PIC of the Week – Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song
Article series by Ray Schillaci
This week very little to crow about. So, I cheated a bit and backtracked to discover a recent release that did not come out with the fanfare it deserved. The heartthrob of the revival theater circuit, cult phenomena, action/thriller, Melvin Van Peebles’ Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song. For the generations that may be lost as to the writer/director’s relation, he is the father of the multi-talented Mario Van Peebles who shot to fame in the ’90s with New Jack City and the ever popular blaxploitation western, Posse. Melvin Van Peebles could easily be considered the grandfather that ushered in the blaxploitation films of the 70s with Shaft, Super Fly, The Mack, Cleopatra Jones and so many more.
Vinegar Syndrome specializes in exploitation and cult films from the ’60s to the ’80s. VS provides some great nostalgia and delivers the best quality possible on some of their “B” movie bonanza. The Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song Blu exemplifies everything VS is, harkening us back to the days of midnight movies and films that could run for years.
Peebles’ film, to some, is still considered controversial. Joan Mellen hammered away at Peebles regarding his film in her 1977 book, Big Bad Wolves: Masculinity in the American Film, “marrying [his] criticism of racial injustice in America to the myth of the inexhaustible sexuality of the black male, refurbishing the old racist stereotype of the ‘buck’, the black stud… [Sweetback] is nothing more than an embodiment of how white society has fantasized black sexuality.” But, one cannot help admire Peebles for providing the stepping stone for the influx of “Black Cinema,” that not only empowered African American males, but women as well, making a star out of Pam Grier known for Foxy Brown, Coffy, ‘Sheba Baby’ only to be later lionized in Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown.
Peebles is not only the writer/director, but he also co-produced, scored, edited and starred in what was only his second feature. His first feature was also a cult favorite, comedy/drama Watermelon Man starring the stand-up comic Godfrey Cambridge, where a white man suddenly wakes up as a black man. With his highly charged subject matters, Peebles would leave an indelible mark on cinema.
Peebles plays Sweetback, a male prostitute, who was adopted into a whorehouse at a very young age. One night he saves a Black Panther from some racist cops. No, not the Marvel superhero. For generations who have been cheated out of so much history over the years, the Black Panthers were an African American revolutionary party formed in ’66, originally called the Black Panther Party of Self Defense.
Sweetback and the Black Panther flee for their lives after Sweetback’s retaliation, and head for the border (thank God that wall wasn’t built yet). But, they’re captured and beaten while under interrogation. They eventually escape and end up being captured again, but this time by the female leader of the Hell’s Angels (a notorious biker gang) where they are granted a reprieve for sexual favors. Yes, this is the epitome of an exploitation film and all the more fun for it.
Interesting note: it’s said that Van Peebles contracted gonorrhea when he was filming one of the many sex scenes and filed for worker’s comp because “he was hurt on the job.” He won that claim, and used the money to purchase more film for his movie!
Vinegar Syndrome provides us with a newly scanned and restored print in 4K from its 35mm original negative. VS did have problems with the print and warns us ahead of time of “solarization issues” with some dark areas appearing light and light areas appearing dark at times. But, this is a minor flaw, and the best print available. Audio is a 1.0 DTS-HD MA mix and delivers clean dialogue, distinguishing crowd and action scenes as well as quite moments. Extras include:
¥ Archival “making of” featurette
¥ New interview with actress Niva Ruschell
¥ Theatrical trailer
¥ Reversible cover art
¥ Additional extras TBD
¥ English SDH subtitles
Best Price – a tie! Walmart and Amazon – $19.83
