1093-1096 Melvin Van Peebles: Essential Films

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Computer Raheem
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Re: 1093-1096 Melvin Van Peebles: Four Films

#51 Post by Computer Raheem » Wed Jun 16, 2021 10:00 pm

Chris, would you happen to know who the licenses for each film are? I went on the site of Xenon Pictures, who have had the rights for much of Van Peebles' works along with many other well-know blaxploitation, but they list the films as "unavailable". I wanted to know if that means Criterion/Janus owns the films outright, or if they merely aren't the main distributor (I am aware that Watermelon Man is with Sony).

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cdnchris
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Re: 1093-1096 Melvin Van Peebles: Four Films

#52 Post by cdnchris » Thu Jun 17, 2021 1:16 am

Computer Raheem wrote:
Wed Jun 16, 2021 10:00 pm
Chris, would you happen to know who the licenses for each film are? I went on the site of Xenon Pictures, who have had the rights for much of Van Peebles' works along with many other well-know blaxploitation, but they list the films as "unavailable". I wanted to know if that means Criterion/Janus owns the films outright, or if they merely aren't the main distributor (I am aware that Watermelon Man is with Sony).
There are a few companies listed in the sell sheets. Columbia Pictures (Sony) for what is more than likely (as you said) Watermelon Man and probably Baadasssss!. Janus Films is also listed, along with Yeah Inc., which I believe is Melvin Van Peebles' company. It also lists IndieCollect and MoMA, though I assume these two were behind/helped fund the restorations.

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bearcuborg
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Re: 1093-1096 Melvin Van Peebles: Four Films

#53 Post by bearcuborg » Thu Jun 17, 2021 1:00 pm

I wish someone recorded Melvin in concert for an extra. About 8yrs ago I caught him at Johnny Brenda’s in Philly and got his autograph on an album he was selling. We talked a bit, but he was eager to talk with anyone. He put on a great show, and told some amazing stories. Definitely looking forward to this set!

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knives
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Re: 1093-1096 Melvin Van Peebles: Four Films

#54 Post by knives » Tue Jun 29, 2021 3:14 pm

Finally saw How to Eat Your Watermelon which is largely a standard biodoc yet the energy of van Peebles life and art is so exciting and alive that it left me so hungry for the rest of his work, as well as Gordon Parks and Oscar Brown Jr, so I now know what I’m going to be doing the next few days.

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Ribs
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Re: 1093-1096 Melvin Van Peebles: Four Films

#55 Post by Ribs » Fri Jul 02, 2021 8:24 am

This set has been renamed Melvin Van Peebles: Essential Films.

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GaryC
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Re: 1093-1096 Melvin Van Peebles: Essential Films

#56 Post by GaryC » Sun Jul 04, 2021 2:49 am

The Story of a Three Day Pass is getting a small cinema run in the UK in August, at the BFI Southbank and maybe other cinemas.

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Computer Raheem
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Re: 1093-1096 Melvin Van Peebles: Essential Films

#57 Post by Computer Raheem » Sat Aug 07, 2021 11:59 pm

These extras have been updated to include more information
  • Three short films by Melvin Van Peebles: Sunlight (1957), Three Pickup Men for Herrick (1957), and Les cinq cent balles (1961)
  • PLUS: A book featuring essays by film scholars Racquel J. Gates, Allyson Nadia Field, Michael B. Gillespie, and Lisa B. Thompson

Rupert Pupkin
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Re: 1093-1096 Melvin Van Peebles: Essential Films

#58 Post by Rupert Pupkin » Fri Sep 03, 2021 9:57 pm

GaryC wrote:
Sun Jul 04, 2021 2:49 am
The Story of a Three Day Pass is getting a small cinema run in the UK in August, at the BFI Southbank and maybe other cinemas.
it's not available so far for streaming or web download such as Mubi ?

since I've watched the Criterion trailer I'm really intrigued by this movie - the restoration looks stunning - it's filmed in Paris (my city) (and was called "La Permission" but I've never seen the DVD); it looks like a "new wave" movie...

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dwk
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Re: 1093-1096 Melvin Van Peebles: Essential Films

#59 Post by dwk » Fri Sep 24, 2021 1:40 pm


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omegadirective
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Re: 1093-1096 Melvin Van Peebles: Essential Films

#60 Post by omegadirective » Mon Mar 28, 2022 11:08 am

I recently picked up this set and watched the whole thing over the weekend.
I will admit that I have not seen a lot of black cinema before.
I’ve never seen Shaft, or Coffey, or any of the other blacksploitation films.

Initial thoughts is that my favorite in the set was Don’t Play Us Cheap.
I really loved the music and the theme that fellowship and sharing can overcome.


The one I was most conflicted on was Watermelon Man.
Post George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery, I think this movie hits much harder.
It was really good, but it was also a hard watch and sympathize with Jeff Gerber because he is such an unlikable character in the beginning.


My least favorite in the set is Sweetback, but that’s just because of low budget filmmaking aspect of it.
Baadasssss was amazing, and actually helped me to appreciate Sweetback more, just seeing what went on during the making of the film.

3 Day Pass was really great, and it’s just unbelievable what Van Peebles was capable when he put his mind to something,

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ando
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Re: 1093-1096 Melvin Van Peebles: Essential Films

#61 Post by ando » Tue Mar 29, 2022 4:12 am

omegadirective wrote:
Mon Mar 28, 2022 11:08 am
Initial thoughts is that my favorite in the set was Don’t Play Us Cheap.
I really loved the music and the theme that fellowship and sharing can overcome.
Glad to see a reference to this film on the board. It’s one of my favorites though the production values are not great. But I’m judging them by my Xenon DVD copy, not the Critetion edition. Never owned a Blu-ray so the chances of me getting a copy are slim. May check it out on The Channel to get an idea of the box set print.

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Re: 1093-1096 Melvin Van Peebles: Essential Films

#62 Post by pistolwink » Tue Mar 29, 2022 10:29 am

What's the story on how Van Peebles went from making one of the most profitable and talked-about movies of 1971 to not making another even halfway decently-budgeted feature for 25 years?

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knives
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Re: 1093-1096 Melvin Van Peebles: Essential Films

#63 Post by knives » Tue Mar 29, 2022 11:50 am

Financing is hard and he moved largely to theater thereafter.

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omegadirective
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Re: 1093-1096 Melvin Van Peebles: Essential Films

#64 Post by omegadirective » Tue Mar 29, 2022 5:11 pm

The bonus features on this set are amazing.
This man is a hero and he led an amazing life.

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ando
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Re: 1093-1096 Melvin Van Peebles: Essential Films

#65 Post by ando » Wed Mar 30, 2022 3:43 am

His muiscal/play, Ain't Supposed To Die A Natural Death, is having a revival on Broadway sometime later this year. It was a big deal in '72. 7 Tony Awards nods. To this day my mom goes on about how great it was to see live. Wonder if there's a reference to it in the collection.

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knives
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Re: 1093-1096 Melvin Van Peebles: Essential Films

#66 Post by knives » Wed Mar 30, 2022 7:03 am

There is. One of the docs discusses it with some depth.

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ando
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Re: 1093-1096 Melvin Van Peebles: Essential Films

#67 Post by ando » Fri Apr 01, 2022 9:11 am

Thanks. Not sure if that doc made it to The Ctiterion Channel (there are a few of them) but there’s a nice intro to it by Van Peebles, himself.

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