Starring: James Mason, Susan George, Perry King, Richard Ward, Brenda Sykes Directed By: Richard Fleischer Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1 Audience Rating: R (Restricted) Binding: DVD Format: Color, DVD-Video, NTSC, Widescreen Label: Legend Films Number of Items: 1 Region Code: 1 Release Date: June 03, 2008 Running Time: 127 minutes Theatrical Release Date: 1975
Product Description: Based on the best-selling book, Mandingo is a shocking look at plantation life in the Deep South. Mede (Ken Norton) is a slave whose master, Hammond Maxwell (Perry King), intends on keeping him as a prizefighter. As Maxwell focuses his attention on his wenches and Mede's brutal training, his neglected wife (Susan George) turns her passions towards Mede himself. The sordid doings explode across the screen as Mandingo plays out its savage and dramatic story.
Hot Southern Sleaze...But Riveting! Part Harold Robbins and part Euripedes, this film has brutal depictions of slavery, abhorrent language, and extraordinary cinematography by Richard Kline. The imagery of Falconhurst, the huge but decrepit plantation of a cruel and vicious man (James Mason in a strange and brilliant performance) is fantastic; with peeling paint and filthy mosquito nets, winding staircases of gleaming wood, dark steamy rooms, and lush exteriors with drooping wisteria. The score by Maurice Jarre also adds much to the atmosphere, with Muddy Waters singing "Born in This Time".
Perry King is excellent as Mason's son, broken in body, weak in spirit, knowing what is right and often doing what is wrong; as his wife, Susan George is appropriately annoying and trashy, and as his "wench", Brenda Sykes is lovely. Heavyweight boxer Ken Norton, who won over Mohammed Ali (and broke his jaw) in 1973, made his impressive screen debut as Mede the Mandingo.
This film is a mass of contradictions, which is probably what keeps one glued to the screen, and makes it memorable years after seeing it. It is manipulative yet unpredictable, gratuitous and raw but thought-provoking; some of it might be absurd, but many of the situations shown did happen. With all the brutality, nudity, incest, and most of all, the repellent language, this is not a film for the young, or anyone squeamish about violence.
mandingo after owning the vhs copy. this it very high quality. thank you for great copy. would recommend it very highly.
Good Film Mandingo was a novel I had to read in High School about Slavery. I found the film to be very true to the original novel and well worth a sit-down. I recommend it to anyone.
In "Mandingo," Humans Are Treated Like Animals I am a huge fan of science fiction and horror. However, nothing prepared me for the treachery and sorrow of "Mandingo." Not since "Planet of the Apes" have I seen a movie where humans are treated worse than animals; they are brutalized, degraded, and murdered because their skin color is different.
Since the beginning of time, humans have been enslaved by other humans. This occurred often in war when the vanquished were forced into slavery by their conquerors. However, America was not at war with Africa. Slavery was committed for greed and lust.
I've seen countless movies about vampire families, but none of these families were as perverted, cruel and twisted as the Maxwells of Falconhurst Plantation. Slaves are bred like cattle - their babies are separated from them and sold like puppies; they are forced to fight like dogs and roosters and they are forced to have sex with their owners; and they are denied education. Worst of all, they are not allowed to read the Bible; their owners fear that they might discover that they have souls and begin believing they are just as good as white people.
In "The Color Purple," Celie (Whoopie Goldberg)is a brutalized young black woman. In "Mandingo," we have Meade (heavy weight boxer Ken Norton) who is victimized by the society in which he is unfortunate to live. His sexually depraved master, Hammond Maxwell (Perry King), can not be faithful to his wife and is constantly sleeping with his slaves. Maxwell has always dreamed of owning a Mandingo; he buys Mede and trains him to be a fighter. Mede must fight other slaves to the death or be killed himself. He must mate with his sister, Big Pearl, or die. He must make love to his master's alcoholic wife Blanche (Susan George) or die. Poor Mede doesn't have much of a choice about anything. I guess that is what it means to be enslaved.
Mede is trapped in a bizarre world, more bizarre and dangerous than that of "The Planet of the Apes," "Logan's Run," or "Soylent Green." A world in which Mede has no hope. Tragedy will prevent him from seeing a future in which slavery has ended.
"Mandingo" is highly recommended for fans of action adventure and passionate drama.
Truly underrated film This is really the first great film about slavery. The critics hated this film, however, it stands up to the time test and let me tell you: it is even better now. The great James Mason and a sexy passionate Perry King act their hearts out. The surprise of the film is Ken Norton: he knew not to open his mouth too much, and to use gesttures and stares to convey what he was thinking. What makes this film truly great is the in your face cruelty depicted on the slaves.
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