One-Shot Wednesday
On Wednesdays, guess the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot.
Cooley High
Cooley High (1975) is a coming-of-age comedy-drama set in 1960s Chicago. It follows high school friends Preach (Glynn Turman) and Cochise (Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs) as they navigate life, dreams, and hardships in Chicago’s Cabrini-Green housing projects.
The above screenshot marks a pivotal moment in Cooley High, shifting the film’s tone from lighthearted to deeply emotional.
In this long shot, Cochise, a promising athlete, is tragically killed under the ‘L’ tracks by neighborhood hoodlums. Preach finds his friend’s lifeless body and screams for help, but the screeching train tires above drown out his cries. A touching funeral scene follows.
Cochise’s funeral is filmed at Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip, IL, the final resting place for thousands of South Chicago residents and their families. Over the heartbreaking scene, which you can watch below, the song “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday” plays.
If you are of a certain age and recognize the song outside of Cooley High, it’s likely because you remember the a cappella version recorded by Boyz II Men in 1991.
Welcome to One-Shot Wednesday!
Think you’re a Chicago screen buff?
On Wednesdays, we post one still from a movie or TV show filmed or set in the Windy City. Your mission? Guess the title!
You've already seen this week’s image above. If you're feeling nostalgic, explore the full archive of past challenges to keep the fun rolling.