Black Mama, White Mama (1973)

When two troublemaking female prisoners (one a revolutionary, the other a former harem-girl) can't seem to get along, they are chained together and extradited for safekeeping. The women, ... See full summary »

Director:

Eddie Romero

Writers:

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

Stars:

Pam Grier, Margaret Markov, Sid Haig

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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)

Storyline

When two troublemaking female prisoners (one a revolutionary, the other a former harem-girl) can't seem to get along, they are chained together and extradited for safekeeping. The women, still chained together, stumble, stab, and cat-fight their way across the wilderness, igniting a bloody shootout between gangsters and a group of revolutionaries.

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Plot Keywords:

chained | revolutionary | gangster | female prisoner | fight | 

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Taglines:

Where they come from this is fun!

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller | Crime

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Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

MGM

Country:

USA Philippines

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 January 1973 (USA)

Also Known As:

Chains of Hate

Filming Locations:

Baras, Rizal, Luzon, Philippines

Company Credits

Production Co:

American International Pictures (AIP), Four Associates Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

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.

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Goofs

When the women are smoking weed on their first night in prison, a pink shirt appears and disappears on Pam Grier between shots.

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Quotes

Lupe: [the tracking dogs have been stolen] How are we gonna find them now?
Ruben: [shouting] Well, asshole, why don't you get down on all fours and we'll follow you!

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Connections

Referenced in My Best Friend's Birthday (1987)

User Reviews

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.