haigler	....	wardrobe assistant
Ellen Ellis Lee	....	wardrobe supervisor
Estella Marie	....	wardrobe assistant
Rita McFadden	....	wardrobe assistant
Winsome G. McKoy	....	wardrobe supervisor
Jane E. Myers	....	wardrobe supervisor
Wade Sanders	....	wardrobe assistant
Wanda Sanders	....	wardrobe assistant
Tracey White	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Dale Caldwell	....	color timer
Jeffrey Cooper	....	assistant editor
Suane Samuella Loomis	....	apprentice editor
Bob McMillian	....	color timer (as Bob McMillan)
Leander T. Sales	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Bruce David Barth	....	musician: piano
Clay Berry	....	music researcher
Sandra Billingsten	....	musician: violin
Paula Bing	....	musician: flute
Virgil Blackwell	....	musician: bass clarinet
Terence Blanchard	....	conductor
Larissa Blitz	....	musician: violin
Alfred Brown	....	musician: viola
Richard Clarke	....	music recording engineer
Jean Dane	....	musician: viola
Sylvia D'Avanzo	....	musician: violin
Kate Dennis	....	musician: French horn
Kathleen Ditmer	....	musician: French horn
Marisol Espada	....	musician: cello
Barry Finclair	....	musician: violin
James Flatto	....	associate music editor
Richard Franklin	....	musician: viola
William Galison	....	musician: harmonica
Maureen Gallagher	....	musician: viola
Cecelia Gardner	....	musician: violin
Crystal Garner	....	musician: viola
Winterton Garvey	....	musician: violin
Jennie Hansen	....	musician: viola
Jean Ingraham	....	musician: violin
Jesse Levine	....	musician: viola
Peter Levin	....	music copyist
Charles Libove	....	musician: violin
Lois Martin	....	musician: viola
Melissa Meel	....	musician: cello
John Miller	....	musician: bass
James Nichols	....	music recording engineer
Ronald Oakland	....	musician: violin
Marion Pinheiro	....	musician: violin
John Pintavalle	....	musician: violin
Maxine Roach	....	musician: viola
Elliot Rosoff	....	musician: violin
Myra Segal	....	musician: violin
Richard Spencer	....	musician: viola
Debra Spohnheimer	....	musician: bass
Alex Steyermark	....	music supervisor
Dale Stuckenbruck	....	musician: violin
Blair Tindall	....	musician: oboe
Dave Tofan	....	musician: bass clarinet
Francesca Vanasio	....	musician: cello
Peter Vandewater	....	musician: violin
Yuri Vodovoz	....	musician: violin
Mineko Yajima	....	musician: violin
Ann Yarbrough	....	musician: French horn
Ming Yeh	....	musician: violin
Harry Zaratzian	....	musician: viola
Frederic Zlotkin	....	musician: cello

Transportation Department
Pete Aquino	....	driver
George Campbell	....	driver
William Curtin	....	driver
Mike Easter	....	driver
Michael Fennell	....	driver
Leo Fotopoulos	....	picture car coordinator
William K. Gaskins	....	driver
Irv Gooch	....	picture car wrangler
Ponce Granger	....	driver
George Holtzer	....	driver
Robert Johnson	....	driver
Gene Kirley	....	driver
Harry J. Leavey	....	transportation co-captain
James Leavey	....	transportation captain
William Leavey	....	driver
Ismael Rivera	....	driver
George Washington	....	driver

