Putney Swope (1969)

Putney Swope

By Yahoo! Shopping User  May 28, 2001

I wrote this review just after my 50th birthday in June 2000 prior to a gathering of my college friends with whom I saw Putney Swope in 1970.

This film is Treasure, June 10, 2000

It is 1970; I am 19 years old and it is my first date with a girl named Angel (her last name). I am a sophomore at a university in Los Angeles (CSUN) and the week before my date, my buddies and I saw Putney Swope at the Fox Theatre, in Westwood. With my laughing muscles in my face and stomach still aching from their strain during the movie, I called Miss Angel and invited her out. She was a prissy little girl and I thought that Swope would be a quick way to cut through her pretentiousness. I put her on notice after asking her "how gross do you go?" in preparing her for the film. She accepted the challenge.

I picked her up in my bright yellow brand new Ford Maverick. She sneered at the lack of leather or power windows or status car crests. About halfway through the movie she leaned over to me and asked me to take her home. She hated it and hated me. Being a gentleman I determined that she had adequate bus fare and sent her home.

The movie is my absolute favorite. A depiction of reality demonstrating that regardless of a person's exterior paint job, we are all the same on the inside. I, along with my college buddies, never let a visit pass without some reference to this movie. For 20 year olds, it was a valuable lesson in our lives.

The passing of Arnold Johnson last month (May 2000) adds a touch of sorrow to tonight's gathering of my buddies as we celebrate our 50th birthdays. See the film and learn about Chairman Mario, Mark Focus, President Mimeo, Wynn Sony, Victrola Cola, Lawrence of Nigeria and Face Off. The Borman 6 girl sure does have soul.

Joel
Hollywood Hills, California