On second thought, it's no longer as dated as it has been for the past 20-30 years, now that our formerly deracializing society seems to be in the process of re-racializing itself. At the time this was a very topical comedy---quite risque and over the "top" for 1969.
The humor is sophisticated, sharp, and sometimes a bit racist, though mostly in a surrealistic sense. This film should remind us in these dogmatic, hypersensitive times that satire, irreverence, and ridicule are often much better antidotes for racism and other social pathologies than self righteousness and scolding. Think Blazing Saddles. The actors do a great job and the film is both humorous and memorable.
The humor is sophisticated, sharp, and sometimes a bit racist, though mostly in a surrealistic sense. This film should remind us in these dogmatic, hypersensitive times that satire, irreverence, and ridicule are often much better antidotes for racism and other social pathologies than self righteousness and scolding. Think Blazing Saddles. The actors do a great job and the film is both humorous and memorable.