Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Anouska Hempel | ... | Lady Susan Walker | |
David Warbeck | ... | Sir Charles Walker / Ronald Sopwith | |
Percy Herbert | ... | Joxer Tierney | |
Thomas Baptiste | ... | Isiah | |
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Milton McCollin | ... | Joshua |
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Bernard Boston | ... | Capt. Raymond Daladier |
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Vikki Richards | ... | Cleone |
David Prowse | ... | Jonathan Walker (as Dave Prowse) | |
Bloke Modisane | ... | Bottoms | |
Anthony Sharp | ... | Lord Clive (as Anthony Sharpe) | |
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Robert Lee | ... | Informer |
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Carl Corbin | ... | Stalwart |
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Ebbie Clark | ... | Cart Driver |
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Sydney A. Harris | ... | Village Elder |
Donna Young | ... | 1st Running Girl |
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.
I had watched every Russ Meyer film I could rent in chronological order from an underground video store in preparation for a screening of "Faster Pussycat" at Film Forum, where I worked at the time. There were probably a couple titles unavailable, but I saw pretty much all of them. My feminist roommate hated them, because many of them seemed to glorify and sexualize violence against women--something I am very strongly against. My argument, however, is that all the characters in Meyer's films are awful, the men and the women, which is what makes them so campy and over-the-top melodramatic. I grew to love the rhythms of his editing, which were genius and signature, and his delicious, stylish cinematography. When I got to this film, my entire attitude toward him changed. With one film, he proved himself to be a true cinematic master and auteur. Black Snake is visually stunning, terribly disturbing, powerful, and a tour de force. I actually asked Meyer about a DVD release (he personally answers the phone at his office), which I felt was a great compliment to the quality of this film. He seemed annoyed by the question. I hope he changes his mind and offers this on DVD. It's a great work of cinematic art.