Bill Cosby lists this as one of his favorite all-time movies. From a thematic standpoint, it is easy to see why. The film takes place in the bucolic Midwest in the 1920s-- not the South, which in and of itself is unusual for a 60's movie focusing on race relations. The performances of the two young men are perfect even though some of the words they utter seem rather forced. THe supporting cast is uniformly excellent, and avoids stereotypes. Deserving of special notice is recently deceased Dana Elcar as the racist lawman who still tries to be a good albeit racist person. His declined offer to give the boys a ride at the end of the movie is, in its own way, a microcosm of the entire film and the principles and people involved.

I totally disagree with the previous review that says this movie has been white washed. Had he done his research he would know this was written and directed by a black man. He may need to take into account that this was filmed in 1969. This is how films from that time looked. The sets and costumes for films like Moses and Cleopatra weren't exactly realistic. I will agree that the acting isn't the greatest, but the story is good. There isn't any stereotyping in this movie, they have blacks and whites of different classes and backgrounds. Ever black isn't shiftless and and all of the whites aren't racist. I think it is a fair depiction of what blacks went through and the frustration they felt at that time. Its not the greatest movie I have seen, but it think it's worth watching.

This was one of the films that really sucked me in and gave me a look at what life was like growing up black in the early part of the century. The setting for the film was splendid.