framptonhollis Robert Downey Sr.'s filmography is a treasure trove of surrealism, experimental filmmaking, satire, and hilarity, and "Putney Swope" is often considered to be the man's masterpiece. While I personally prefer "No More Excuses", I can definitely say that "Putney Swope" is likely his most well made and scripted film. It's a laugh out loud satire of greed, race, politics, commercials, etc., and is one of the funniest films ever made. Some of the humor is so dark and strange that it reminded me of some of the more humorous moments in David Lynch's work (especially "Eraserhead").While it is a great and entertaining film, I refrain from giving it a perfect score simply because it did feel a little bit tedious towards the ending, and there were less laughs. However, it is still a genius and intelligent little film that begs to be seen by all lovers of satire and dark humor.

moonspinner55 Writer-director Robert Downey Sr. satirizes Madison Avenue and race relations in the modern age (circa 1969), with mixed results. The only black man on the board of an advertising agency is voted in as president after the company's original leader drops dead during a meeting; his name is Putney Swope, and he vows not to rock the boat--he's gonna sink the boat! Downey uses sacred cows as comedic targets, and he's definitely up to the challenge of a rudely hip skewering of marketing and big business (technically, the picture is smooth, clear-eyed and quite well-assembled for guerrilla filmmaking). However, the humor is hostile and occasionally ignorant, and how funny you find the results may depend on your tolerance for outdated racial commentary and stereotypes. ** from ****

Bill Slocum What would happen to an ad agency circa 1969 that became appropriated by a cell of black radicals led by a gravel-voiced man with an affection for Fidel Castro duds? Watching "Putney Swope" doesn't offer much of an answer, but its quicksilver style and dark humor makes for a fascinating if frustrating experience.A Manhattan agency struggles with loser clients, less than a million a day in gross earnings, and a CEO splayed dead in the boardroom. To replace him, the board members (proscribed from voting for themselves) all cast their secret-ballot votes for the board's token black, Putney Swope (Arnold Johnson) knowing he won't win. Guess what? After taking control, Swope decides he'd rather sink the boat than rock it, replacing the white guys with various "brothers" and filling the airwaves with tasteless but surprisingly effective commercials.A counterculture sleeper hit when it came out in 1969, "Putney Swope" is not a story so much as a loose collection of blackout sketches tied to the strange title character, who has moral qualms about marketing booze, tobacco, and war toys but treats both staff and clients with naked contempt.Confronting a group of ingratiating clients, Swope (whose voice is dubbed throughout the film very gratingly by writer-director Robert Downey Sr.) demands a million each in cash, no please or thank you."Give us the name of your product, what its supposed to do, then take a walk," he says. "We don't need lames in the hallway.""Putney Swope" starts strong, opening with the white board members and Swope taking a meeting from a strange guy in jackboots, Nazi regalia, and a motorcycle jacket emblazoned with the words: "MENSA Chapter." He turns out to be a consultant who gives a four-sentence speech about beer and is gone. Then they get to arguing. One objects to Swope's recommendation about dropping war toys: "Deny a young boy the right to have a toy gun, and you'll suppress his destructive urges and he'll turn out to be a homosexual, or worse."Soon after the takeover occurs, however, the film loses its way. Downey seems at a loss as to what to do with Swope, and shifts the story into a series of vignettes about black radicalism and commercial parodies. The parodies run on too long and often misfire. The race angle is more interestingly presented, not so much because Downey is really exploring it so much as using it as a handy third- rail for his politically incorrect comedy. It's bold and daring but more than a little gormless, too.One worker suggests replacing coffee breaks with watermelon breaks. As two black men drag out a white client, he exclaims that he feels like an Oreo cookie. As he makes love to a woman in her bedroom, Swope pulls down her Sidney Poitier poster."Every single account pulled out!""I wish I pulled out! Too many dependents, baby!"Johnson seems lost in the central role, which I blame on Downey taking away his voice. Downey claimed he had to do this because Johnson kept forgetting his lines. If so, why didn't Downey let Johnson dub himself?Downey also spends too much time on Antonio Fargas, who wears Arab get-up (Swope: "Who do you think you are? Lawrence of Nigeria?") and talks a blue streak in what Downey says in his DVD commentary was largely improvisation. Fargas has the right in-your-face tone for this film, but his talking for effect becomes more wearying than funny.The best things about "Putney Swope" are the way it moves (credit editor Bud S. Smith and Downey) and the score by Charley Cuva, which is often brilliant. As a time capsule, it's fascinating, and you will laugh more than once. But it leaves an empty feeling.

mikey-242-435767 I like lots of oddball movies. I even liked Spaceballs. Kentucky Fried Movie was great! I would give it a 10. The Naked Gun series, Airplane series.. anything Abrams/Zucker will do quite well for me, thank you. But this one was a complete miss. It was slow. The acting was bad. The actors seemed like they were just there to display a stereotype of some character type. But it was embarrassing to watch.Maybe I am reviewing this from the wrong time of the society. Maybe it was easier to take "back then". I am also unable to watch "Amos & Andy" TV shows now. I used to love them on radio and on TV. But now I am unable to watch the shows. The character types are too stereotypical and embarrassing. Oh, well, just my opinion. I did not finish this one and already deleted it. Won't try again. If you waste your time on this one, it won't be my fault. I would give a 0 but it is not available.