21-08-1932
Birthday
Leo
Zodiac Sign
-
Genres
45
Total Films
Also known as (male)
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Place of Birth
21-08-1932
Birthday
Leo
Zodiac Sign
-
Genres
45
Total Films
-
Also Known As (male)
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Place of Birth
actor
45 Works
producer
6 Works
director
51 Works
writer
18 Works
other
12 Works
Sweet Black Film: The Birth of the Black Hero in Hollywood
In 1971, director Melvin Van Peebles turned the figure of the black hero in US cinema upside down with Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song: the story of the making of a seminal movie that initiated the Blaxploitation movement, a short-lived but highly influential sub-genre in the years that followed.Year:
2022
Oscar Micheaux: The Superhero of Black Filmmaking
A look at the extraordinary achievements and contemporary legacy of Oscar Micheaux, a pioneer of the African-American film industry.Year:
2021
Armed
A former U.S. marshal discovers that all of the survivors of his old unit are experiencing the same symptoms simultaneously and there may be a larger conspiracy at hand.Year:
2018
Peeples
The story follows what happens when a child psychologist surprises his girlfriend by showing up at her political family's annual get-together at their Sag Harbor vacation home only to find them desperately in need of therapy.Year:
2013
Salty Dog Blues
The film looks at men and women of color in the U.S. Merchant Marine from 1938-1975. Through chronicling the lives of these men and women who, with a median age of 82, are beset with a host of life-threatening illnesses, the movie tells how they navigated issues of racism, disparities in the workplace, gender and familial relations.Year:
2012
Redemption Road
In Tennessee, Bailey, a debt-straddled blues guitarist, is escorted across the state by a man named Augy so that he can collect his recently deceased grandfather's estate. A drama focused on an individual's spiritual redemption.Year:
2011
The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975
Examines the evolution of the Black Power Movement in US society from 1967 to 1975. It features footage of the movement shot by Swedish journalists in the United States during that period and includes the appearances of Angela Davis, Bobby Seale, Huey P. Newton, Eldridge Cleaver, and other activists, artists, and leaders central to the movement.Year:
2011
Infiltrating Hollywood: The Rise and Fall of the Spook Who Sat by the Door
A documentary looking at the making and legacy of The Spook Who Sat by the Door (1973).Year:
2011
American Swing
Chronicles the rise and fall of 1970s New York City nightclub Plato's Retreat.Year:
2009
Directors on Directing
A look at the development of film making and its contribution to the social and political times form the perspective of Black film makers.Year:
2009
The Black List: Volume Two
THE BLACK LIST: VOL. 2 profiles some of today's most fascinating African-Americans. From the childhood inspirations that shaped their ambitions, to the evolving American landscape they helped define, to the importance of preserving a unique cultural identity for future generations, these prominent individuals offer a unique look into the zeitgeist of black America, redefining the traditional pejorative notion of a blacklist.Year:
2009
Confessions of a Ex-Doofus-ItchyFooted Mutha
A semi-autobiographical story about an adventurer whose journeys take him from Harlem to the high seas and back againYear:
2008
Hard Luck
Three converging story lines involving bootleggers, a serial killer and drug dealers are followed. A former drug dealer tries to go straight, but comes across a stash of stolen drugs. Meanwhile, a middle-aged suburban housewife hides a sadistic and vicious streak.Year:
2007
Blackout
BLACKOUT takes you inside the personal journey of what went down and what it was really like in Brooklyn, NY on August 14. It examines the nature of man to take advantage of his own fellow man outside of normal conditions, in times of weakness and vulnerabilityYear:
2007
Midnight Blue, Vol. 3: Celebrities Edition
Featuring Robert Crumb, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tiny Tim, Russ Meyer and more this volume of the “Midnight Blue” collection focuses on celebrities.Year:
2006
How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (and Enjoy It)
Melvin Van Peebles was one of the first black directors to challenge the white establishment in his films, which include "Watermelon Man" and "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song." In this documentary, the life of Van Peebles is discussed, including his work not only in film, but also as a novelist, actor, musician, stock trader and even Air Force pilot. Interview subjects include Gil Scott-Heron, Spike lee and Melvin's son and fellow filmmaker, Mario Van Peebles.Year:
2005
Unstoppable
An interview/overview on the influential careers of Gordon Parks, Ossie Davis, and Melvin Van Peebles.Year:
2005
The Hebrew Hammer
When a psychotic Santa tries to destroy Chanukah by hypnotizing Jewish children with bootlegged copies of the Christmas classic "It's a Wonderful Life," it's up to the Hebrew Hammer to save the day. Together with Mohammed, head of the Kwanzaa Liberation Front, the Hammer takes no prisoners in his quest to hunt down the renegade Santa and make the holiday season safe for all.Year:
2003
The Real Deal: What It Is
This twenty-two minute interview with Melvin Van Peebles has the cult filmmaker starting things off by lighting a cigar, which is something he has done in several interviews. From here he talks about the making of his hit film SWEET SWEETBACK'S BAADASSSSS SONG, which of course broke all sorts of records and is what would kick start the blaxploitation genre. If you're a fan of the film or the director then you should enjoy this featurette, which tries to have a raw look like the film in question, although the effect here is a bit lame. With that said, there are still some very good stories told including one about a STD Van Peebles got during one of the scenes in the film. He talks about a few specific scenes in the picture as well as the now infamous one featuring his son in a sex scene. There's nothing ground-breaking here but it's certainly an entertaining interview.Year:
