By: Mordicai

 

Coonskin is a film of which the majority of the public is blissfully unaware. If you can imagine Brier Rabbit meets Black Caesar meets The Sting at a Klan meeting, then you’re close. It is a film with quite a history, but little actual exposure to the screen. Controversial, definitely, whether deserving or not. I would be very surprised to see a DVD release of this title anytime soon.

 

One thing is sure - it still solicits a reaction after over thirty years.

 

Go, Scatman, Go.

 

The film opens with a live-action prison break. All roads run through Zapped, it seems, as RadRev meets up again with old friend Scatman Crothers playing an aging jailbird named Pops who’s tagging along with escapee Randy, portrayed by Philip Michael Thomas (sticking it to the man before selling out to the man on ‘Miami Vice.’) While waiting for their escort, Pops kills the time regaling a slightly miscast P.M. Thomas with a story about three guys he once knew who conveniently resemble Randy and his two friends, currently on their way to rescue them.

 

At this point, the film slips into a sumptuous feast for the eyes, a gritty, innovative mix of animation and live action, Bakshi’s trademark. Wily Brother Rabbit, the hulking Brother Bear, and the crazy Preacher Fox flee to Harlem after the convenient plot conveyance of a sheriff’s murder. The three pick up the ‘black revolution’ and start a lengthy war to liberate the Harlem rackets from the grip of the white Mob and its dirty cop lackeys. There’s a little more to the threadbare plot than that, but if you’ve seen any 70’s blacksploitation, you pretty much get the gist. There’s nothing new in terms of story here.

 

I've been to these parties.

 

The film unabashedly leans on the old black minstrel show iconography and outrageous animated depictions of African-Americans. Upon Coonskin’s premier, the Congress of Racial Equality was present to protest the film, prompting its original distributor to drop it. Bakshi was apparently surprised by the controversy; however, the film did eventually play in limited release in grindhouse venues.

 

In addition, being part Italian-American, I find his portrayal of that ethnic group slanderous as well. However, taking his other films into context, it’s apparent that Bakshi attempts to sympathize with different cultural groups, endeavoring to capture the spirit and soul of a people not his own, while being humorous at the same time. As to Bakshi’s success, and whether that is his place or not, I will leave to the individual viewer.

 

Can't spell 'donation' without the 'nation.'

 

The Chico Hamilton score fits the film’s style well and a talented cast gives a host of great voice performances. Unfortunately, Barry White is used very sparingly. An unbilled Al “Grandpa” Lewis as the Godfather takes quite a career risk, but I can imagine that a decade after his heyday in the 60’s with ‘Car 54 Where Are You?’ and ‘The Munsters,’ the money must have looked good. Luckily, Scatman Crothers is there to keep everybody honest – there’s no such thing as a bad movie with the Scatman in it.

 

This film can easily be called racist or insensitive, but, considering the protagonists are all African-American and make out well in the end, if the director’s intention was to be derogatory, it doesn’t seem to be very effective on that level. I believe Bakshi is attempting to laugh ‘with,’ not ‘at’ his audience and lampoons the very stereotypes he has been accused of promoting. My issue with Coonskin comes from the dragging story and overly-long scenes which seem to serve no purpose other than to satirize the given ethnic group. Great as a cult film and window into the times, but I would not recommend taking your mother to see this on her birthday, or pop it in if Reverend Al Sharpton is coming over for dinner.

 

Provocative, edgy, and mired in ethnic stereotypes, Coonskin is definitely not a film for

everyone, though it would not be the same unique work without its controversial elements. Short on story, but dazzling in its animation, itis a mixed bag. I recommend the film based on the incredible visuals alone. If you’re easily offended, but really bent on Bakshi, check out Heavy Traffic, Fritz the Cat or any of his mild 80’s stuff. But for my vote, I think Coonskin is one of his more personal and ambitious works. I ‘get it’ and find it highly enjoyable despite its flawed plot.

 

3/5 Tar Babies

 

 

 

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