The board of directors at a Madison Avenue ad agency must elect a new chairman. In the maneuvering to make sure that enemies don't get votes, all the members accidentally cast their ballot for the board's token black man, Putney Swope.
Director:
Writer:
Award:
- 1 win.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Complete, Cast awaiting verification
| Stan Gottlieb | ... |
Nathan
(as Stanley Gottlieb)
|
|
| Allen Garfield | ... |
Elias, Jr.
|
|
 |
Archie Russell | ... |
Joker
|
|
|
Ramon Gordon | ... |
Bissinger
|
|
|
Bert Lawrence | ... |
Hawker
|
|
|
Joe Madden | ... |
Mr. Syllables
(as Joe Engler)
|
| Arnold Johnson | ... |
Putney
|
|
|
|
David Kirk | ... |
Elias, Sr.
|
|
|
Don George | ... |
Mr. Cards
|
|
|
Buddy Butler | ... |
Putney's Bodyguard
|
|
|
Vincent Hamill | ... |
Man in White Suit
|
|
|
Tom Odachi | ... |
Wing Soney
|
|
|
Ching Yeh | ... |
Wing Soney, Jr.
|
|
|
Spunky-Funk Johnson | ... |
Mr. Major
|
|
|
Joe Fields | ... |
Pittsburgh Willie
|
|
|
Norman Schreiber | ... |
Messenger
|
| Robert Staats | ... |
Mr. War Toys
(as Bob Staats)
|
|
|
|
Alan Abel | ... |
Mr. Lucky
|
|
|
Sol Brawerman | ... |
Mr. Dinkleberry
|
|
|
Steven Ben Israel | ... |
Mr. Pit Stop
(as Ben Israel)
|
| Mel Brooks | ... |
Mr. Forget It
|
|
| Luise Heath | ... |
Secretary
(as Louise Heath)
|
|
|
|
Barbara Clarke Chisolm | ... |
Secretary
(as Barbara Clarke)
|
|
|
Catherine Lojacono | ... |
Lady Beaver
|
|
|
Johnjohn Robinson | ... |
Wayne
|
|
|
Charles Carlton Buffum | ... |
Director
(as Charles Buffum)
|
|
|
Ron Palombo | ... |
Assistant Director
|
|
|
Wendy Apple | ... |
Script Girl
(as Wendy Appel)
|
| Antonio Fargas | ... |
The Arab
|
|
|
|
Geegee Brown | ... |
Secretary
|
|
|
Vance Amaker | ... |
Wall Man
|
|
|
Al Green | ... |
Cowboy #1
|
|
|
Chuck Ender | ... |
Cowboy #2
|
| Anthony Chisholm | ... |
Cowboy #3
|
|
|
|
Walter Jones | ... |
Jim Keranga
|
|
|
Khaula Bakr | ... |
Mrs. Keranga
|
|
|
Melvia Marshall | ... |
Little Keranga
(as Melvia)
|
|
|
Annette Marshall | ... |
Little Keranga
(as Annette)
|
|
|
Andrea Marshall | ... |
Little Keranga
|
|
|
Laura Greene | ... |
Mrs. Swope
|
|
|
Laraaji | ... |
Mr. Victrola Cola
(as Ed Gordon)
|
|
|
Eric Krupnik | ... |
Mark Focus
|
| George Morgan | ... |
Mr. Token
|
|
|
|
Abdul Hakeim | ... |
Bouncer
|
| Allan Arbus | ... |
Mr. Bad News
|
|
|
|
Jesse McDonald | ... |
Young Militant
|
|
|
C. Robert Scott | ... |
Militant #1
|
|
|
Leopoldo Mandeville | ... |
Militant #2
|
|
|
Vince Morgan Jr. | ... |
West Indian
|
|
|
Al Browne | ... |
Moderate
|
|
|
Marie Claire | ... |
Eugenie Ferliger / Nun
|
|
|
Eileen Peterson | ... |
Narrator (voice)
|
|
|
William H. Boesen | ... |
Bert / Mr. Lunger
|
|
|
Carol Farber | ... |
Secretary
|
|
|
Cerves McNeill | ... |
Youngblood
|
|
|
Carolyn Cardwell | ... |
Borman Six Girl
|
|
|
Chuck Green | ... |
Myron X alias Rufus
(as Charles Green)
|
|
|
Pepi Hermine | ... |
President of the United States
|
|
|
Ruth Hermine | ... |
First Lady
|
|
|
Paul Storob | ... |
Secret Service Man
|
|
|
Lawrence Wolf | ... |
Mr. Borman Six
(as Larry Wolf)
|
|
|
Jeff Lord | ... |
Mr. Bald
|
|
|
Tom Boya | ... |
Mr. O'Dinga
|
|
|
Major Cole | ... |
Idea Man #1
|
|
|
David Butts | ... |
Idea Man #2
|
|
|
Franklin Scott | ... |
Idea Man #3
|
|
|
Paul Alladice | ... |
Idea Man #4
|
|
|
Exit | ... |
Idea Man #5
|
|
|
Ronnie Dyson | ... |
Face Off Boy
(as Ronald Dyson)
|
| Shelley Plimpton | ... |
Face Off Girl
|
|
| Elzbieta Czyzewska | ... |
Putney's Maid
|
|
|
|
Paulette Marron | ... |
Air Conditioner Girl
|
|
|
Delilah | ... |
Stewardess #1
|
|
|
Carol Hobbs | ... |
Stewardess #2
|
|
|
Birgitta | ... |
Stewardess #3
|
|
|
Grania | ... |
Interviewer
|
|
|
Marco Heiblim | ... |
Lucky Passenger
|
| Peter Maloney | ... |
Putney's Chauffeur
|
|
|
|
Larry Greenfield | ... |
Lead Reporter
|
|
|
Lloyd Kagin | ... |
Billy Reilly
|
|
|
Perry Gewirtz | ... |
Sonny Williams
|
|
|
Herbert Kerr | ... |
Bodyguard #2
|
|
|
Hal Schochet | ... |
President Mimeo's Chauffeur
|
|
|
Fred Hirschhorn | ... |
Mr. Bourbon
|
|
|
George Marshall | ... |
Mr. Executive
|
|
|
Donald Lev | ... |
Poet
|
|
|
Donald Breitman | ... |
Mr. Ethereal Cereal
(as Donahl Breitman)
|
| Peter Benson | ... |
Mr. Jingle
|
|
| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Don Calfa | ... |
