Main Cast: James Mason, Susan George, Richard Ward, Brenda Sykes
Release Year: 1975
Country: US
Run Time: 126 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Richard Fleischer directed this lurid historical drama based on the novel by Kyle Onstott. The story begins on a run-down plantation lorded over by Warren Maxwell (James Mason) and his son Hammond (Perry King). Hammond travels to New Orleans where he buys a top-of-the-line slave, Mede (Ken Norton), at an auction. Hammond is proud of his purchase, hoping to bring in money by training Mede to fight his other slaves. Hammond returns with Mede to the plantation, where he has to contend with his sex-crazed wife Blanche (Susan George). Hammond looks upon Blanche as damaged goods since he discovered her to not be a virgin on their wedding night. Instead, Hammond prefers erotic pursuits with his slave Ellen (Brenda Sykes). Blanche licks her lips at the sight of Mede, and seduces him to get revenge on her husband. Blanche soon becomes pregnant and gives birth to a half-black baby. Enraged, Hammond comes after Blanche, poisons her, and then the child bleed to death before going after Mede. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
Ken Norton - Mede; Lillian Hayman - Lucrezia Borgia; Roy Poole - Doc Redfield; Ji-Tu Cumbuka - Cicero; Paul Benedict - Brownlee; Ben Masters - Charles; Duane Allen - Topaz; Stocker Fontelieu - Wilson; Perry King - Hammond Maxwell; Kuumba - Black Mother; Earl Maynard - Babouin; Debbi Morgan - Dite; Ray Spruell - Wallace; Irene Tedrow - Mrs. Redfield; Louis Turenne - De Veve; Beatrice Winde - Lucy; John A. Barber - Le Toscan; Simon McQueen - Madame Caroline; Stanley Reyes - Maj. Woodford
Credit
Ann Roth - Costume Designer, Fred Brost - First Assistant Director, Richard Fleischer - Director, Frank Bracht - Editor, Ralph Serpe - Executive Producer, Maurice Jarre - Composer (Music Score), Boris Leven - Production Designer, Richard H. Kline - Cinematographer, Peter V. Herald - Production Manager, Dino de Laurentiis - Producer, John P. Austin - Set Designer, William Randall - Sound/Sound Designer, Norman Wexler - Screenwriter, Kyle Onstott - Book Author, Jack Kirkland - Play Author
On Falconhurst, a run-down plantation owned by the widowed Warren Maxwell (James Mason) and his son Hammond (Perry King), a "Mandingo" slave, Mede (Ken Norton), is trained to fight other slaves. Hammond neglects his wife Blanche (Susan George), whom he rejects on their wedding night after discovering she was not a virgin. Hammond instead ravishes his slave Ellen (Brenda Sykes), while Blanche seduces Mede.
Critique
Upon its release in 1975, critical response was mixed although box office was strong.[1]Roger Ebert despised the film and gave it a "zero star" rating.[1] The movie critic Robin Wood was enthusiatic about the film, calling it “the greatest film about race ever made in Hollywood”.[2]Quentin Tarantino has cited Mandingo as one of only two instances "in the last twenty years [that] a major studio made a full-on, gigantic, big-budget exploitation movie", comparing it to Showgirls.[3]
