In 1857, con man Quincy Drew (James Garner who's shamelessly over the top) and his black friend Jason O'Rourke (Louis Gossett Jr) are travelling through the dangerous paths pre-American Civil War. Jason, though born a free man in New Jersey, poses as Quincy's slave as the pair ride through Missouri and Kansas in 1857. Quincy Drew and his black friend Jason O'Rourke have pulled off every dodge known for conning a well-heeled sucker, but it wasn't until they hit on the old skin game that they started to clean up. The game is simple: Gosset is sold to a new owner by Garner who helps him escape. Quincy picks a likely mark in each town, sells Jason to him for top money and rides out of town. Then Quincy and Jason get back together on the road to another town, because if Jason can't just run off after dark, Quincy finds a way to spring him loose. After Jason escapes captivity, both of them share the spoils. All is well until
the slave seller Plunkett (Edward Asner) and nasty owner Galloway (Andrew Duggan) turn the tables on them. They talked their way into a fortune, then had to shoot their way out !. Would you buy a used slave from this man ?. To market, to market, to sell your best friend, then split up the money and do it again !. This Dude Gives You The Eye...While This Dude Gives You The Hustle!
An amusing enough liberal comedy western that has its fun moments, entertainment, action and some violence. Enjoyable as well as amiable screenplay by William Bowers and Richard Alan Simmons, allowing us to have good feeling for any of the roles, as the plot flows laughly along. It is exciting enough and glosses both the interdependence among protagonists and their antagonism. This plot about the peculiar conflicts and sympathetic relations between the rough, lifer Garner, and the cultured slave Gossett is well worked through a chronic circular premise. The underlying message about the evils of slavery and human greed is , of course, serious and enhances the attractivenes of the story. An entertaining and diverting film about a fast-talking and his black partner traveling throughout the antebellum South setting up scams against slave buyers. Garner and Gossett make a splendid comedy team in this different buddy flick, both of whom supply a few smiles. Their relationship bears remarkable resemblance to Burt Lancaster and Ossie Davies in 'Sidney Pollack's The Scalphunters' (1968). Louis Gossett Jr would repeat his role as Jason O'Rourke in Sidekicks (1974) by Burt Kennedy with Larry Hagman, Blythe Danner, Jack Elam and Harry Morgan. James 'Maverick' Garner and Louis Gossett Jr are well accompanied by a good support cast , such as : Susan Clark as the nice one and also a cheater Ginger, Brenda Sykes who also played a slave in ´Mandingo' , Edward Asner, Henry Jones, Neva Patterson, George Tyne, Royal Dano and special mention for Andrew Duggan who plays straight as a cruel plantation owner.
The motion picture was well directed by Paul Bogart (The Canterville Ghost , Class of 44 , Oh God you Devil, Skin Game and Marlowe also starred by Garner), though it has some flaws . Director Paul Bogart was replaced by Gordon Douglas for two to three weeks after Bogart contracted hepatitis. Rating : 6.5/10 . A squirmingly funny, though overrated, Western comedy with a stunning starring duo. The flick will appeal to James Garner and Louis Gosset fans.
An amusing enough liberal comedy western that has its fun moments, entertainment, action and some violence. Enjoyable as well as amiable screenplay by William Bowers and Richard Alan Simmons, allowing us to have good feeling for any of the roles, as the plot flows laughly along. It is exciting enough and glosses both the interdependence among protagonists and their antagonism. This plot about the peculiar conflicts and sympathetic relations between the rough, lifer Garner, and the cultured slave Gossett is well worked through a chronic circular premise. The underlying message about the evils of slavery and human greed is , of course, serious and enhances the attractivenes of the story. An entertaining and diverting film about a fast-talking and his black partner traveling throughout the antebellum South setting up scams against slave buyers. Garner and Gossett make a splendid comedy team in this different buddy flick, both of whom supply a few smiles. Their relationship bears remarkable resemblance to Burt Lancaster and Ossie Davies in 'Sidney Pollack's The Scalphunters' (1968). Louis Gossett Jr would repeat his role as Jason O'Rourke in Sidekicks (1974) by Burt Kennedy with Larry Hagman, Blythe Danner, Jack Elam and Harry Morgan. James 'Maverick' Garner and Louis Gossett Jr are well accompanied by a good support cast , such as : Susan Clark as the nice one and also a cheater Ginger, Brenda Sykes who also played a slave in ´Mandingo' , Edward Asner, Henry Jones, Neva Patterson, George Tyne, Royal Dano and special mention for Andrew Duggan who plays straight as a cruel plantation owner.
The motion picture was well directed by Paul Bogart (The Canterville Ghost , Class of 44 , Oh God you Devil, Skin Game and Marlowe also starred by Garner), though it has some flaws . Director Paul Bogart was replaced by Gordon Douglas for two to three weeks after Bogart contracted hepatitis. Rating : 6.5/10 . A squirmingly funny, though overrated, Western comedy with a stunning starring duo. The flick will appeal to James Garner and Louis Gosset fans.