A Rage in Harlem (film)

A Rage in Harlem is a 1991 American film starring Forest Whitaker, Danny Glover, Badja Djola, Robin Givens and Gregory Hines and loosely based on Chester Himes novel of the same name.

William Horberg, eventually credited as an executive producer, got the project started when he optioned the rights to Himes novel. Hornberg, a firsttime producer approached John TolesBey, a Chicagobased actor with no screenwriting credits, to draft the films first script the development effort gained steam after Hornberg met Kerry Boyle of Palace Productions, and through the efforts of Boyle and Stephen Woolley, the film was sold to Miramax Films and given the greenlight.According to publicity leading up to the start of principal photography, Forest Whitaker was the first of the two lead actors to commit to the film, described as an actioncomedy with very dark comedy. Whitaker among others, was consulted as Boyle and Woolley sought an African American to direct the film, doing so because they believed maintaining the cultural integrity of the novel demanded a black director they also wanted someone who was older and secure enough to collaborate and make a picture that we could distribute widely, but who still had a passion for the material. They chose Duke in part for his experience directing Hill Street Blues, experience that was key because of the way that series mixed humor and violence. Duke later cast Robin Givens to play the female lead after considering 300 women for the part. ........

Source: Wikipedia