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

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.

Episode Links:

MELVIN VAN PEEBLES

• The Criterion Collection
• The Criterion Channel
• Letterboxd
• Wikipedia
• Black Film Archive
• BlackPast
• Directors Guild of America (video interview)
• Film School Rejects
• The History Makers
• 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
• The Criterion Channel
• Wikipedia
• Letterboxd
• Playbill (original Broadway theatrical program)
• AV Club
• Cinepassion
• Department of Afro American Research Arts & Culture
• Every 70s Movie
• National Review
• Pop Matters
• Slant
• Behind the Slate

PREVIOUSLY:

HANZO THE RAZOR

UP NEXT:

CRIES AND WHISPERS

MORE!

• Criterion Reflections blog (1922 – 1967)
• Criterion Reflections columns on CriterionCast (1968)
• The Eclipse Viewer
• A Journey Through the Eclipse Series

CONTACT US:

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