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Putney Swope (1969)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 5.4/10
Reviews Counted: 10
Fresh: 6 | Rotten: 4

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 2
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 1

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Average Rating: 3.8/5
User Ratings: 1,157

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Movie Info

After several years working along the margins of the underground film scene in New York, director Robert Downey broke through to wider recognition with the arthouse hit Putney Swope, a wildly irreverent satire of race and advertising in America. Putney Swope (Arnold Johnson) is the token African-American executive at an otherwise all-white advertising agency when the chairman of the board unexpectedly drops dead. Through a fluke in the chain of command, Swope becomes the new head of the firm,

R, 1 hr. 24 min.

Classics, Comedy

Directed By: Robert Downey Sr.

Written By: Robert Downey Jr.

In Theaters: Jul 10, 1969 Wide

On DVD: May 22, 2001

Rhino Home Video

Putney Swope Trailer & Photos

Cast

Stanley Gottlieb
Nathan
Allen Garfield
Elias Jr.
Arnold Johnson
Putney
Buddy Butler
Putney's Bodyguard
Ramon Gordon
Bissinger
Norman Schreiber
Messenger
Antonio Fargas
The Arab
Laura Greene
Mrs. Swope
Allan Arbus
Mr. Bad News
Peter Benson
Mr. Jingle
Elzbieta Czyzewska
Putney's Maid
Joe Engler
Mr. Syllables
Joe Fields
Pittsburgh Willie
Don George
Mr. Cards
Eddie Gordon
Mr. Victrola Cola
Vincent Hamill
Man in White Suit
Pepi Hermine
President of the United...
Spunk-Funk Johnson
Mr. Major
David Kirk
Elias Sr.
Tom Odachi
Wing Sobey
Shelley Plimpton
Face-Off Girl
Archie Russell
Joker
Robert Staats
Mr. War Toys
Ching Yeh
Wing Soney Jr.
Alan Abel
Mr. Lucky
Bert Lawrence
Hawker
Peter Maloney
Putney's Chauffeur
George Morgan
Mr. Token
Scott Franklin
Perry Gerwitz
Sonny Williams
Ruth Hermine
First Lady
George Marshall
Mr. Executive
Lawrence Wolf
Mr. Borman Six
Walter Jones
Jim Keranga
Charles Green
Mel Brooks
Mr. Forget It

Critic Reviews for Putney Swope

All Critics (10) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (6) | Rotten (5) | DVD (4)

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.

December 17, 2006 Full Review Source: Variety

| Comment

Variety

Top Critic

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

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

| Comment

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

A way of giving the middle finger to Madison Avenue.

July 14, 2007 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

| Comment

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.

December 17, 2006 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide

| Comment

TV Guide's Movie Guide

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

February 9, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

| Comment

Derek Adams

Time Out

Great drug-fuelled and flawed social commentary.

October 12, 2005 Comment

Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Putney Swope

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This movie is cool, it made its audience think about the racism in the media at the time and showed in a radically comedic way how things could change. I think this movie is awesome, but it has some weak spots, it could be a bit better. Overall, I liked it, it's good, and I highly recommend checking it out.

September 5, 2010

AJ Verser

Super Reviewer

robert downey's dad produced this withering satire in 1969 giving madison avenue and 60's race relations a thorough skewering. it's a bit scattered and certainly dated with no-budget production values and the dubbing of swope's lines throughout bothered me. i wish i could give it more than 3 stars as i certainly

June 28, 2008

Stella Dallas

Super Reviewer

Putney Swope Quotes

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