Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971)
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- R
- 1h 37min
- Action, Crime
- 22 Mar 1973 (Netherlands)
- Movie
After saving a Black Panther from some racist cops, a black male prostitute goes on the run from "the man" with the help of the ghetto community and some disillusioned Hells Angels.
Director:
Writer:
Award:
- 1 win.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Complete, Cast awaiting verification
| Melvin Van Peebles | ... |
Sweetback
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Hubert Scales | ... |
Mu-Mu
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| John Dullaghan | ... |
Commissioner
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| Simon Chuckster | ... |
Beetle
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| Mario Van Peebles | ... |
Sweetback / Kid
(as Mario Peebles)
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Max Van Peebles | ... |
Sweetback / Young
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| Rhetta Hughes | ... |
Old Girl Friend
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| John Amos | ... |
Biker
(as Johnny Amos)
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Megan Van Peebles | ... |
Kid
(as Megan Peebles)
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Wesley Gale | ... |
(as West Gale)
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| Lavelle Roby |
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Ted Hayden |
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Sonja Dunson |
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Michael Augustus |
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Niva Ruschell |
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Nick Ferrari |
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Peter Russell |
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Norman Fields |
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Ed Rue |
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Ron Prince |
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Steve Cole |
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| Joe Tornatore |
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Mikel Angel | ... |
(as Mike Angel)
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Jeff Goodman |
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Curt Matson |
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Marria Evonee |
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Jon Jacobs |
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William Kirschner | ... |
(as Bill Kirschner)
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Vincent Barbi |
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Chesley Noone | ... |
(as Chet Norris)
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Joni Watkins |
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Jerry Days |
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John Allen |
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Bruce Adams |
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Brer Soul |
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Edson C. Kurose | ... |
Coronor
(as Ed Kurose)
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| Maggie Bembry | ... |
Woman (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Melvin Van Peebles | ||
Written by
| Melvin Van Peebles | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| Jerry Gross | ... | producer |
| Melvin Van Peebles | ... | producer |
Music by
| Earth Wind & Fire | ||
| Melvin Van Peebles | ||
Cinematography by
| Robert Maxwell | ... | director of photography (as Bob Maxwell) |
Editing by
| Melvin Van Peebles | ||
Editorial Department
| Jeremy Hoenack | ... | assistant editor |
Makeup Department
| Nora Maxwell | ... | makeup supervisor |
Production Management
| Clyde Houston | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Jose Garcia | ... | second unit director |
| Clyde Houston | ... | assistant director |
Sound Department
| John H. Newman | ... | sound editor (as John Newman) |
| Arthur Piantadosi | ... | dubbing (as Art Piantadosi) |
| Clark Will | ... | sound |
| Luke Wolfram | ... | sound editor |
Special Effects by
| Cliff Wenger | ... | special effects |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Jose Garcia | ... | camera operator |
| Robert Maxwell | ... | camera operator (as Bob Maxwell) |
Music Department
| Earth Wind & Fire | ... | orchestrator (as Earth Wind and Fire) |
Additional Crew
| Chic Borland | ... | production assistant |
| Skip Karnas | ... | production assistant |
| Winfred Tennison | ... | production assistant |
| Priscilla Watts | ... | production assistant |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Cinemation Industries (1971) (United States) (theatrical)
- Xenon Pictures (1996) (World-wide)
- New World Pictures (1974) (United States) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Magnum Entertainment (1985) (United States) (VHS)
- The Criterion Collection (1997) (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- Xenon Entertainment Group (2003) (United States) (DVD)
- Miracle Voice (2005) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Prima Film (Canada) (theatrical)
- BFI Video (2005) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- Direct Cinema Limited (United States) (VHS)
- Image Entertainment (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- Sun Video Corporation (SVC) (United States) (VHS)
- Vinegar Syndrome (2018) (World-wide) (Blu-ray)
- Vinegar Syndrome (2018) (World-wide) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Consolidated Film Industries (CFI) (optical effects)
- Consolidated Film Industries (CFI) (titles)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Sweet Sweetback is a black orphan who, having grown up in a brothel, now works there as part of a sex show. When the police need a patsy for a murder in the black community, His employer gives him up to two white cops, whom he ends up killing. Suddenly the target of a massive manhunt, he decides to flee to Mexico. As he makes his way there, he is captured by, and escapes from, both the cops and a chapter of the Hell's Angels.
Written by David Claydon |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | The Film that THE MAN doesn't want you to see! See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Box Office
| Budget | $500,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Melvin Van Peebles contracted gonorrhea from one of the actresses during filming of one of the sex scenes in the movie. He applied for compensation from the Directors Guild because he "got hurt on the job" and used the money to buy more film. See more » |
| Goofs | The fire truck that appeared at the end of the car explosion was not originally supposed to appear. Due to a permit still not filed, the fire department was unaware and proceeded to appear unannounced. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Take 2: Movies That Changed the Movies (1979). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Sweetback's Theme See more » |
| Crazy Credits | After the movie a "warning" for the white community appears: "Watch out - a baad assss nigger is coming to collect some dues." See more » |
| Quotes |
Beetle:
Like you gonna have to kinda lay out, stretch out a little while, be real cool. Kinda lay dead. Ol' Beetle'll let you know what's happenin', what's goin' down. You don't have to worry about nothin'. If you need anything, anything at all, brother, just keep the faith in Beetle, ol' Beetle goin' to bring you through, cause this is just a skirmish. You know how the game goes, baby. But you keep the faith in me and you my man. You my favorite man. Can you dig it, baby? Together, you know, maintain. They can't bother you as long as Beetle's with you. Now you go on and hibernate like that ol' bear and don't go nowhere, can you dig it? Yeah? Ha! Mellow. Go out the back door, now. Speed along and don't let nobody know where you at. Let sleeping dogs rest. You dig it, baby? Ha, ha, yeah. See more » |