putney swope be a unique and low low low budget gem from the late 1960 which probably would have be forget in time if it hadn not be for two thing represent paul thomas anderson ( who name don cheadle character in boogie night and buck swope and after the eponymous hero of this film ) and the limited dvd release . watch putney swope be like listen to hardcore punk rock represent it may not make a lot of sense ( at least to me it do not upon watch it for the first time ) and but you have to respect the film for it passion and unabashedly rebellious message . i do not understand a lot of thing about putney swope and but for the most part and i like it . the more i think about the movie and the more it grow on me . the film be advertise a a parody of new york madison avenue and best know in the 1960 a the advertising capital of the world . member of generation x and y may be lose on this concept and but fortunately mad men be on tv to provide u with this otherwise lose piece of u. s. history . what you need to know before watch this movie be that these ad agency be largely male and and even more largely white establishment . with this premise in mind and the movie open up with an ad agency board meeting . the member be predominantly white except for putney swope ( arnold johnson and who bear an uncanny resemblance to dick gregory in this film ) and the token african american on the board . the board member be so self absorbed and soulless that when their chairman fall dead in front of them and their only concern be who will become chairman next . without even remove the body from the boardroom and they begin a paper ballot to elect the next chairman . putney swope be elect by a landslide and but not because the other member think swope be qualify . vote for swope be an ill fat attempt for these board member to sabotage any other member chance of be elect chairman . with their plan backfire and swope take charge and sink ( s ) the boat and fire all but one of the original member and hire all people of color in their place . after this point and the film become ( for me ) very weird and hard to follow plot wise . there may not have even be a plot and really . the whole idea of the film seem to be a what if scenario and with the result be that the new truth and soul inc. firm would be unconventional and but successful nonetheless . the firm end up make so much money that the member build a huge glass case to keep the cash in for unexplained purpose . it could be because swope doesn not trust bank and although that point be not touch upon or explain in the film . it could also be metaphoric in some way and but who know . most of the movie take place inside the ad agency and with occasional scene in the white house with a president who and for some unknown reason and be a midget . my assumption be here that some political joke be be make and but i can not figure out what . be the filmmaker say that the president be a small and insignificant part of american life . be they say that the late elect official ( nixon at the time ) be insignificant candidate . i do not know . i find it a bit eerie and however and that the man play the president bore a striking resemblance to future president ronald reagan . it be funny to make that connection 40 year after the movie be make . what this film may have benefit from be show how consumer outside the ad agency react to the new ad . of course and the ad footage possess a strange and funny appeal for it unconventional creativity and but do these ad convince people to buy the product . if so and how . the movie hint on the idea that the new ad campaign be successful through client interaction and the call from the white house . however and it would have be reveal to see average people and since that demographic have always be most profitable for advertiser . although the parody and political message this film may have make probably do not stand the test of time and this film still have a lot of unique quality . arnold johnson have a magnetic x factor to him that benefit him greatly in this film . swope rough voice be actually director robert downey and sr. voice dub in and sometimes poorly and but fit the character so well in be an authoritative outsider . he hire and fire worker at random and but earn the respect of all but one of the employee for revolutionize the ad agency and seek out new idea . the premise of the film be and and still be and incredibly risky and especially since the film be write and direct by a white man ( robert downey and sr. ) . however and this film decline to fall victim to negative black stereotype which would lead to the rise and fall of the blaxploitation genre year later . although some of the sex scene may be a bit off put for some viewer and the main message be that a black own and operated business can thrive through innovation and risk take . many people may not take a positive message away from this movie and but i just do . putney swope remain an overlooked movie from a strange era and and downey and sr. ( even despite his son recent comeback ) never quite get the recognition a a director he deserve . however and if you find a dvd of this movie and buy it and watch it . if it on netflix and ditto . it a movie that can be confuse at time and but be worth watch for it gusto and ambition and and it non conformist stature even by today movie standard .