mohouze404

Mandingo is what it is, and so is it's 'sequel', Drum, which both stars boxing champion Ken Norton. As a product of the 70's, I don't readily recall the film's release, but after I skimmed pages of the book, it was then I was intrigued in finding the movie. I bought the VHS copy and was immediately fascinated by the over-the-top acting by James Mason (the scene where he places his feet on the little black boy speaks volumes of 'camp'), Susan George's role of the 'neglected' and 'troubled' wife only reinforces to me that white beauty is truly in the eyes of a white America, and Ken Norton, phoning in his lines and being 'raped' by Susan George is funny because without much movement, he shudders to a climax. The scenes are explicit, and basically the only gripe I have is not having commentary from the principles...

One has to remember, that with the introduction of Shaft and Superfly, Hollywood churned out one blaxploitation film after the other, whether the script and acting succeeded or not. During the 70's, at the height of the blaxploitation film era, the genre was completely plot-driven rather than character-driven. Ask yourself how many times a neighborhood could be saved from some type of demolition? How many times could someone come up with just the right lottery numbers? Take this film for what it is, something lighthearted that introduced actor/director Thomas Carter, II, Debbi Morgan of All My Children, Charmed, The Hurricane, Rosalind Cash of The Omega Man, General Hospital, and Tales from the Hood, Randy Brooks of Another World and Generations. And, of course, Rudy Ray Moore. These actors had to eat, support families, and it was training ground for some later great work.