Black Mama, White Mama (1973)

Director:

Eddie Romero

Writers:

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

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:

Chained | Revolutionaries | Female Prisoner | Gangster | Sexual Attraction

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	...	Capt. Cruz
Alona Alegre	...	Juana
Dindo Fernando	...	Rocco
Vic Diaz	...	Vic Cheng
Wendy Green	...	Ronda
Lotis Key	...	Jeanette
Alfonso Carvajal	...	Galindo
Bruno Punzalan	...	Truck driver
Subas Herrero	...	Luis (as Ricardo Herrero)

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

Filming Locations:

Baras, Rizal, Luzon, 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)

Mindless, cartoonlike fun and frolic!

Wow, this one just about defies description! Although the filmmakers seem to take the project a bit too seriously, our stars (Pam Grier and Margaret Markov) seem to be enjoying themselves. There's sadistic female guards, showers, a prison break, shootouts between revolutionaries and police. This film really typifies the genre.

Despite some of the dire happenings (blood flows like water) the film has a light-hearted feel. It's pure entertainment material, and doesn't pretend to be anything else. The heroines, Grier and Markov, really are the shining lights of this piece. One wonders how they could roll in the mud and catfight their way cross-country without mussing their uniforms. Talented women, they are. A funny note, at least in my opinion, is that Grier's character wears black underpants, and Markov's white.

See it, enjoy it, have a good giggle.