Black Mama, White Mama (1972)

Director:

Eddie Romero

Writers:

H.R. Christian (screenplay)
Joe Viola (story) ...

Release Date:

19 January 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller | Crime

Tagline:

Where they come from this is fun!

Plot:

When two troublemaking female prisoners (one a revolutionary, the other a former harem-girl) can't seem to get along...

Plot Keywords:

Food | Electrical Torture | River | Sadism | Explosions

Cast

Pam Grier	...	Lee Daniels
Margaret Markov	...	Karen Brent
Sid Haig	...	Ruben
Lynn Borden	...	Matron Densmore
Zaldy Zshornack	...	Ernesto
Laurie Burton	...	Warden Logan
Eddie Garcia	...	Captain Cruz
Alona Alegre	...	Juana
Dindo Fernando	...	Rocco
Vic Diaz	...	Vic Cheng
Wendy Green	...	Ronda
Lotis Key	...	Jeanette
Alfonso Carvajal	...	Galindo
Bruno Punzalan	...	Truck driver
Ricardo Herrero	...	Luis

Also Known As:

Chained Women
Chains of Hate
Hot, Hard and Mean
Women in Chains (USA) (video title)

Runtime:

87 min | Germany:83 min

Country:

USA | Philippines

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Netherlands:16 | Spain:18 | Chile:18 | France:-16 (with warning) | Canada:R (video rating) | Portugal:M/18 | USA:R | UK:18 (cut) | Germany:18

Filming Locations:

Philippines

Company:

American International Pictures (AIP)

Trivia:

Several VW Country Buggies are seen in the film - these were manufactured by Volkswagen of Australia between 1968-72. Fewer than 2,000 were manufactured - these vehicles were imported into the Philippines and have been sought-after by classic vehicle collectors.

Quotes:

Ruben: I don't like cops. And cops don't like me.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)

Fun Women's Prison Exploitation With Pam Grier

Eddie Romero's "Black Mama, White Mama" aka "Chained Women" of 1972 is a stylish and funny 'Women in Prison' exploitation flick full of the usual ingredients like violence, catfights and shower- and lesbian scenes. The movie's highlight is, of course, the great Pam Grier.

Locked up in a brutal prison camp on a tropical island, blonde revolutionary Karen Brent(Margaret Markov) and former black prostitute Lee Daniels (Pam Grier) are constantly having beef with each other. Chained together by the sadistic lesbian prison wardens, the two escape from a con transport. Chased by henchmen of the drug-lord who used to have Lee locked up as a harem-girl, gangsters and the police, the two fugitives have different destinations. While Karen has to find her guerrilla friends, Lee must reach a boat with a case full of cash. On the run, the two have quite some fights, but since they are chained together, they have to get along.

"Black Mama, White Mama" is pretty violent and a typical exploitation flick, lots of shootouts, occasional torture, many catfights and naked breasts. The acting in this movie differs. Pam Grier is great as always, and so is sexy Margaret Markov as Karen. Sid Haig's performance as Ruben, a slightly insane gangster in a cowboy outfit, is another highlight in "Black Mama, White Mama" and makes the movie a lot funnier. The rest of the acting is nothing special, typical B-movie performances, some better some worse. A fan of Pam Grier and lover of blaxploitation classics like "Coffy" as well as films like "Jackie Brown", I found "Black Mama, White Mama" very entertaining. Not one of Pam Grier's best movies, but better than most 'Women's prison' flicks, this is a violent and fun film and definitely worth watching.