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Movies / On DVD / Putney Swope
Putney Swope

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Putney Swope (1969)

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Reviews Counted:10

Fresh:6

Rotten:4

Average Rating:5.3/10

Runtime: 88 mins

Genre: Comedies

Synopsis: For years, Putney Swope has been the only black executive at a major Madison Avenue advertising firm, and he's seen it all: the ins and outs of an industry that has unapologetically relegated... For years, Putney Swope has been the only black executive at a major Madison Avenue advertising firm, and he's seen it all: the ins and outs of an industry that has unapologetically relegated people of color to the commercial margins. When a twist of fate lands him in the executive's chair, Swope is determined to make some significant changes. He starts by transforming a previously all-white board room into an all-black meeting of dashiki-clad, Afro-sporting "brothers and sisters." But before long, Swope's ideas start to go stale--his plan to shake things up does little more than invert Madison Avenue's hierarchical structure--and all hell breaks loose. PUTNEY SWOPE is a loose, freewheeling satire on '60s corporate America from Robert Downey, Sr., arguably the master of underground film. [More]

Starring: Arnold Johnson, Laura Greene, Allen Garfield, Antonio Fargas

Starring: Arnold Johnson, Laura Greene, Allen Garfield, Antonio Fargas, Stan Gottlieb, Bert Lawrence, Pepi Hermine, George Morgan, Allan Arbus, Robert Downey

Director: Robert Downey

Director: Robert Downey
Screenwriter: Robert Downey
Producer: Ron Sullivan, Robert Downey
Composer: Charley Cuva

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Release:

May 22, 2001

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for Putney Swope

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1 - 10 (sorted by date)
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A way of giving the middle finger to Madison Avenue.

Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | comment Comment
07/14/07
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

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.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
12/17/06
TV Guide's Movie Guide
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
12/17/06
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A satire on American ways of life, written and directed by Downey and misfiring on most cylinders.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Derek Adams
Derek Adams
Time Out

Great drug-fuelled and flawed social commentary.

comment Comment
10/12/05
Cole Smithey
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com

No review available.

comment Comment
06/07/05
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

comment Comment
02/07/05
Philip Martin
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

No review available.

comment Comment
02/20/04
Daniel M. Kimmel
Daniel M. Kimmel
Worcester Telegram & Gazette

No review available.

comment Comment
01/09/04
Robin Clifford
Robin Clifford
Reeling Reviews

If you're in a silly enough mood, you might have a good time.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
01/01/00
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
 
 
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