2003
BaadAsssss Cinema
With archive film clips and interviews, this brief look at a frequently overlooked historical period of filmmaking acts as an introduction rather than a complete record. It features interviews with some of the genre's biggest stars, like Fred Williamson, Pam Grier, and Richard Roundtree. Director Melvin Van Peebles discusses the historical importance of his landmark film Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song. For a contemporary perspective, the excitable Quentin Tarantino offers his spirited commentary and author/critic bell hooks provides some scholarly social analysis.Year:
2002
René Vautier, le rebelle
Year:
2000
Love Kills
A masseur gets mixed up in the family plots at the mansion of a recently deceased Beverly Hills millionaire.Year:
1999
Classified X
A history of the racially stereotyped portrayal of African Americans in cinema, hosted by film pioneer Melvin Van Peebles.Year:
1998
Riot
In April 1992, following the notorious Rodney King verdict, the streets of Los Angeles became a battlefield, the backdrop to four personal intertwined stories.Year:
1997
Calm at Sunset
Drama about a young man who defies his parents by dropping out of college to pursue his dream of owning a fishing boat, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather.Year:
1996
Gang in Blue
A black police officer discovers a cell of white supremacist vigilantes within his department.Year:
1996
Panther
Panther is a semi-historic film about the origins of The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense. The movie spans about 3 years (1966-68) of the Black Panther's history in Oakland. Panther also uses historical footage (B/W) to emphasize some points.Year:
1995
Fist of the North Star
From the immensely popular FIST OF THE NORTH STAR comic book series, comes a new hero. The fate of mankind rests with superhuman warrior Kenshiro who roams the wastelands of the future waging a battle against overwhelming evil. With the spiritual guidance of his dead father, Kenshiro fights to free his stolen love from the brutal tyrant Lord Shin. Through his struggle he must confront his destiny.Year:
1995
Terminal Velocity
A maverick skydiver and a former KGB agent team up to stop the Russian mafia from stealing gold.Year:
1994
Farewell, Babylon!
Arrabal's sixth film based on his novel from 1969 with the same name as the movie.Year:
1993
Last Action Hero
After his father's death, a young boy finds solace in action movies featuring an indestructible cop. Given a magic ticket by a theater manager, he is transported into the film and teams up with the cop to stop a villain who escapes into the real world.Year:
1993
Posse
A group of mostly black infantrymen return from the Spanish-American War with a cache of gold. They travel to the West where their leader searches for the men who lynched his father.Year:
1993
Boomerang
Marcus is a successful advertising executive who woos and beds women almost at will. After a company merger he finds that his new boss, the ravishing Jacqueline, is treating him in exactly the same way. Completely traumatised by this, his work goes badly downhill.Year:
1992
True Identity
In order to escape from the mob, an African-American man must disguise himself as a white man.Year:
1991
Making 'Do the Right Thing'
The Behind-the-Scenes documentary of the dramatic comedy Do the Right Thing.Year:
1989
Identity Crisis
A rapper finds himself possessed by the soul of a dead fashion designer; frequently switching personalities.Year:
1989
Taking Care of Terrific
14-year-old Enid Crowley hates her name and everything about her boring life. All this changes when she becomes a full-time babysitter to a sheltered boy. The two hook up for some hilarious adventures in the park with a mysterious bag lady and a street musician. With the help of Enid's boyfriend, Seth, they try to give the park dwellers a "special evening," but their good deed backfires and lands them in trouble.Year:
1988
Jaws: The Revenge
After another deadly shark attack, Ellen Brody decides she has had enough of New England's Amity Island and moves to the Caribbean to join her son, Michael, and his family. But a great white shark has followed her there, hungry for more lives.Year:
1987
O.C. and Stiggs
O.C. and Stiggs aren't your average unhappy teenagers. They not only despise their suburban surroundings, but they also plot against it. They seek revenge against the upper-middle-class Schwab family, who embody all they detest: excess.Year:
1987
America
The zany crew of a New York cable TV station accidentally bounce a signal off the moon, bringing them worldwide attention.Year:
1986
Wattstax
A documentary film about the Afro-American Woodstock concert held in Los Angeles seven years after the Watts riots. Director Mel Stuart mixes footage from the concert with footage of the living conditions in the current-day Watts neighborhood.Year:
1973
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song
After saving a Black Panther from some racist cops, a black male prostitute goes on the run from "the man" with the help of the ghetto community and some disillusioned Hells Angels.Year:
1971
Watermelon Man
A racist insurance agent lives in a typical suburban neighborhood. But his bigoted world of taunting and harassing black people on and off the job is turned upside down when his skin inexplicably turns dark overnight.Year:
1970
Sunlight
A black man steals to afford to marry the woman he loves. After being released from prison, he returns in time to see his daughter's wedding.Year:
1957
SMUT
Wide eyed Marty O Neil (Lee Homes) takes to the road on a quest to give his life meaning. When his motorcycle breaks down outside an adult bookstore in small town America Marty takes a job at the store to make money to fix his bike. While struggling to understand the gruff owner (Max Boone Junior) Marty befriends Elmore (Melvin Van Peebles) an old beet poet who frequents the shop and becomes enamored with Mary Jane (Jenette Goldstein) the cynical stripper who stars in the stores peep show booth. Marty discovers the meaning of his quest in one simple question What is SMUT?Year:
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