Skin Game

Skin Game

30/9/1971 1h 42m 6.6/10

Overview

Quincy Drew and Jason O’Rourke, a pair of friends and con men—the former white, the latter a Northern-born free Black man— travel from town to town in the pre–Civil War American West. In their scam, Quincy sells Jason into slavery, frees him, and the two move on to the next town of suckers . . . until a con gone wrong leads Jason into real danger.

Director

Gordon Douglas

Top Billed Cast

Ed Asner

Ed Asner

Plunkett

James Garner

James Garner

Quincy Drew

Andrew Duggan

Andrew Duggan

Howard Calloway

Louis Gossett Jr.

Louis Gossett Jr.

Jason O'Rourke

Susan Clark

Susan Clark

Ginger

Brenda Sykes

Brenda Sykes

Naomi

Reviews

John Chard

9/22/2017

7/10

Skin Con! Skin Game is predominantly directed by Paul Bogart and written by Richard Alan Simmons and Peter Stone. It stars James Garner, Louis Gossett Jr., Susan Clark, Brenda Sykes, Edward Asner and Andrew Duggan. Music is by David Shire and cinematography by Fred J. Koenekamp. Slavery era America and two interracial con-men travel from town to town duping white folk into purchasing black Jason O'Rourke (Gossett Jr,). After Quincy Drew (Garner) strikes a deal, with money in hand, the pair meet up later to scarper and split the profits. A nice con, that is until ladies and savvy outsiders enter the fray... A lovely Panavision/Technicolor production, Skin Game is a little remembered comedy Oater, not because it's poor, but more than likely because it has been shunted to one side due to what is now perceived as political incorrectness. Which is a shame, for although it doesn't fully exploit the premise it is working with, it's a very likable pic that's propped up by strong lead performances. As the not so intrepid duo move from town to town, places with great names like Dirty Shame and Bitter End, a number of funny scenes keep things perky, be it bath time, Jason crying or the verbal jousting rumbling on, the comedy is subtle and easy to digest. The introduction of Clark lifts the pic higher, for she's a bigger rogue than Quincy and Jason, adding more cream to an already amusing pudding. It's all very improbable as such, so we are not surprised when things inevitably go belly up, while the intention to probe the bile of the era in question doesn't make a telling mark. But the pros of the piece far outweigh the cons to give us a film worth tracking down. 7/10

Similar Movies

The Frighteners

6.9

The Frighteners

1996

The Four Feathers

6.6

The Four Feathers

2002

I Love You Phillip Morris

6.4

I Love You Phillip Morris

2010

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

7.1

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

1988

My Little Chickadee

6.4

My Little Chickadee

1940

Matchstick Men

7.0

Matchstick Men

2003

Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold

4.7

Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold

1986

Ghosts Can't Do It

2.7

Ghosts Can't Do It

1989

Confessions of Felix Krull

6.4

Confessions of Felix Krull

1957

I am a Berliner

0.0

I am a Berliner

2005

The Wendell Baker Story

5.0

The Wendell Baker Story

2005

Married Bachelor

5.8

Married Bachelor

1941