University of Virginia Library

CINEMA

'Skin Game': Lively Flim-Flam

By KEN BARRY

Some likely wrong
impressions about "Skin
Game" ought to be dismissed
in a hurry. First, it is not,
thankfully, another "expose"
about the pornographic film
industry. Second, it is not the
umpteenth epilogue to the
deathless James Garner saga
"Support Your Local
Sheriff"; and in that respect
its publicity does it a crude
injustice. It is a remarkably
fine comedy-drama about
Southern slavery—obviously a
difficult topic to handle with
historical accuracy, racial
sensitivity, and
commercially-minded lightness
all at once.

James Garner plays, as
always, a suave, witty, and
practically never flummoxed
rogue of the road. His comrade
in flim-flammery is Lou
Gossett, the black actor who

stole the show in "The
Reivers." Garner and Gossett,
making their way through
Missouri and Kansas in 1857,
are swelling a Chicago bank
account with the harvest of
this simple dodge: Garner
poses as a slave owner disposing
of his loyal "slave" Gossett; a
quick sale in town is
consummated; Gossett promptly
escapes; and the two meet
outside town to chuckle over
successes past and future.

Of course the boy's are in a
line in which a spreading
reputation can be detrimental
to business; so the road grows
bumpy as things progress. The
fun is complicated by female
additions: for Gossett a
soon-to-be-sold slave
charmingly played by Brenda
Sykes; for Garner a larcenous
redhead (Susan Clark) as adept
at plucking a wallet as Garner a
purse. Rubs with swindle slave
owners and a relentless
slave-driver (played with
dastardly grubbiness by
Andrew Duggan), an
inopportune "rescue" by
abolitionist zealots, and
good-natured double-crossings
by the rogues themselves
compose the rest of a lively
and unpredictable plot.

Space does not permit a
lengthy tribute to the comic
talents of Garner and Gossett
so nicely exploited by Pierre
Menton's funny and probing
screenplay. Enough to say
praise is merited. Garner,
Gossett, and the coyly sexy
Clark are delightful screen
presences; and the black-white
friendship against the backdrop
of institutional racism fleshes
out the film with lingering
meaning—without succumbing
to sentimental flabbiness.
"Skin Game" is further graced
with splendid scenery, sets, and
a potent musical score. Try not
to miss this one.

(Now at the Paramount)