La maîtresse noire

Despite, or maybe because of the budget, I gave this movie a ten. I am really surprised by the maturity of the subject matter and the fact that it didn't gloss over certain relationships. I am always surprised by movies such as Tomango and a very few others that dealt with the horrors of slavery. While Roots was epic and had the backing of the changing attitudes of the era it was produced within' these earlier films, and the actors who starred in them - both black and white - are to be commended.

By the way, despite some reviewers here saying it is loosely based on Uncle Tom's Cabin - it's not at all. I can only suppose they came up with that because, like all slaves were - the main character cites that to be a good Christian, you must do as the Bible says and be a good servant to your master. All slaves were endoctrinated and manipulated thusly.

Released theatrically on July 2, 1969,the film wasn't seen elsewhere within its general release until either August of 1969 or 1970,the film "Slaves!" was something to remember for those who went to see this in the theatres when it was released. I was too young to see it then,but I do recall seeing it again when I was in college during a screening of the film in February during Black History Month. "Slaves!" was produced through an independent film company called Continental films,which was by the way the same low-budget film studio that was known for movies with intense subject matter,among them "Black Like Me",and "Nothing But A Man" that were released five years earlier.

"Slaves!" was one of those revisionist dramas set in the Old South that became somewhat of a inept melodrama within itself dealing the horrors of slavery,rebellion and so forth. This was an revisionist melodrama set on a plantation during slavery. The story deals with a Kentucky slave(Ossie Davis),standing up for his rights and for others on the plantation when he is unjustly sold to a bad and tyrannical overseer(Stephen Boyd) whose mistreatment and cruel intentions towards him and the others slaves drives him to foment a slave uprising against his master. Director Herbert J. Biberman depends largely upon heavy dialogue rather than visuals to convey the historical reality of the terrible injustices of slavery. While it is an important subject about the cruel and terrible punishment and the unjustly conditions of human beings,but it is done very poorly and it shows. "Slaves!" upon its release in 1969 came out during the time of civil unrest in America with the violent in the streets of America's largest cities,and the demonstrations that occurred within our neighborhoods not to mention people were still angry and bitter and reeling over the assassinations of Dr. Martin Luther King,Jr. and Bobby Kennedy the previous year....not to mention the escalating chaos of the Vietnam War.

"Slaves!" also marked the theatrical debut of R&B songstress Dionne Warwick in her first feature role as "Cassy" one of the slaves that assists Ossie Davis in his revolt against the sadistic and tyrannical master. Warwick's performance here is not to standard,and it shows. It is laughable at times and sometimes outlandish. However,this was Dionne Warwick's first and only attempt at doing theatrical films. But the real disappointment comes from Stephen Boyd who is so over the top here its downright funny. Stephen Boyd went from starring opposite Charlton Heston in "Ben-Hur" to the lowest downpoint in his career as the sadistic overseer. The rest of the cast includes Gale Sondergaard, David Huddleston,Julius Harris,Marilyn Clark,and Nancy Coleman. I do remember this movie,upon its release had a strong "M" rating for several scenes of full frontal nudity,scenes of graphic violence and one intense scene of a rape(that included Ms. Warwick and Mr. Boyd). Had a good subject matter,but within it all,:"Slaves!" was just downright horrible. Running Time: 110 minutes

Ossie Davis is a tower of strength as a Kentucky slave in 1850, promised his freedom by his well-meaning white master but, instead, sold off to an auctioneer. He is eventually 'purchased' by an extremely moody Mississippi cotton plantation owner who has relocated from the north--and who keeps a black "wench" in his bed. Director and co-screenwriter Herbert J. Biberman apparently had sincere intentions here, but his film--cheaply produced and cheaply presented--comes off as sensationalistic (the title "Slaves" may as well be followed with an exclamation point). Pop singer Dionne Warwick (in her acting debut) has dramatic eyes and a curious smudge of a mouth, but her role as Stephen Boyd's mistress doesn't make much sense, and her introductory scenes--drunk and painting up her face--are confusing and off-putting. One sequence, a grueling day for the slaves picking cotton in the sun, and later weighing their results in the rain, is atmospheric and hard-hitting; but only when Davis is on-screen does Biberman get anything heartfelt going. The rest of "Slaves" is crude, and processed for shock value. *1/2 from ****

After reading the commentaries on this movie, one important fact has not been mentioned. This was the first movie made by the director, Herbert Biberman, after having been sentenced to six months in prison for contempt of Congress by the McCarthy hearings in 1950 and blacklisted by the Hollywood studios.

Nothing can be said about this being a great film. It isn't. The acting is amateurish and the story is pure melodrama that reeks of the staleness of another time in casting when broad caricature was passed off as great emoting. But the music is pure Bobby Scott, a jazz stylist with great command of a music form. Bobby was proud of his accomplishments as a songwriter and composer, and this one was no exception. He loved the fact that he got this one away from Burt Bacharach despite that it was done for that songwriter's golden goose, Dionne Warwick. So forget the hoky acting and plot. Listen to the sounds of the great Bobby Scott. (I should also mention that both the director/screenwriter Biberman and actress Gale Sondergard, were blacklisted talents so that at least makes this film noteworthy.) Okay so maybe it is historic in that it marks the acting debut of singer Dionne Warwick, but so what? She was no better than Gladys Knight as a thespian, and believe me, that is no compliment. Like I said. Watch the cinematography and listen to the music on the soundtrack and if you do anything else, don't say I didn't warn you.