After months of this being listed as "long wait" on Netflix, I finally got the disc of this movie from them just today. It was the fact this was Melvin Van Peebles' follow-up to his hit Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song that got me wanting to watch this as well as the fact it was originally a stage musical he wrote. What a thrill to see future TV stars like Esther "Good Times" Rolle and Mabel "What's Happening?!" King here though my favorite of the singing cast was Joshie Armstead when she warbled "You Cut Up the Clothes in the Closet of My Dreams". All those songs and some of the loud dialogue can be exhausting but this was never boring, let me tell you! I was also thrilled to find out the musical director was Harold Wheeler who I know as the conductor of the band and singers on "Dancing with the Stars", at least he was until last season. So on that note, I recommend Don't Play Us Cheap.
10 Reviews
A curio from the talented Melvin Van Peebles
lor_17 May 2023
My review was written in June 1990 after watching the movie at MoMA's screening room.
Melvin Van Peebles' film of his play "Don't Play Us Cheap" is an entertaining artifact made 18 year ago. Put on the shelf after having only benefit screenings in 1972/73, pic offers some terrific musical numbers and an ebullient look at black culture of a generation back.
Utilizing the same cast that he directed on Broadway, Van Peelbes creates the atmosphere of a house party in Harlem that's a direct forerunner of the Hudlin Brothers recent hit "House Party".
His fantasy premise of an imp and little devil creating the party to spoil it out of pure meanness allows the filmmaker's militant themes to be expressed in humor and whimsy.
Among the dozen tunes composed by Van Peebles is a show-stopping number "Quittin' Time" sung by lanky George (Ooppee) McCurn. It's a sterling example of the power of recording musical numbers in direct sound, a technique revived for the occasion (two years before Peter Bogdanovich' similarly inclined "At Long Last Love") by Van Peebles, who went to the trouble of building sets in New Mexico and using mobile sound trucks for that purpose.
There's also an extremely complex roundelay of four songs sung together which comes off impressively. Hurting the film's overall impact is van Peebles' use of visual tricks left over from the '60s, particularly superimpositions, that stunt the live performance feel. In particular, coloratura Rhetta Hughes' big number is ruined by the disconcerting multiple images of her overlaid on screen.
Fantasy elements climax with black comedy of topliner Esther Rolle smashing the little devil in the form of a cockroach with a rolled up newspaper. Rolle is in great form as the party hostess, ably supported by an ensemble cast.
Tech credits range from topnotch sound recording to shaky camerawork.. Most setups are filmed using the multiple camera method and both focus and framing are too loose at times. Editing, credited to the filmmaker, is haphazard where a seamless approach would have benefited the "live" feel.
Pic deserves a second round of look-sees by potential distributors, as it sharfes he sme time capsule qualities that finally earned "The Plot Against Harry" a latter-day release.
Melvin Van Peebles' film of his play "Don't Play Us Cheap" is an entertaining artifact made 18 year ago. Put on the shelf after having only benefit screenings in 1972/73, pic offers some terrific musical numbers and an ebullient look at black culture of a generation back.
Utilizing the same cast that he directed on Broadway, Van Peelbes creates the atmosphere of a house party in Harlem that's a direct forerunner of the Hudlin Brothers recent hit "House Party".
His fantasy premise of an imp and little devil creating the party to spoil it out of pure meanness allows the filmmaker's militant themes to be expressed in humor and whimsy.
Among the dozen tunes composed by Van Peebles is a show-stopping number "Quittin' Time" sung by lanky George (Ooppee) McCurn. It's a sterling example of the power of recording musical numbers in direct sound, a technique revived for the occasion (two years before Peter Bogdanovich' similarly inclined "At Long Last Love") by Van Peebles, who went to the trouble of building sets in New Mexico and using mobile sound trucks for that purpose.
There's also an extremely complex roundelay of four songs sung together which comes off impressively. Hurting the film's overall impact is van Peebles' use of visual tricks left over from the '60s, particularly superimpositions, that stunt the live performance feel. In particular, coloratura Rhetta Hughes' big number is ruined by the disconcerting multiple images of her overlaid on screen.
Fantasy elements climax with black comedy of topliner Esther Rolle smashing the little devil in the form of a cockroach with a rolled up newspaper. Rolle is in great form as the party hostess, ably supported by an ensemble cast.
Tech credits range from topnotch sound recording to shaky camerawork.. Most setups are filmed using the multiple camera method and both focus and framing are too loose at times. Editing, credited to the filmmaker, is haphazard where a seamless approach would have benefited the "live" feel.
