Putney Swope is a satirical film directed by Robert Downey Sr., released in 1969. It tells the story of Putney Swope, a token black executive at an advertising firm run by a bunch of old white men.
When the chairman of the board suddenly dies, the executives decide to hold a vote to elect a new chairman. However, instead of voting for one of their own, the executives all vote for Putney Swope as a joke, assuming he will be a pushover and do their bidding.
To their surprise, Putney takes the job seriously and starts making radical changes to the company's image and advertising campaigns, rejecting the racist and sexist attitudes of his colleagues. He renames the company Truth and Soul, Inc. and hires a diverse group of young hipsters and radicals to create new ad campaigns that challenge mainstream attitudes and values.
With his newfound power, Putney becomes a cult figure and a voice for change, but also alienates his colleagues and customers. As he takes on more controversial campaigns, the pressure mounts and his personal and professional life falls apart.
The film is a biting satire of the advertising industry, race relations, and the counterculture of the 1960s. It features an all-black cast, with Arnold Johnson playing the role of Putney Swope. The film's radical approach and irreverent humor were groundbreaking for its time and influenced a generation of filmmakers.