Melvin Van Peebles’ failure to find funding for a new film led to his ventures in theatrical stage production, eventually earning him a Tony Award for Don’t Play Us Cheap. This film adaptation of it keeps the stage framing, but injects a lot of his filmic sensibilities as a result of being so close to the French New Wave.
What makes Don’t Play Us Cheap so interesting is the dynamics at play between black individuals within the film. The party itself serves as a moment of black unity, of community, separate and independent from the white world at large and yet present there are aspects hell-bent on breaking the party. The way that the black community as represented by the party are in conflict with - but not standing in the way of - black individuality plays as great additional conflict working in tandem with the “imps” that have made it their goal to break up parties such as this one. Ultimately, as an expression and exploration of black joy, Don’t Play Us Cheap presents a portrait of Black America that welcomes its contradictions - insofar as it stands to bolster unity and understanding, as a party is always going to happen. It’s up to the individual if they choose to stay
Melvin Van Peebles’ failure to find funding for a new film led to his ventures in theatrical stage production, eventually earning him a Tony Award for Don’t Play Us Cheap. This film adaptation of it keeps the stage framing, but injects a lot of his filmic sensibilities as a result of being so close to the French New Wave.
What makes Don’t Play Us Cheap so interesting is the dynamics at play between black individuals within the film. The party itself serves as a moment of black unity, of community, separate and independent from the white world at large and yet present there are aspects hell-bent on breaking the party. The way that the black community as represented by the party are in conflict with - but not standing in the way of - black individuality plays as great additional conflict working in tandem with the “imps” that have made it their goal to break up parties such as this one. Ultimately, as an expression and exploration of black joy, Don’t Play Us Cheap presents a portrait of Black America that welcomes its contradictions - insofar as it stands to bolster unity and understanding, as a party is always going to happen. It’s up to the individual if they choose to stay
