Watermelon Man (1970)

65% of users liked it
(965 ratings)

African-American activist and actor Melvin Van Peebles directed this comedy-drama starring Godfrey Cambridge as Jeff Gerber, a white, middle class husband to Althea (Estelle Parson) and father of two who is also a mild bigot. One morning, Jeff wakes up to discover that he has become a black man… More African-American activist and actor Melvin Van Peebles directed this comedy-drama starring Godfrey Cambridge as Jeff Gerber, a white, middle class husband to Althea (Estelle Parson) and father of two who is also a mild bigot. One morning, Jeff wakes up to discover that he has become a black man overnight. After trying in vain to remove his new pigment, Jeff ventures out into the world, only to discover the hostility he once engendered himself. After his neighbors petition to get him out of the neighborhood, his boss (Howard Caine) tries to use his new identity to the company's advantage and his doctor suggests he seek medical care elsewhere, Jeff comes to see the many sides of racism. The only rays of hope in his situation are the friendship of several fellow black people, including a bus driver (D'Urville Martin) and a restaurant counter man (Mantan Moreland). ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 40 min.
Directed By: Melvin Van Peebles
Genres: Drama, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: May 27, 1970 Wide
On DVD: Sep 14, 2004

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Problem is it hammers home its point about racism being alive and well in America until it becomes annoyingly repetitive and preachy.
Rumsey Taylor, Not Coming to a Theater Near You
It is not the most stalwart ethnological study of its time, though it is significant for its heritage, its confrontation, and its violation of taboos.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Lesley N

The film Melvin Van Peebles made before he did Sweet Sweetback's Baadassss Song. Set during the 60's/0's race riots, Jeff Gerbler is a white gung-ho, un-self-aware and un-popular insurance-selling family man who wakes up one morning to find he's turned black. Cue… More
The film Melvin Van Peebles made before he did Sweet Sweetback's Baadassss Song. Set during the 60's/0's race riots, Jeff Gerbler is a white gung-ho, un-self-aware and un-popular insurance-selling family man who wakes up one morning to find he's turned black. Cue panic, surpise, adverse reactions from the neighbours etc etc. Godfrey Cambridge carries the whole film, and his move from denial to acceptance is punctuated by a running stream of dryly sarcastic and very funny dialog. Excellent, <img src="http://images.crackle.com/1/o/wl/wt5wb_tne.jpg"> .
alan j

classic message laden movie..Cambridge's signature role...funny and insightful and a cool soundtrack to boot....