Black Snake (1973)

Story of a slave revolt on a 19th-century Caribbean island.

Director:

Russ Meyer

Writers:

Russ Meyer (screenplay), Leonard Neubauer (screenplay)

Stars:

Anouska Hempel, David Warbeck, Percy Herbert

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Anouska Hempel	...	Lady Susan Walker
David Warbeck	...	Sir Charles Walker / Ronald Sopwith
Percy Herbert	...	Joxer Tierney
Thomas Baptiste	...	Isiah
Milton McCollin	...	Joshua
Bernard Boston	...	Capt. Raymond Daladier
Vikki Richards	...	Cleone
David Prowse	...	Jonathan Walker (as Dave Prowse)
Bloke Modisane	...	Bottoms
Anthony Sharp	...	Lord Clive (as Anthony Sharpe)
Robert Lee	...	Informer
Carl Corbin	...	Stalwart
Ebbie Clark	...	Cart Driver
Sydney A. Harris	...	Village Elder
Donna Young	...	1st Running Girl

Storyline

In 1835, the San Cristobal Island located somewhere in the British West Indies is ruled by sadistic beauty, Lady Susan Walker, who forces the local men to join the black slaves on her sugar cane plantation and either work or die. She's always dressed in black and never lets go of her whip, the black snake. Her latest husband has gone missing making her a real black widow. Her right hand man, impotent, racist and violent Joxer Tierney, is in command of the slaves and he makes sure that they hate him even more than they do her. Young slave Joshua plans a revolt, but his religious father Isaiah is terrified of what might happen if the revolt fails. Sir Charles Walker, the brother of Susan's late husband, goes undercover as Ronald Sopwith to investigate what really happened to his brother. She hires him as the plantation accountant, gives him a black sex slave named Cleone and eventually tries to seduce him. Her sadistic gay assistant may no more about Charles' brother's fate.

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Plot Keywords:

grindhouse film | psychotronic film | sexploitation film | mollycoddle as epithet | african | 

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Taglines:

Cane Island atrocities . . . never proved!

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Genres:

Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Russ Meyer stated in an interview that this film was his "statement" film against racial bigotry.

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Quotes

Lady Susan Walker: No white man gets whipped on Blackmoor... unless I do it. How can you keep that rabble in line when you fight amongst yourselves? Whip him!
[she throws down the whip]
Sir Charles Walker: My God! Why?
Lady Susan Walker: Because I say so. You show those other slaves you're no mollycoddle or you're not worth a farthing round here
Sir Charles Walker: I...
Lady Susan Walker: If you can't do the job
[dismounts from horse]
Lady Susan Walker: I will. The whip!
Sir Charles Walker: [he hands her the whip]

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Alternate Versions

The original UK cinema release was cut heavily by the BBFC with edits to all the whipping scenes and shots of Joshua's hands being pierced with nails during the crucifixion scene. The 2005 Fremantle DVD is the fully uncut version.

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Connections

Featured in Trailer Trauma Part 4: Television Trauma (2017)

User Reviews

Sleazy Slavery

'Black Snake' marked Russ Meyer's return to self-financed independent movies after short contract with 20th Century Fox which spawned two films. 'Black Snake' was also Meyers only experiment in Blaxploitation subgenre and it served, as the author himself said, his statement film about racial bigotry. But returning into independent film territory didn't mean return into top form. 'Black Snake' stays far behind from Meyer's best works. The film is not unwatchable as Meyer's energetic directing style and dynamic editing helps to carry the movie along with vigorous pace.

Shot in location of Barbados 'Black Snake' tells a story that takes place in 1835 at the time of colonial slavery. Charles Walker (David Warbeck) travels to San Cristobal Island to search his missing brother Jonathan. Posing as a bookkeeper, Charles arrives at Blackmoor Plantation ruled by disgustingly cruel and ruthless mistress Lady Susan (Anouska Hempel) who loves to torture men (white and black). Small clues are starting to point that Lady Susan who was briefly married to Jonathan might have killed the man.

Gorgeously photographed trashy period film about slavery that definitely offers some thrills to the fans of director and the genre.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 August 1973 (West Germany)

Also Known As:

Sweet Suzy

Filming Locations:

St. Nicholas Abbey, Barbados

Box Office

Budget:

$300,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Trident Films Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

82 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1