Putney Swope (1969)

In the high-stakes world of Madison Avenue advertising, an unforeseen twist of fate lands Putney Swope, the lone black executive, the role of chairman of the board. The unwitting members of the prestigious firm, assuming Swope incapable of winning, inadvertently cast their votes in his favor. Seizing this unexpected advantage, Swope swiftly renames the company "Truth and Soul, Inc." and dismisses the majority of its elderly white personnel, replacing them with his militant comrades. In a bold departure from the status quo, Swope and his team delve into crafting subversive, shocking, and unconventional campaigns, turning the advertising world on its head. The company's meteoric rise to success under Swope's audacious leadership does not come without its adversaries, attracting the unwanted attention of the U.S. President, who views Swope and his radical team as a potential national security threat. As this dark satire unfolds, it becomes clear that power's intoxicating allure may prove to be Swope's undoing. "Putney Swope," Robert Downey Sr.'s magnum opus, is a compelling exploration of race, politics, and pop culture, firmly securing its place as a cornerstone of late 60s counterculture cinema. This film offers an incisive critique of societal norms and power structures, entwining humor and truth in a dazzling display of cinematic satire.

Putney Swope is a comedy movie featuring Arnold Johnson.

Putney Swope is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Freevee, Kanopy, Peacock, Peacock Premium, Plex, Plex Player, Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, Tubi TV and VUDU Free and it's also available on Cultpix, Night Flight Plus and fuboTV.

It is also possible to buy Putney Swope on Amazon Video and Vudu.