Putney Swope 1969
Putney Swope
User Ratings: 1,431
Putney Swope Ratings & Reviews Explanation
Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession Fishing With John Medium Cool Real Life Little Murders
Putney Swope Photos
When its chairman dies, an advertising firm's executive board must elect someone to fill the position. Each member, unable to vote for himself, casts a secret ballot for Putney Swope (Arnold Johnson), the firm's only black executive, assuming he wouldn't receive any votes from the other members. But once in power, Swope makes radical changes to the firm -- like keeping only one white employee and refusing to advertise harmful products -- all under the firm's new moniker, "Truth and Soul, Inc."
Robert Downey Sr.
Robert Downey Sr., Henri Pachard
Herald Ace
Arnold Johnson
Pepi Hermine
President of the United States Mimeo
Allen Garfield
Elias, Jr.
Stanley Gottlieb
Charles Cuva
Gerald Cotts
Bud S. Smith
Grania Gurevitch
Gary Weist
Critic Reviews for Putney Swope
The situations include political caricature, but disappointedly nothing much beyond marginal interest occurs. The comedy is only intermittently funny and the satire is mostly shallow and obvious.
A satire on American ways of life, written and directed by Downey and misfiring on most cylinders.
February 9, 2006 | Full Review…
If you're in a silly enough mood, you might have a good time.
January 1, 2000 | Full Review…
Putney Swope was racist, a bit crude, but no one can say that it isn't one of the most (if not the only) provocative movies of the year. Everyone should go see it. If not for thorough enjoyment, then to "dig yourself."
Sandra Dobson
On whatever level one approaches it, Putney Swope remains a marvellously funny piece of work.
Richard Whitehall
Los Angeles Free Press
The commercials... are absolutely brilliant, and the sheer gonzo tenacity of the whole enterprise makes it all work, even the stuff that doesn't work.
August 21, 2012 | Rating: 8/10 | Full Review…
Christopher Long
A way of giving the middle finger to Madison Avenue.
July 14, 2007 | Rating: B- | Full Review…
The humor is occasionally forced, with some cliched comedic devices serving as satire. The commercial parodies, however, are devastatingly funny and right on the money.
December 17, 2006 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…
Great drug-fuelled and flawed social commentary.
ColeSmithey.com
June 7, 2005 | Rating: 4/5
February 7, 2005 | Rating: 3/5
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
February 20, 2004 | Rating: 3/5
Daniel M. Kimmel
Worcester Telegram & Gazette
Audience Reviews for Putney Swope
Pretty damn good satire, if I do say so myself. I didn't live anywhere near the 60's, but I can safely say that Iron Man's dad pushed quite a few buttons back in the day. As dastardly satires go, this knocked quite a few humorous conventions out of the way. Fake (so screwed up they should be real) advertisements interspersed throughout the narrative? Complete racial and gender role reversals to demonstrate double standards? It is farce at it's furthest extent, and well worth a watch. And many modern comedies could take a few cues from this film and ditch the hackneyed pop-culture references.
K Nife C Super Reviewer
Putney Swope is the most acclaimed Downey Sr. film, and it's because it was one of the riskiest films I've seen. Hardcore satire here, the whole story is of a black man taking over an advertising company as a fluke. He then fires the white crews, hires stereotypical African Americans, and the film goes full pledged racism. The crew demanding watermelon breaks, instead of smoking breaks, and that's just average. I was laughing for the majority of the film, and the hilarious advertisements. I think some of the techniques were questionable, such as dubbing Putneys voice, but it paid off. It felt a bit like a publicity stunt, but stuck to the roots. Even has a Chafed Ellbows Easter egg in there. I think I'll probably re watch this with in the month
Daniel D Super Reviewer
With the death of a CEO of an advertising firm, the board members now vote for his successor. Holding up matters temporarily is the fact that they are not allowed to vote for themselves. Soon, that is rectified when Putney Swope(Arnold Johnson), the music director and the only African American board member, is elected by a wide margin, as nobody thought anybody else would vote for him.(Coincidentally this is how "Titanic" won the Best Picture Oscar in 1997.) Putney quickly and efficiently makes a clean sweep, renaming the firm "Truth and Soul" while only retaining Nathan(Stanley Gottlieb), liking his corruption, and vowing not to work for any accounts that include alcohol, cigarettes or war toys. As satire, "Putney Swope" proves the old adage that what was once provocative and risky in its take on race relations is now safe and dated as the movie eventually runs out of steam. That's not to mention an odd subplot concerning the diminutive President(Pepi Hermine) which is offset by the movie's startling production design. As far as advertising goes, that will always provide a huge target which to the film is a racket like any other which is illustrated by mock advertisements and fictional products, the only exception being the Long Island Rail Road which is only fictional during rush hours.
Walter M Super Reviewer
When the chairman of an ad agency dies, the board all secretly vote Putney Swope, the token black executive, as the company's new leader, assuming that no one else would vote for him. He immediately fires the cracker staff, hires brothers and changes the company name to "Truth and Soul Advertising." Wicked, politically incorrect and completely absurdist satire packed with nonsense and wordplay; the president is a pot-smoking dwarf and director Robert Downey Sr. dubbed all Putney's lines, so the black hero sounds like a Brooklyn Jew.
Greg S Super Reviewer
Putney Swope Quotes