Pic deserves a second round of look-sees by potential distributors, as it sharfes he sme time capsule qualities that finally earned "The Plot Against Harry" a latter-day release.
All Around Bad
BirdzOfParadise20 April 2020
I'm in disbelief how anyone could recommend this movie in 2020. Perhaps it wasn't seen as the travesty it is 50 years ago but there is nearly nothing redeemable about this. Some of the music was ok at best...and that's the only positive I have and why I have it. 2. Just terrible...terrible story, terrible writing, shot terribly, terrible acting from most of the cast.
What You Say?
arfdawg-114 April 2024
On the positive side, the movie is very creatively done. However there is a big elephant in the room. And I don't mean Mabel King.
The sound track sucks. There is so much screaming, inappropriate laughing and loud talking that you can barely make sense of the dialog.
Further, the backing musical track is also often louder than the speaking parts and hence, you can't understand what anyone is saying.
For a "musical" they sure didnt get actors who could sing. People are off key and just simply horrible.
The costuming too is just horrible. It's as if the entire production was stitched together by someone on crack.
The sound track sucks. There is so much screaming, inappropriate laughing and loud talking that you can barely make sense of the dialog.
Further, the backing musical track is also often louder than the speaking parts and hence, you can't understand what anyone is saying.
For a "musical" they sure didnt get actors who could sing. People are off key and just simply horrible.
The costuming too is just horrible. It's as if the entire production was stitched together by someone on crack.
The best of the Bizzare
lordticklish26 August 2002
Wow what an odd film. This is one of those films that only a mother could love. And then 30 years later a whole new audience sees it. What may have looked too strange then can now be seen with new eyes. This movie is thick. The colors and aesthetic,the textures and flow are so different from other movies that if you watch it like you would another movie you might miss it. Watch this movie without any of your existing experience filters and let it present itself to you and then you might see the genius of it. That's all I have to say.
Stellar
communistquads415 April 2022
Some people will complain about the acting, as if it had hollywood budget for retakes and such, but that would be an idiotic thing to assume or even want in a play about two little devils wanting to crash and end a Saturday night party. The singing is top notch, the wtf moments are wonderful, and some of the shotty filming is most likely due to post production. I had fun watching it, and it does have replay value. Ester Rolle acting was good as you would expect, Jay Van Leer's voice will leave you in awe, Mabel king embracing her body shape, and George McCurn's Quitting time left me with chills. So impressed, I have spent the last 20-30 minutes deep diving online to find out more about this guy. I don't know how to explain it, but he makes me feel like he's someone we all know. I'm a grown man who hasn't cried more than twice in 25 years hold back tears(unsuccessfully) even though the song Quitting Time doesn't feel like a sad song. I rate it 10 because I felt like a 10 after watching it.
Amazing
edithisaok58020 August 2005
This film was a great commentary on the contrast of human values, especially the characters and their personal aspirations. It reminds us not to take everything about our lives so seriously and that all too often, some of the best things can come in the smallest of packages.It was nice to see Florida and Evilene act out different roles other than their showcased parts. The best part of the film was the crazy music. You can tell that the cast members had a really fun time. It's no Broadway legend, but it's cheesiness and its simplicity are sure to catch your eye. I caught it on BET Starz and I never forgot it. It makes me wish that people still had such house parties! Enjoy!
Great Film
tomadeek2922 November 2005
If you enjoy avant-garde films and/or cult and/or low budget black (afro-american)comedy, then you are probably already a fan of Melvin Van Peebles. I love telling people about this film because it's so simple yet profound and a whole lot of fun! It feels like this film was originally a stage play cause it all takes place in one flat. The music is bluesy, gospel and folk and yes chile it's low budget, but that's the point. It's great to see black actors like Mabel King and Esther Rolle doing work that you can tell they actually enjoyed doing for a change!!!! Not only did Melvin Van Peebles write the script, but he also composed all of the music. With the exception of Esther Rolle the cast has great, soulful voices, but even the monotoned throaty voice of Rolle adds great character to the film. It's the rawness and honesty of this movie that makes it so great...Besides I'm sure Miss Rolle knows she can't sing!
Classic....
shaeg-9770424 February 2021
A Great Movie For The Early 1970s
leighabc1235 April 2003
This was a cool musical movie! It was nice to see Esther Rolle and Teresa Merrit in another role besides the roles that made them very popular. This movie was so funny and crazy. It was definitely a great movie to be made in 1973!
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