Man Helping Mr. Syllables Walk (uncredited)
|
|
| Marlene Clark | ... |
Stewardess (uncredited)
|
|
| Robert Downey Sr. | ... |
Putney Swope (uncredited) (voice)
|
|
| David Downing | ... |
(uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Bob Larkin | ... |
(uncredited)
|
|
|
Annette Larkins | ... |
(uncredited)
|
|
|
Mama Lu Parks | ... |
Woman (uncredited)
|
Directed by
| Robert Downey Sr. | ... | (as Robert Downey [a prince]) |
Written by
| Robert Downey Sr. | ... | (written by) (as Robert Downey [a prince]) |
Produced by
| Robert Downey Sr. | ... | producer |
| Henri Pachard | ... | associate producer (as Ronald Sullivan) |
Music by
| Charley Cuva | ||
Cinematography by
| Gerald Cotts | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Bud S. Smith | ... | (as Bud Smith) |
Editorial Department
| Pat Dobie | ... | assistant editor |
Casting By
| Grania Gurievitch | ||
Art Direction by
| Gary Weist | ||
Production Management
| Henri Pachard | ... | production supervisor (as Ronald Sullivan) |
Sound Department
| Tom Dillinger | ... | sound mixer |
| Bruce Perlman | ... | assistant sound |
| Michael Scott | ... | sound |
Special Effects by
| Bill Daley | ... | special effects |
| Tom Daniel | ... | special effects |
| Dan List | ... | special effects |
| Josh Zander | ... | special effects |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Norris Eisenbrey | ... | assistant cameraman |
| Paul Goldsmith | ... | lighting |
| Alex Hitchcock | ... | head grip |
| Arthur Marks | ... | lighting |
| Don Walters | ... | head grip |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Joanne Schielke | ... | costume coordinator |
Music Department
| David Baker | ... | music engineer |
Script and Continuity Department
| Sharon Sachs | ... | script supervisor |
Additional Crew
| Wendy Apple | ... | production assistant (as Wendy Appel) |
| Eric Krupnik | ... | production assistant |
| Barbara Wise | ... | production coordinator |
Thanks
| John Simon | ... | special thanks |
Production Companies
- Herald Productions (II) (produced by)
Distributors
- Cinema V (1969) (United States) (theatrical)
- Contemporary Films (1970) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Sandrew Film & Teater (1971) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1991) (United States) (VHS)
- The Criterion Collection (2012) (United States) (DVD)
- Vinegar Syndrome (2019) (World-wide) (Blu-ray)
- Vinegar Syndrome (2019) (World-wide) (DVD)
- World One TV (2021) (World-wide)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- New Breed Inc. (costume design)
- The Optical House (opticals)
- Chermayeff & Geismar Associates (titles)
- Guggenheim Foundation (special thanks to)
- Arrow Media Services (Digital asset servicing: Re-release services)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Dark satire in which the token black man on the executive board of an advertising firm is accidentally put in charge. Renaming the business "Truth and Soul, Inc.", he replaces the tight regime of monied white ad men with his militant brothers. Soon afterwards, however, the power that comes with its position takes its toll on Putney...
Written by Doug Mosurak |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | He runs it down the flagpole and up the establishment See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
Additional Details
| Also Known As |
|
| Runtime |
|
| Country | |
| Language | |
| Color | |
| Aspect Ratio |
|
| Sound Mix | |
| Filming Locations |
Box Office
| Budget | $200,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Robert Downey Sr. redubbed all of Arnold Johnson's lines. According to Downey, he did this because Johnson had trouble remembering his lines and often flubbed them during filming. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Precious Images (1986). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Let Me Tell You Something See more » |
| Crazy Credits | As the credit for Robert Downey Sr. scrolls up the screen, the words "(a prince)" appear next to his name. See more » |
| Quotes |
Idea Man:
Putney! I've been supervising the war toy account for 12 years. And let me tell you something: 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. See more » |