''Countdown at Kusini'' (also known as ''Cool Red'') is a 1976 American-Nigerian action/drama film written by Howard Friedlander and Ed Spielman, and directed by Ossie Davis.

Synopsis

During a trip to the newly independent nation of Fahari, Africa, Red Salter, an African American jazz musician, falls in love with Leah Matanzima, but she is involved in Fahari's struggle against a puppet government run by multinational corporations. Jealous of Leah's friendship with white British journalist Charles Henderson, Red reluctantly joins her support of revolutionary leader Ernest Motapo and helps her obtain guns from weapons dealer Saidu. When Fahari officials arrest them, Charles rescues Leah and Red; then spirits them away in a motorboat, but Ben Amed, a French mercenary hired to assassinate Motapo, rams them with another boat and kills Charles. Marnie (Yola), Motapo's traitorous nephew, arranges with Amed to ambush Motapo at a railroad junction near Kusini, but Leah and Red arrive in time with revolutionary fighters. After killing Marnie and Amed, Leah welcomes Red to Africa's revolution against European imperialism.

Cast

Ruby Dee Ruby Dee (October 27, 1922 – June 11, 2014) was an American actress, poet, playwright, screenwriter, journalist, and civil rights activist. She originated the role of "Ruth Younger" in the stage and film versions of ''A Raisin in the Sun'' (19 ...

- Leah Matanzima * Ossie Davis - Ernest Motapo *

Greg Morris Francis Gregory Alan Morris (September 27, 1933 – August 27, 1996) was an American actor. He was best known for portraying Barney Collier on '' Mission: Impossible'' and Lt. David Nelson on ''Vega$''. Early life and career Born in Clevela ...

- Red Salter *

Tom Aldredge Thomas Ernest Aldredge (February 28, 1928 – July 22, 2011) was an American television, film and stage actor. He won a Daytime Emmy Award for playing the role of Shakespeare in ''Henry Winkler Meets William Shakespeare'' (1978). His Broadway ...

- Ben Amed *

Michael Ebert Michael may refer to: People * Michael (given name), a given name * Michael (surname), including a list of people with the surname Michael Given name "Michael" * Michael (archangel), ''first'' of God's archangels in the Jewish, Christian and ...

- Charles Henderson * Thomas Baptiste - John Okello *

Jab Adu Jab Adu (December 28, 1932 - 2016), born Joseph Abiodun Babajide, was an actor and producer from Nigeria. He directed the 1977 Nigerian film '' Bisi, Daughter of the River'', the highest grossing film in Nigeria for several decades. He was among t ...

- Juma Bakari * Elsie Olusola - Mamouda *

Funsho Adeolu Funsho Adeolu (born 9 May 1968) is a Nigerian actor, film director and film producer. Early life Adeolu was born on 9 May 1968 in Ondo State, southwestern Nigeria. Funsho went to Baptist Academy. He has consistently been credited for Countdow ...

- Marni * Ibidun Allison - Sniper

Production

The film was conceived and entirely financed by

Delta Sigma Theta Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. () is a historically African American sorority. The organization was founded by college-educated women dedicated to public service with an emphasis on programs that assist the African American community. Delta ...

, an African-American sorority that owned DST Telecommunications which produced material to counter the "inaccurate portrayal of black people in media." Filming took place in August 1974 in

Lagos Lagos (Nigerian English: ; ) is the largest city in Nigeria and the List of cities in Africa by population, second most populous city in Africa, with a population of 15.4 million as of 2015 within the city proper. Lagos was the national ca ...

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

with both U.S. and Nigerian crews. Dee, Davis and Morris deferred their salaries until the film made a profit.

References

External links

* * 1976 films American action drama films 1970s action drama films 1970s war drama films Films directed by Ossie Davis Films set in Africa Films shot in Lagos Nigerian action drama films American films about revenge Films about revenge 1976 drama films 1970s English-language films English-language Nigerian films 1970s American films {{action-drama-film-stub