Melvin Van Peebles: Four Films (Criterion Collection)

Five-disc set includes: The Story of a Three-Day Pass (1968)Having obtained the titular leave, France-stationed and freshly promoted African-American GI Turner (Harry Baird) headed for Paris, where he fell into a whirlwind romance with white shopgirl Miriam (Nicole Berger). The fragile new relationship, however, may not be able to stand against the cultural forces opposing it. Melvin Van Peebles adapted his own novel "La Permission" for his feature directing debut; Hal Brav, Tria French also star. 87 min. In French with English subtitles. BW/Rtg: NR Watermelon Man (1970)Godfrey Cambridge stars in this Kafkaesque comedy as Jeff Gerber, a bigoted white insurance salesman who gets a chance to see what life is like on the other side of the fence after he awakes one morning and finds he has miraculously turned black. It's not long before Jeff is harassed by the police, threatened by his neighbors, and lusted after by a previously uninterested secretary. Co-stars Estelle Parsons, Howard Caine, D'Urville Martin, Mantan Moreland; directed by Melvin Van Peebles. 98 min. C/Rtg: R Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971)Melvin Van Peebles produced, wrote, directed, scored, edited, starred in, and probably catered this groundbreaking black action film, playing the tough and sexually inexhaustible street hustler Sweetback, who goes on the run after witnessing brutality by corrupt police. Violent and intense drama, rated X when first released, also stars Rhetta Hughes, John Amos, and Mario Van Peebles as the young Sweetback. Director's cut; 97 min. C/Rtg: NR Don't Play Us Cheap (1972)Melvin Van Peebles' film adaptation of his acclaimed Broadway musical, set in a boisterous Harlem party that's crashed by a pair of most unwelcome guests-two devilish minions (Avon Long, Joe Keyes, Jr.) sent up from the underworld to spoil everyone's fun. Breaking up the get-together, though, might be beyond their magical abilities! This funny, song-filled look at contemporary black life also stars Esther Rolle, Rhetta Hughes, Mabel King, Nate Barnett. 95 min. C/Rtg: NR Widescreen; Soundtracks: French, English; Subtitles: English (SDH); audio commentary; bonus feature "Baadasssss!" (2003); bonus documentary "How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (and Enjoy It)" (2005); featurettes; theatrical trailers; more.