Black Mama, White Mama (1973)

Director:

Eddie Romero

Writers:

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

Release Date:

19 January 1973 (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:

Bare Breasts | Dead Girl | Abuse | Beating | Shot In The Forehead

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
Jess Ramos	...	Alfredo
Carpi Asturias	...	Lupe

Directed by
Eddie Romero

Writing credits
H.R. Christian		(screenplay)
Joe Viola		(story) (as Joseph Viola) and
Jonathan Demme		(story)

Produced by
John Ashley	....	producer
David J. Cohen	....	executive producer
Eddie Romero	....	producer

Original Music by
Harry Betts

Cinematography by
Justo Paulino		(director of cinematography)

Production Design by
Robert Formoso		(as Roberto Formoso)

Makeup Department
Tony Artieda	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Mario David	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
María Abelardo	....	assistant director

Art Department
David Delina	....	property master

Sound Department
Gabby Castellano	....	sound mixer (as Gabriel Castellano)
Ronald Stein	....	sound effects editor

Special Effects by
Teofilo Hilario	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Johnny Araojo	....	camera operator: second unit

Editorial Department
Asacani V. Pastor	....	associate film editor

Music Department
Harry Betts	....	conductor

Other crew
Ethel W. Fernandez	....	script supervisor
Dennis Juban	....	military ordinance (as Dennis V. Juban)
Jose E. Romero IV	....	production assistant
David Sheldon	....	production executive (uncredited)

Production Companies

• American International Pictures (AIP)
• Four Associates Ltd.

Distributors

• American International Pictures (AIP) (1972) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cinema Classics (video)
• Irfan Film (1973) (Turkey) (all media)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (UK) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• Orion Pictures Corporation

Other Companies

• Modern Film Effects  titles and opticals
• Ryder Sound Services  sound recording

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 | France:-16 (with warning) | Chile:18 | Spain:18 | 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 Beauty Shop (2005)

This movie has it ALL!

"Black Mama, White Mama" has something for everyone. Everyone, that is, who walks directly to the "Action/Adventure" section upon entering their local video store. First, it starts out in a woman's prison in some random South/Central American country. Second, the suggestions of lesbianism that this setting offers are set into hyper-warp by the chaining together of the two rivals for the lead, Pam Grier and Margaret Markov, while they wear nothing but skimpy prison tunics. They go on the run together while the film makes various unnecessary-yet-entertaining visits to all of those on their trail: Grier's former pimp, government agents after Markov, and, last but not least, Sid Haig's delightfully flamboyant "cowboy" character. This is a video that's not necessarily fun for ALL, but rather, a video that's fun for all who keep video stores in business.