Other crew
Alan Aguilar	....	chef (as Alan Aguiar)
John Baldwin	....	trainer: "Mutley" and "Queenie"
Reushawn Bankss	....	helper
Lucius Barre	....	unit publicist
Diallo Beckles	....	intern
Zelma Bodzin	....	piano instructor
Thomas Bowman	....	assistant parking coordinator
Julian R. Boyance	....	intern
Rasheed Ali Brown	....	set production assistant
Ricky Brown	....	intern
Luis Camacho	....	assistant chef
Caryn E. Campbell	....	production coordinator
Shari L. Carpenter	....	continuity
Shari L. Carpenter	....	script supervisor
Yolanda Carter	....	intern
Al Cerullo	....	helicopter pilot
Spenker Chinoy	....	intern
Paulette D. Clark	....	assistant production coordinator
Carey DePalma	....	location scout
Jamal El-Amin	....	intern
Alan Ferguson	....	assistant: Ms. Jafa
Jim Fiedler	....	intern
Tamara Fort	....	intern
Michael Gaynor	....	projectionist
Nicholas Gordon	....	intern
Wendy Grantham	....	intern
Cynthia Hawkins	....	intern
Eryka Seimona Henderson	....	location assistant
Donna D. Hernandez	....	craft service
Manuel S. Hernandez	....	craft service
Charlynne J. Hopson	....	location scout
Jay Horne	....	location scout
Herman Hudson Jr.	....	intern
Stanley G. Hunte	....	violins contractor
Farnell Hurd	....	production assistant: location
Nillie Imura	....	intern
Desirée Jellerette	....	administrative director
William Keys	....	set production assistant
Khalil S. Khalil	....	location production assistant
Santena Jenaris King	....	intern
Jason Lampkin	....	intern
Amyne Loomis	....	intern
John 'yayha' Lyons	....	set production assistant
Albert Massiah	....	set production assistant
Victoria Brown McCready	....	intern (as Victoria Brown)
Andre McGlasken	....	screening room assistant
Fred Meyers	....	helper
Michael Meyers	....	intern
John P. Murchison III	....	production secretary
Eric Oden	....	production controller
John O'Hagan	....	intern
Derrick Peart	....	intern
Wayne Petrucelli	....	security coordinator (as Wayne Petrukelly)
Briton J. Petrucelly	....	assistant security coordinator
Mike Phillips	....	accountant
Michael A. Pinckney	....	set production assistant
Henry Previl	....	assistant chef
Angela Quiles	....	assistant production coordinator
Kelly Rebeiro	....	set production assistant
Ricardo Dwayne Richardson	....	location production assistant
Gingi Rochelle	....	set production assistant
Carmen Rodríguez	....	intern
Jesus A. Del Rosario Jr.	....	voiceover
Nancy L. Roth	....	location manager
Jean-Andre Sassine	....	parking coordinator
Glenn R. Schuster	....	location scout
Kevin Sharkey	....	helper
Darryl A. Smith	....	second assistant auditor
Jonathan Staten	....	location production assistant
Gary Torres	....	intern
Al Valentine	....	location manager
Joshua C. Valentine	....	production assistant
Ntshaveni Wa Luruli	....	set production assistant (as Ntshaveheni Wa Luruli)
Marcus Warner	....	assistant parking coordinator
Harold Weeks	....	intern
Avi Weider	....	intern
Adam G. Williams	....	assistant location manager
Chriss Williams	....	assistant: Mr. Lee
Harold R. Williams Jr.	....	assistant projectionist
Shawna M. Williams	....	intern
Ursula Williams	....	intern (as Ursula S. Williams)
Chuck Wilson	....	intern
Brian Wisdom	....	intern
Nicole Louise Wright	....	set production assistant
Ellee Wynn-Briscoe	....	intern
Shelby Zacharia	....	tutor
Joanna Zorick	....	first assistant auditor
Coati Mundi	....	adr voice (uncredited)
Irapaul Turner	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Richard Brick	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks
• Child Hood Productions
• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1994) (USA) (theatrical)
• Paramount Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (1995) (Argentina) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Animal Makers (animatronic animals)

Other Companies

• Cablecam International  special camera systems
• MCA Records  soundtrack

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for drug content.

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Singapore:PG | Finland:K-3 | Australia:M | South Korea:12 | Argentina:13 | UK:12 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks

Trivia:

Bokeem Woodbine's film debut.

Goofs:

Continuity: The amount of Trix cereal on the floor changes when Troy and Wendell are fighting for the box of Trix.

Quotes:

Carolyn Carmichael: Wendell, PLEASE close your mouth when you chew!
Wendell: Why can't you let me eat in peace for once?
Carolyn Carmichael: Because you disturbing the peace! You eat like a pig and chew like a cow!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Family Guy: Don't Make Me Over (#4.4)" (2005)

one of Lee's best

Crooklyn is an engaging film that stands out in Spike Lee's filmography, not only for Lee's seamless storying of everyday life in 70's Brooklyn, but also because of his interesting and innovative cinematic imagery. The cinematography Lee employs in Crooklyn helps to create fantastic -sometimes even cartoon-like- environments in which his characters spring to life and thrive. His dollying techniques (placing actors on dollies), lens choice, and manipulation of color conspire to add special characteristics to this film. This is a great film to watch not only for Lee's ability to highlight the beauty of the quotidian in his storytelling, but also for the aesthetic qualities that Lee produces with his rich filmic vocabulary.