While progress has been made since this film was made, the film still is relevant today if you can look past the horrible styles and occasionally over the top dialogue and lingo. Watermelon man is melvin van peebles 1970 comedic satire about the state of race relations in america. Written by herman raucher, it tells the story of an extremely bigoted 1960sera white insurance salesman named jeff gerber, who wakes up one morning to find that he has become black. Watch your purchase on movies anywhere supported devices. Watermelon man 1970 movie clip no wonder negroes riot. Apr 23, 2007 it occurred to me after a moments consideration that some of the same criticisms that weve made of black like me can apply to watermelon man. Peter berlin, the lgbtq film by jim tushinski fandor. A clear shot movie mario van peebles, mandela van peebles, jessica meza. Set during the 60s0s race riots, jeff gerbler is a white gungho, unselfaware and unpopular insuranceselling. I have a whole new respect for godfrey cambridge from this film. Watermelon man is a 1970 american comedy film directed by melvin van peebles and starring godfrey cambridge, estelle parsons, howard caine, durville. Jul 31, 2015 the strong melody, bluesbased structure and catchy piano riff make watermelon man extremely adaptable to other styles of music santamaria himself returned to it in 1979 with a disco.
This brings back a good memory for me of watching when it was on the late movie in the 70s. The movies conclusion implies that jeff gerber, a man raised with white privilege and opportunities, has assimilated successfully within a black community. Contribute to versionzerosubtitles development by creating an account on github. An extremely bigoted white man finds out the hard and somewhat humorous way what its like being a black man, firsthand. Watermelon man 1970 stream and watch online moviefone. Herbie hancocks watermelon man quickly became a jazz standard after being released, having been recorded by lots of artists in less than 5 years after the first. The social issue is resolved or changes, or societal attitudes shift to make the comedy unfunny or funny for all the wrong reasons. The film melvin van peebles made before he did sweet sweetbacks baadassss song. It also inaugurated the latin soul craze also known as popcorn or boogaloo, resulting in dozens of similar singles by all sorts of latin units. The film is inspired by the novel of the same name by marian keyes. At that, however, if you do not have a strong taste for grotesquesin a formal sense outlandish or bizarre.
Released 1970, watermelon man stars godfrey cambridge, estelle parsons, howard caine, durville martin the r movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 37 min, and received a score of out of 100 on. From the creator of tvs in living color, this outrageous comedy hit had critics and audiences roaring with laughter. Watermelon man is a jazz standard written by herbie hancock for his debut album, takin off 1962. It is a lighthearted irish drama following the troubles of a young couple when the man. In the film, jeff gerber godfrey cambridge is a white man who has a successful career as an insurance agent, a very nice. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events. In 2000, sanchez and his ensemble won the grammy for best latin jazz album for their work on the concord picante album latin soul. A highly intelligent man in real life, godfrey lets this shine through in this film. Feb 28, 2010 teaser trailer for the documentary short watermelon man, to premiere at the florida film festival 2010.
The tagline of this 1970 film is a funny thing happened to jeff gerber. As we watch city denizens cruise each other in the freeforall atmosphere of a mid1970s erotic. Hancocks first version was released as a grooving hard bop record, and featured improvisations by freddie hubbard and dexter gordon. Teaser trailer for the documentary short watermelon man, to premiere at the florida film festival 2010. Watermelon man 1970 a white insurance salesman, jeff gerber godfrey cambridge, gets the surprise of his life when he wakes up and discovers that his skin now resembles a black mans. Hancock is one of the best known modern jazz composers, creator of watermelon man which has been a reference point throughout his career, maiden. Watermelon man racial passing in literature and film. Discover what genre watermelon man, 1970, directed by melvin van peebles, with godfrey cambridge, estelle parsons, howard caine, belongs at turner classic movies. Herbie hancock explains how he composed watermelon man, and how mongo santamaria influenced it.
Our backing tracks for watermelon man have been produced in the following key. Screenwriter herman raucher intended this to be a comedy and while it is quite a funny film for its time, it can be considered sensitive due to the topic of the film. Watermelon man 1970 a white insurance salesman, jeff gerber godfrey cambridge, gets the surprise of his life when he wakes up and discovers that his skin now resembles a black man s. Watermelon is a 2003 television film directed by kieron j. From block parties and beepers to high tops and highpowered weapons, its everything thats funny about growing up in the hood. With godfrey cambridge, estelle parsons, howard caine, durville martin. A single of the tune reached the top 100 of the pop charts.
I found watermelon man somewhat ambivalent on the question of gerbers attitude toward his own blackness. He then performs both the original 1962 and the 1973. Especially poignant is when he is selling insurance to young black families. Having turned black, gerber godfrey cambridge grabs a cab to the drug store to buy skin treatments, getting help from wife althea estelle parsons in director mario van peebles watermelon man, 1970. Every morning he follows a health regiment that includes drinking a health drink and racing the bus to work. Surprisingly enough, thats not the case with melvin van peebles raceshifting comedy, watermelon man.
