Larry Mantle talks with Mario and Melvin Van Peebles. Melvin Van Peebles, father of Mario, was the man behind the groundbreaking 1971 independent film “Sweet Sweetback’s Baadassss Song.” The film ...

In 1971, filmmaker-musician-dramatist-commodities trader Melvin Van Peebles launched a movie revolution with his über-low-budget, highly political indie flick, Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song.

Less than a year ago, the legendary Melvin Van Peebles died. He left behind a legacy as a fiercely independent multi-hyphenate creator who altered the course of Black filmmaking and cinema at-large.

NEW YORK (AP) — Melvin Van Peebles, the groundbreaking filmmaker, playwright and musician whose work ushered in the “blaxploitation” wave of the 1970s and influenced filmmakers long after, has died.

Melvin Van Peebles discusses his career with his son, director and actor Mario Van Peebles, including starting to direct in France, his award-winning film The Story of a Three Day Pass, and kicking ...

Melvin Van Peebles was many things, an independent filmmaker, actor, author, playwright, poet, painter and musician. He died Tuesday at the age of 89. Here he is talking to NPR in 2006 about writing ...