Coonskin DVD?

Post by **Darkblade** » December 4th, 2008, 8:20 am

Is there any chance of Ralph Bakshi's Coonskin coming to DVD? I want this to happen.

Post by **droosan** » December 4th, 2008, 8:26 am

I have Coonskin on DVD; I bought it about 3 years ago.

Though, since I bought it from a 'used' DVD retailer in Hollywood, there's every chance it may not be a 'legit' DVD release.

Post by **Ben** » December 4th, 2008, 8:28 am

http://animated-views.com/2008/animated ... -con-2008/

Scroll down, down, down...to the Bakshi comments - about half way through the story (marked "Day Four")...

GeorgeC · Post by **GeorgeC** » December 11th, 2008, 12:53 am

They're going to try to market that film on DVD with the original name?

WOW... Somebody's brave!

(Not wanting to repeat the original title of this film again, but it is a nasty racial epiphet. Why Bakshi chose this title is beyond me. It's been released on video before under the title "Street Fight," I think, for obvious reasons.)

Post by **droosan** » December 11th, 2008, 6:17 am

According to the recent book Ralph Bakshi: Unfiltered, Harlem Nights was Bakshi's original title for the film.

Halfway through the production, producer Al Ruddy decided the film needed "a more piercing title." Thus, the working title became Coonskin, No More .. which was shortened (apparently by Paramount) to Coonskin.

Ironically, Paramount's earlier enthusiastic support of the film plummeted soon after the new title was affixed. The title was (perhaps correctly) a 'lightning-rod' for bad publicity, which ultimately caused Paramount to sell-off the feature to Bryanston Films (of Texas Chainsaw Massacre fame).

After its disastrously short first run (on just three screens, nationwide), the film was later re-released to theaters under the title Bustin' Out .. and was initially released on home video during the 1980's as Street Fight.

Post by **eddievalient** » December 12th, 2008, 8:47 am

Isn't this film supposed to be some kind of "Song of the South" parody? I've been curious to see it for that reason, so it's nice that I'll finally be able to.

Post by **Randall** » December 13th, 2008, 12:09 am

I did rent this years ago, and though I don't remember much of it, there is indeed some Song of the South-type stuff in it. Other than that, I found it crude and ugly.... like how I find most of Bakshi's work. However, as I've been paging through Bakshi's recent book, I find myself wanting to revisit his stuff.

Post by **Ben** » December 13th, 2008, 7:52 am

It's not a parody as such...more of a riff on some of the themes and character names.

Post by **Darkblade** » February 8th, 2009, 2:58 pm

I like the design on some of the characters in the movie....But however some parts of the movie I was shocked to see that Bakshi had the guts of pulling off a movie like this.