If you are truly sensitive to racism, the watermelon man may not be your cup of tea. The film ends with gerber training in some form of martial arts with a bunch of other blacks sorry, i dont know 1970s history well enough to understand the significance of that training. Hey, watermelon man hey, watermelon man give me one that rattles when you lug it one thats red and juicy when you pluck it do you understand, watermelon man. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing watermelon man near you. He thinks he knows everything, is annoyingly bigoted, and a total bore. Watermelon man is a 1970 american comedy film directed by melvin van peebles and starring godfrey cambridge, estelle parsons, howard caine, durville martin, kay kimberley, mantan moreland, and erin moran. Godfrey cambridges watermelon man arrives at 2 houses the. Herbie hancocks watermelon man was a gigantic hit for mongo santamaria in 1962, doing for him in the 60s what perez prados big mambo hits did for him in the 50s. A bigot godfrey cambridge wakes up and finds hes no longer white. The film also originally featured an upbeat ending in which the salesmans stint as an oppressed minority is merely a dream, albeit the kind designed to teach rod serlingapproved values of tolerance and. Film rambo bad boys 1995 coming to america money heist the phenomenon friends ozark.
Herbie hancock watermelon man lyrics genius lyrics. However, director melvin van peebles truly gets his point across with this tale. Watermelon man is a jazz standard written by herbie hancock, first released on his debut album, takin off 1962, in a grooving hard bop version that featured improvisations by freddie hubbard and dexter gordon. The watermelon woman, the lgbtq film by cheryl dunye fandor. However, director melvin van peebles truly gets his. I dont have to, is the calm rejoinder, i can look at my own. Naturally, then, the followup lp to the single is devoted to 12 airplaylength tracks loaded with bright, swinging latin chachas and mambo rhythms mixed with blues, soul, and jazz, presumably suitable for twisting the night.
A lot of people whove written comments about this are either too young to remember the 60s70s or are trying to relate to this film from todays perspective. Once you select rent youll have 14 days to start watching the film and 48 hours to. Melvin van peebles watermelon man 1970, vinyl discogs. Watermelon man 1970 was melvin van peebles hollywood directorial debut. The strong melody, bluesbased structure and catchy piano riff make watermelon man extremely adaptable to other styles of music santamaria himself returned to it in 1979 with a disco. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto. Directed by 1 writing credits 1 cast 31 produced by 2. Watermelon man mongo santamaria song info allmusic. Naturally, then, the followup lp to the single is devoted to 12 airplaylength tracks loaded with bright, swinging latin chachas and mambo rhythms mixed with blues, soul, and jazz, presumably suitable for twisting the night away. On the one hand, theres reason to think that he genuinely comes to embrace his new race. Teaser trailer for the documentary short watermelon man, to premiere at the florida film.
Walsh and starring anna friel, jamie draven, ciaran mcmenamin, sean mcginley, and brenda fricker. The story of a smug white insurance salesman who wakes up one day with black skin, 1970s watermelon man was originally planned as a vehicle for a white actor like jack lemmon or alan arkin. Watermelon man 1973 version herbie hancock npo radio 2. Find where to watch watermelon man and many more fulllength movies from the best streaming services online.
Trailer for melvin van peebles watermelon man 1970. Poncho sanchez born october 30, 1951 is a latin jazz artist, salsa singer, band leader and conguero conga player. Godfrey cambridge stars as a bigoted white middle class family man named jeff gerber whos luck and perfect white sterile life is about to change. Watermelon man is a 1970 dramatic comedy directed by melvin van peebles. He talks straight to them, and doesnt patronize them.
Soon, watermelon man was a jazz standard, with versions by count basie, erroll garner, woody herman, and jon hendricks. Watermelon man 1970 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. Watermelon man 1970 nude scenes film directed by melvin van peebles and starring godfrey cambridge, estelle parsons, howard caine, durville martin, kay kimberley, mantan moreland, and erin moran. Set during the 60s0s race riots, jeff gerbler is a white. Watermelon man, the on dvd 043396050532 from sony pictures home entertainment.
This dreadfully unfunny joke of a movie falls crashingly flat on its blackandwhite. Film rambo bad boys 1995 coming to america money heist the phenomenon friends ozark s03e05 ex on the beach mr. Jeff gerber godfrey cambridge is a self important insurance salesman. Hey, watermelon man hey, watermelon man hot and bothered, need a little cooling when i hear your call i start to drooling do you understand, watermelon man. In watermelon man, director melvin van peebles expresses complex ideas about race and racism in a sophisticated but humorous way.
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