Don't Play Us Cheap

On the positive side, the movie is very creatively done. However there is a big elephant in the room. And I don't mean Mabel King.

The sound track sucks. There is so much screaming, inappropriate laughing and loud talking that you can barely make sense of the dialog.

Further, the backing musical track is also often louder than the speaking parts and hence, you can't understand what anyone is saying.

For a "musical" they sure didnt get actors who could sing. People are off key and just simply horrible.

The costuming too is just horrible. It's as if the entire production was stitched together by someone on crack.

Always have loved this movie. Entertaining, funny and creepy all at the same time.

Wow what an odd film. This is one of those films that only a mother could love. And then 30 years later a whole new audience sees it. What may have looked too strange then can now be seen with new eyes. This movie is thick. The colors and aesthetic,the textures and flow are so different from other movies that if you watch it like you would another movie you might miss it. Watch this movie without any of your existing experience filters and let it present itself to you and then you might see the genius of it. That's all I have to say.

I started watching Don't Play Us Cheap and after just ten minutes I had to start fast forwarding. And even with that and occasional pauses along the way, there was nothing, and I mean nothing, that I found enjoyable or even engaging in this film's ninety minutes or so run time. The set I'll give them credit for creating a realistic, if somewhat stage like, setting of a Harlem apartment. Yet the plot, the cheap graphics, the bad acting and the awful - awful! - singing just made this film absolutely unwatchable. I don't know how some reviewers are giving Don't Play Us Cheap ten stars and nine stars, other than to say that even bad movies have their fans.

If you enjoy avant-garde films and/or cult and/or low budget black (afro-american)comedy, then you are probably already a fan of Melvin Van Peebles. I love telling people about this film because it's so simple yet profound and a whole lot of fun! It feels like this film was originally a stage play cause it all takes place in one flat. The music is bluesy, gospel and folk and yes chile it's low budget, but that's the point. It's great to see black actors like Mabel King and Esther Rolle doing work that you can tell they actually enjoyed doing for a change!!!! Not only did Melvin Van Peebles write the script, but he also composed all of the music. With the exception of Esther Rolle the cast has great, soulful voices, but even the monotoned throaty voice of Rolle adds great character to the film. It's the rawness and honesty of this movie that makes it so great...Besides I'm sure Miss Rolle knows she can't sing!