One of a run of features by Ralph Bakshi which were seriously pessimistic social commentary, set in the decaying NYC, of the early 1970s. Sexist, racist, misogynist, misanthropic...you won't see this on tv as part of the design was to offend. There are no good guys or heroes. Just unpleasant characters caught in vicious times. However, the design is brilliant. Bakshi has his own signature mix of animation and live action, and it really is perfect here. New York seems to drift physically and in time, and it is rotten. Gay rights, civil rights, workers rights, the mob, the fuzz, Italians, Jews, the establishment, sex workers, the disabled, hustlers, religion, even god...everything and everyone is considered and found wanting. A masterpiece
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