Zwei Galgenvögel

Shows the hypocrisy of slavery while also showing a bond between a white and black man running a con on slave traders. Had some really funny parts too! I never knew about this movie.

American film critic Leonard Maltin describes Skin Game as an exceptional comedy...and I agree with him. To make a comedy focussing on two con men ripping off slave owners without regard to any-thing but making money, while at the same time satirizing American slavery is itself bold and original, especially considering the film was made in 1971. However, to make such a comedy work so smoothly and inoffensively as it does is indeed exceptional. Skin Game manages to work for a number of reasons, including because it is serious when it needs to be, complementing the humour with well-crafted dramatic moments that are firmly anchored in the plot and effectively convey the injustice and tragedy of slavery. It does this without attempting to make any grand moralizing statements that would detract from the main thrust of the story and lure the viewer into obvious sentimentalism. Furthermore, while Skin Game is first and foremost a comedy, after its two main characters end up face-to-face with the brutality of slavery, it becomes clear that the gig is up and the comedy is over. Ultimately, slavery is too horrible a business to be taken lightly and the two smart-ass cons have learned their lesson by the end of the movie. In these ways, the film can manage to be satirical and funny, while not appearing to make light of a very serious topic. It should also be mentioned that the humour is of course never directed at slavery or the slaves, but at the slave owners and their stupidly racist attitudes. Another reason why Skin Game works so well is because of the wonderful performances by its two main stars, James Garner and Lou Gossett Jr. Garner is of course an expert at playing the charming and witty fast-talking rascal, and in Skin Game, he gives one of his very best performances in a comedy film (along with Support Your Local Sheriff and The Americanization of Emily). However, the film also revealed Lou Gossett Jr.'s considerable talent. In his first important role in a major film, Gossett easily holds his own against Garner. The two have strong chemistry together, constantly trying to outcon each-other and delivering their humorous lines with ease, charm and spontaneity. The humour itself is maybe not highly sophisticated or extremely funny, but it's a smart tongue-in-cheek kind of comedy that makes you regularly grin and never feels forced. Overall, Skin Game is not only an exceptional film, but an excellent one that intelligently balances comedy and drama, and develops its unusual premise in an amusing, sensitive, and unpredictable manner. It's a shame this movie is not more appreciated, though it did lead to a TV remake (Sidekicks with Gossett reprising his role and Larry Hagman replacing Garner), and other reviewers have pointed out its possible influence on Django Unchained.

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.

And Lou Gossett with hair - Wow! But this comedy has a heavy load to carry, dealing with slavery & it's human cost. It's not much of a comedy when Jason actually gets sold into slavery and Gossett conveys the desperation very well. It does have it's light moments and Susan Clark helps lighten the load. I rated it an 8.

James Garner ever since he made his first big hit in the television series of Maverick refined the playing of a con man who's no better than he ought to be into a fine art. Quincy Drew is a further refining of the Bret Maverick character.

James Garner can be serious when he wants to be, but I've always gotten the feeling he enjoys being Maverick or Jim Rockford far better than playing it straight. He has to enjoy it more, he's so darn good at it.

Here he's got a racket going with Lou Gossett, Jr. During the days just before the Civil War in the 1850s he and Gossett work this con where Garner keeps buying and selling Gossett as a slave. Of course Gossett escapes and then they move on to the next town.

Trouble is with that kind of a con, your reputation is bound to catch up with you. Gossett, who was born in New Jersey and is a free black man, gets a view of slavery he didn't bargain for. Along the way he meets Brenda Sykes.

Garner also meets up with Susan Clark who's also a grifter. She aids him in his search for Gossett.

Gossett and Garner don't exactly redeem themselves in the end, but you know this is not a racket they will be trying any more.