Criterion Reflections – Episode 138 – Melvin Van Peebles’ Don’t Play Us Cheap

David is joined by Richard Doyle and a first-time guest, actor/filmmaker Aaron Strand, to discuss this film adaptation of a barrier-breaking Broadway musical.

Criterion Reflections is David Blakeslee’s ongoing project to watch all of the films included in the Criterion Collection in chronological order of their original release. Each episode of this fourth season of the podcast features conversations with a variety of guests offering insights on movies that originally premiered in 1972 and were destined to eventually bear the Criterion imprint. In this episode, David is joined by Richard Doyle and Aaron Strand to discuss Don’t Play Us Cheap, directed by Melvin Van Peebles. The film was released in the box set Melvin Van Peebles: Essential Films, and is currently streaming on the Criterion Channel.

The Criterion Collection
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Black Film Archive
BlackPast
Directors Guild of America (video interview)
Film School Rejects
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Ohio Wesleyan University (MVP’s alma mater)
Pop Matters
Red Bull Music Academy (2008 lecture)
TCM 
Third Man Books
Variety – Ten Essential Works 
New York Times (obituary)
Behind the Slate (podcast series on Melvin Van Peebles)
Criterion Reflections Episode 50 – Sweet Sweetback’s Baadassss Song

DON’T PLAY US CHEAP

The Criterion Collection
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Letterboxd
Playbill (original Broadway theatrical program)
AV Club
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Department of Afro American Research Arts & Culture
Every 70s Movie
National Review
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Behind the Slate

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HANZO THE RAZOR
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CRIES AND WHISPERS
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Criterion Reflections blog (1922 – 1967)
Criterion Reflections columns on CriterionCast (1968)
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A Journey Through the Eclipse Series

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David Blakeslee [ TikTok / Website / Facebook / Letterboxd ]
Richard Doyle [ Letterboxd ]
Aaron Strand [ Website / Instagram (personal) / TikTok / Podcast / Instagram (podcast) ]