Director, writer, and lead actor Wendell B. Harris Jr.’s only feature film hasn’t been widely viewed since winning the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 1990. However, after a recent restoration and a multitude of theater screenings in 2021 and 2022, Chameleon Street is now streaming on the Criterion Channel. Culture Flux takes a look at this under appreciated gem as part of the ongoing “Meeting the Criterion” series.

Hollywood has a history of depicting con men as charming and easy-going characters, but Chameleon Street takes a much different approach in its fast-paced portrayal of an imposter with a sharp tongue and no frills attitude. Inspired by real life imposters William Douglas Jr. and Erik Dupin, the film’s continuous biting humor and uncompromising look at race, class, and the pitfalls of ego allow this underdog indie to stand out amongst similar narratives. 

Possessing not much more than an acerbic wit and a longing for wealth, William Douglas Street Jr. poses as a journalist, foreign exchange student, lawyer, and even a surgeon in his attempt to leave his financial woes behind. His “fake it ’til you make it” mindset creates some amusing scenarios (such as pretending to speak French as an exchange student from Martinique), but also shows the desperation that many have as part of the working class.

Chameleon Street doesn’t shy away from exposing how race and class affect the perception society has of Street. As a Black man that rises in the professional ranks, he’s now surrounded by mainly white co-workers and bosses. Early in the film he is seen conversing in the shadows with other working class friends. When he poses as a doctor and lawyer, he is in brightly lit rooms visible to everyone and unafraid to hide himself. He makes note of how, as a doctor, he’s treated more positively with his newfound stature. 

The oddly structured scenes move at a rapid pace and cut to new scenes without warning, which aligns with Street’s chaotic personality. Voiceovers provide a glimpse into Street’s frenetic mindset as he constantly has to think one step ahead to avoid revealing his true identity. 

Harris isn’t concerned with portraying Street as a necessarily likable or affable character, but more as an opportunistic product of the environment that surrounds him. From the way he talks about women to his conniving nature, Street is an uncompromising character in an uncompromising society. Ultimately, his overconfidence is his downfall. 

In today’s age of flaunted wealth and depictions of seemingly perfect lives on social media, Chameleon Street is still incredibly relevant, and forces us to examine how we put on performances for others in our own lives.

Year of Release: 1989

Director: Wendell B. Harris Jr.

Screenwriter: Wendell B. Harris Jr.

Cast: Wendell B. Harris Jr., Angela Leslie, Aminaa Fakir