Cotton Comes to Harlem was released as a motion picture in 1970 (produced by Samuel Goldwyn, Jr., directed by Ossie Davis, distributed by United Artists). Although it was intended as the first of a series, it had just one sequel, based on The Heat's On and released in 1974: Come Back Charleston Blue (produced by Goldwyn, directed by Davis, distributed by Warner Brothers).

Although these films were reasonably popular, they were thoroughly disliked by Himes, who felt that the screenplays made his two detectives of no consequence. While the screenplays do not do justice to the frantic violence and grim humor of the novels, more fundamental problems are the thoroughly routine direction and the miscasting of Godfrey Cambridge and Raymond St. Jacques as the two detectives. St. Jacques is adequate as Coffin Ed, but Cambridge, with his big moon face, rolling eyes, and enormous belly, is more amiable than frightening...