Director the `Godfather of Black Cinema'
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song still stands as milestone for independent film
Filmmaker, author and songwriter Melvin Van Peebles, known for cult classics Watermelon Man and Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song, died Tuesday.
He was 89.
A family statement reads: “In an unparalleled career distinguished by relentless innovation, boundless curiosity and spiritual empathy, Melvin Van Peebles made an indelible mark on the international cultural landscape through his films, novels, plays and music.
“His work continues to be essential and is being celebrated at the New York Film Festival this weekend with a 50th-anniversary screening of his landmark film Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song; a Criterion Collection box set, Melvin Van Peebles: Essential Films next week; and a revival of his play Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death, slated for a return to Broadway next year.”
Born in Chicago in 1932 and later dubbed the Godfather of Black Cinema, Van Peebles shot to fame with his mainstream directorial debut, The Story of a Three-day Pass, and landed the job of bringing Watermelon Man to the big screen in 1970.
The racial satire, starring Godfrey Cambridge, was a huge hit, scoring Van Peebles a three-picture deal at Columbia.
But movie executives were not keen on his plans for his followup, Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song, forcing the director to make the movie a low-budget affair.
He wrote, directed, produced, scored and edited it, while also starring as the title character.
It went on to earn US$15 million as one of the highest-grossing independent films ever made.
Van Peebles followed that success with Broadway musicals Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death, which picked up a pair of Tony nominations in 1972, and Don't Play Us Cheap!
Mario adapted his father's novel about the growth of the Black Panther Party into the 1995 film Panther, and the younger Van Peebles paid homage to his dad in 2003's Baadasssss.
Melvin was also the subject of the documentary How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (and Enjoy It), and appeared in the movies Jaws: The Revenge, Boomerang, Last Action Hero and The Hebrew Hammer.