RIP Melvin Van Peebles…
RIP to a legendary Director. Melvin Van Peebles has died at the age 89. This actor, writer, director, producer and icon of Black cinema whose films included Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song and Watermelon Man, died Tuesday night at his Manhattan home.
At a time when America is again having to address the racism that persists in our country, it’s important to remember his story – as “The Godfather of Blaxploitation”, the brilliant Melvin Van Peebles took on the entertainment industry with an epic battle against Hollywood racism!
“YOU BLED MY MAMA, YOU BLED MY PAPA, BUT YOU WON’T BLEED ME!”
The Legendary Battle Over “Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song!”
In 1971 – a micro-budgeted film was – ready for this – written, produced, scored, directed, and starring Melvin Van Peebles! It is a breakthrough accomplishment for African Americans in Hollywood, from the legendary “Godfather of Blaxploitation!”
Here is the trailer:
“Sweet Sweetback’s Baadassss Song” is the gritty story of a African American man and his fight back against white authority! The film is a raw look at life in the US at the time:
The timing couldn’t have been more topical: the country was in the midst of racial tension as well as civil unrest over the Vietnam War. Riots and protests were a part of our fractured daily life.
The Film Hollywood Wouldn’t Make!
Because the film took a sympathetic look at the black experience, it was always going to be controversial:
No studio would finance the film, so Van Peebles funded the film himself, shooting it independently over a period of 19 days.
Peebles captured a raw urgency in the film, almost experimental in the approach to storytelling. Ultimately, the Director received a $50,000 loan from Bill Cosby in order to complete the film.
“Sweetback”‘s Legendary Impact!
“Sweet Sweetback” was released during a time of intense race problems, as well as anti-war sentiment about our role in Vietnam. It was a time of protests, riots and insurrection, and the film spoke to a black community that was tired of oppression.
The film exploded onto the scene at a time of major change in film, and the movie’s fast-paced montages and jump-cuts were unique features in American cinema at the time. “Sweet Sweetback” was a provocative, explosive independent film that lead to an amazing fight between Van Peebles and the Motion Picture Association of America!
“Rated X By An All-White Jury!
A fascinating aspect of the film is how Van Peebles took on the mainstream movie establishment over his film’s rating, including a very public standoff over the new ratings system imposed on films.
The era of blaxploitation began with Melvin Van Peebles’ incendiary film, and when it was submitted to the ratings board, it came back “X-rated.” That could prove to be commercially disastrous for the film maker, and after fighting with the board to no avail, he started a publicity campaign calling them out!
By the time he released the film independently, he was proud to say on the lower right of his poster that his movie was “rated X by an all-white jury!”
The film’s underlying message of black empowerment was at a time of great civil unrest in the country, and the “rated X by an all-white jury!” was a provocative statement to put on the poster – while it seems a lifetime ago, this major battle was only 44 years ago!
“Sweet Sweetback” is rough, unpolished and very raw, but it speaks in an authentic voice that was rarely heard at the time…and kudos to Melvin Van Peebles for putting it all on the line to deliver a blaxploitation classic!
In 2003 Melvin’s son, Actor Mario Van Peebles, made a film that looked at the battle his father endured to get “Sweet Sweetback” made…a “love story” to his father about the impact he had on black cinema…
Blaxploitation Lives On!
The 70’s era was known for many great sub-cultures of film, but I think my favorite is “blaxploitation!”
And The Ladies Kick Ass Too!
And the kick ass women of blaxploitation deserve a big hand as well…
“Foxy Brown” was a smash hit, and ushered in an era of female empowerment as well…check out the ladies of blaxploitation here:
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Check out this powerful genre of film and appreciate a brilliant style of filmmaking, and RIP to the legendary Melvin Van Peebles…
Categories: 70's Films, Artsploitation, Blaxploitation, Books / Media, Cult Classics, JRsploitation, Talent / Celebrites
JR-Sploitation! 
Sweet Sweetback’s Badass Song is an astonishingly original and courageous movie! Melvin practically invented a genre! and son Mario’s Baadasssss is one of the best films about making a movie ever made. It helped that he looks so much like his father! Anyhow, great idea for a double-feature. This is the perfect time to watch these movies. Thanks for the reminder!
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Thanks for commenting – I own the blu-ray remastered edition of the film with lots of extras….and I shared it today because of how topical it is!
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I was around 19 when I saw this at the cinema, and thought it was exceptional. It has to be taken in context of the time, when we had never really seen anything like it.
Best wishes, Pete.
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