Black Mama, White Mama

• Director: Eddie Romero
• AMG Rating:
• Genre: Action
• Movie Type: Sexploitation, Prison Film
• Themes: Escape From Prison, Women in Prison, Race Relations
• Main Cast: Jess Ramos
• Release Year: 1973
• Country: US
• Run Time: 87 minutes

Plot

Two female prisoners, one black and one white attempt to escape a women's reformatory in this violent exploitation film that is a cheap knock- off of The Defiant Ones. The black woman is in for prostitution while her blonde counterpart was involved with a radical group. They escape after lesbian guards make passes at them. Though chained together, the two manage to make their way through the Filipino jungle to a camp filled with revolutionaries and drug smugglers. There more action ensues as the crooks engage in a climactic battle with a crooked cop. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Review

This gender-switched variation on The Defiant Ones delivers the exploitation movie goods but sadly fails to take advantage of the more interesting thematic angles of its premise. H.R. Christian's script benefits from a solid plotline and tight pacing but lacks the kind of colorful characterizations necessary to breathe life into its action-movie story, instead settling for a series of types (ruthless crime lord, tough hooker, single-minded freedom fighter, etc.) that are all too familiar. More importantly, it fails to build a bond between its two heroines that would add the kind of emotional weight and character growth necessary to this tale truly compelling. As a result, Black Mama, White Mama is forced to rely on action and cheap thrills to carry it through. It works from this standpoint because director Eddie Romero keeps the film moving at a steady clip and creates plenty of crisply-edited setpieces that maintain a steady level of excitement. Black Mama White Mama further benefits from performances that are above-average for this sort of film: Vic Diaz brings the right amount of sleaziness to his villainous character, Sid Haig adds some amusingly eccentric wit as a cowboy-styled henchman and Pam Grier's tough sexiness hints at the persona she would later realize in films like Coffy and Foxy Brown. In the end, Black Mama, White Mama lacks the inspired touches that might win over non-exploitation fans but is solid enough to appeal to blaxploitation enthusiasts (especially those who like Pam Grier). ~ Donald Guarisco, All Movie Guide

Cast

Alona Alegre - Juana; Lynn Borden - Densmore; Laurie Burton - Logan; Alfonso Carvajal - Galindo; Vic Diaz - Vic; Dindo Fernando - Rocco; Eddie Garcia - Capt. Cruz; Wendy Green - Ronda; Pam Grier - Lee Daniels; Sid Haig - Ruben; Ricardo Herrero - Luis; Lotis Key - Jeanette; Margaret Markov - Karen Brent; Bruno Punzalan - Truck Driver; Zaldy Zshomack - Emesto; Jess Ramos - Alfredo

Credit

Roberta Formoso - Art Director, Eddie Romero - Director, Asagni V. Pastor - Editor, Harry Betts - Composer (Music Score), Justo Paulino - Cinematographer, John Ashley - Producer, Eddie Romero - Producer, Joe Viola - Screen Story, H.R. Christian - Screenwriter, Jonathan Demme - Screenwriter, Albert T. Viola - Screenwriter

Similar Movies

99 Women; The Big Bird Cage; Big Doll House; Caged Fury; Caged Heat; Chained Heat; The Defiant Ones; The Naked Cage; Reform School Girls; Women in Chains; Fled; Women in Cages; Wildcat Women

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