Review of Coonskin (1975) by Stuart K — 01 Mar 2010
You'd never get away with a film like this now!! Ralph Bakshi, riding high after the success of Fritz the Cat (1972) and Heavy Traffic (1973), teamed up with Oscar-winning producer Albert S. Ruddy, for this dark satire of blaxploitation films, done in animation, (with live action segments throughout), with a plot not too far removed from Song of the South (1946).
It has our Uncle Remus, prisoner Pappy (Scatman Crothers) who recalls the story of three criminals, Brother Rabbit (Philip Michael Thomas), Brother Bear (Barry White) and Preacher Fox (Charles Gordone), who take on the world of organised crime in Harlem, including homophobic cop Madigan, con-men Simple Savior and 'Black Jesus', plus The Godfather and his transexual Mafia sons.
Highly controversial upon release, but it's since achieved cult status, it's the only one of it's kind, but it ain't racist, it's making fun of racist stereotypes, though it does have a serious undercurrant.
It's very violent, and it doesn't hold up on the sex either. But fearless as he was then, it nearly killed Bakshi's career, hence he did The Lord of the Rings (1978).
This review of Coonskin (1975) was written by Stuart K on 01 Mar 2010.
Coonskin has generally received positive reviews.
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