Black Mama, White Mama [DVD]

9.6 out of 10. I like women in prison movies. This is one of the best made. I just wish Pam had done more with Margaret Markov.

Before she would become a major Blaxploitation star, Pam Grier starred in Black Mama, White Mama. The exploitation movie is a fun piece of low-budget filmmaking from the early Seventies. Women in prison were a popular sub-genre in exploitation and this movie revels in its cliches. Two female prisoners are chained together and on the run, a sleazier spin on Stanley Kramer’s The Defiant Ones. Black Mama, White Mama works mostly due to its two stars, Pam Grier and Margaret Markov. The two exploitation actresses work well together as two hostile prisoners in the Philippines. Lee Daniels (Pam Grier) and Karen (Margaret Markov) are inmates in a prison for women, staffed by lesbian guards that like taking advantage of their female inmates. The movie in best exploitation fashion makes sure to use that salacious scenario with an extended shower scene. It’s a fun, action-packed movie with bullets and babes. Lee is the former girlfriend of a drug dealer, while Karen(!) is some kind of revolutionary guerrilla looking to overthrow the corrupt regime in charge. Long story short, the two women escape after being chained together in a transfer to another prison. Can the two women get over their differences on the run from multiple groups, including a gang of criminals led by Sid Haig as a cowboy bounty hunter? Everything about Black Mama, White Mama reminds the viewer they are watching a cheap exploitation film from the Seventies. That can be a positive or negative, depending on one’s view of the era. The legendary and prolific Filipino director Eddie Romero uses the Philippines and its landscape to full effect, as the ladies are on the run through its countryside and jungles. That marks the film as a b-movie that stands out with a more interesting setting and iconic cast (Sid Haig, Vic Diaz and others) than normal. Excellent pacing and lively action scenes help keep the movie from getting dull. If you want to see Pam Grier and Margaret Markov on the run in chains as sexy heroines, this is the movie for you. It’s a fun, action-packed movie with bullets and babes. Black Mama, White Mama delivers what its fans are looking for in spades. Arrow Video licenses the exploitation film from MGM. This is a serviceable Hi-Def presentation from decent film elements. Some minor ringing and slightly erratic focus in the cinematography take away some of its impact in 1080P resolution. The 86-minute main feature is encoded in a sound AVC video encode without artifacts. The movie is shown at its proper 1.85:1 aspect ratio. Grain reproduction and color fidelity are fairly solid, held back only by the older film scan. While lacking the definition and superior detail of the newest 2K film scans, fans should be happy by the appreciable increase in video quality from DVD. Audio: The film’s mono soundtrack comes in fine 1.0 PCM form. This is solid, robust sound for a cheap exploitation film this old. Intelligible dialogue is heard perfectly while Harry Betts’ musical score has a nice, euphonic quality. The action has a nice punch to it given the recording’s limitations. Optional English SDH subtitles appear in a white font. Extras: Arrow commissions several new special features for Black Mama, White Mama. All of them are worth seeing and it’s great hearing Margaret Markov recap her acting career. A reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sean Phillips is included. This is a Blu-ray combo pack that includes a DVD as well. White Mama Unchained (14:01 in HD) – Actress Margaret Markov fondly recalls her career in this new interview. Her experience with Roger Corman and other anecdotes are highlighted. Sid Haig’s Filipino Adventures (15:51 in HD) – The actor discusses in this new interview working with Pam Grier and covers the other movies he also filmed in the Philippines, including The Big Bird Cage. The Mad Director of Blood Island (14:38 in HD) – Director Eddie Romero is interviewed in this archival piece as he happily discusses his early films. Black Mama, White Mama Trailer (01:54 in HD) Image Gallery – Stills of posters and other promotional images. Audio Commentary by filmmaker Andrew Leavold – Leavold specializes in Filipino movie history and it shows in this informative solo discussion. The cast and setting are dissected, tossing in references to many other related films.

A shower scene in the first five minutes, cat-fights, lesbian prison guards, Pam Grier & Sid Haig; how is it possible that neither Jack Hill nor Roger Corman had anything to do with this movie? This movie is not really just a Women in Prison flick though as the two main characters spend most of the movie as escapees fleeing across an island from a crime-boss cowboy (Haig, in one of his best roles). I found this movie to be just as entertaining as anything from Roger Corman or Jack Hill (whom I'm a huge fan of). It has all the sleazy, violent, and humorous moments you would expect from either of those two auteurs. I will admit that I had a few (9-10) drinkies while watching this, but they were small-ish glasses (I put ice in 'em too, so some of it was water), but regardless of my level of inebriation, this movie is a keeper if you are a fan of the fun side of 70's exploitation movies such as Coffy or Switchblade Sisters. Plus it features the wonderful Pam Grier, who makes any movie better merely by being present on screen. When it comes to this type of cult film on DVD, you can do much, much worse than MGM home video. While there are no real special features besides the trailer on this DVD, the widescreen print is clean and clear and the colors are vivid. Purchase with confidence.

Directed by Roger Corman's Philippine counterpart Eddie Romeo, this is a classic snooze fest. Obviously shot on a low budget, there's no action nor acting to speak of. Sid Haig does ham it up dressed as a cowboy in the Philippines for some comic relief, intentional or not. But Pam Grier and Margaret Markov are only allowed o go through the expected motions of two "criminals" manacled together. Vic Diaz (The Big Bird Cage) gives his usual performance as a sleaze. But he's restrained by unimaginative directing, in line with the entire movie. At best this film is for Pam Grier collectors, perhaps Markov too (but why?). Not worth more than $5 for a disc IMHO. I paid way too much for it. Watch The Big Bird Cage, ... Doll House, etc. for superior WIP shows.

Pam Grier delivers her acting energy in this action saga that takes place in the Philippines. Great drama, humor, natural scenery, jungle sounds, believable actors.

If this could be rated with any less than one star, it would still be too much. Wasn't worth the film used to shoot it.

Love any movie with Pam Grier in it. I like this movie because they were handcuffed together but in order for them to escape they had to work together.

Prodotto arrivato nei tempi previsti ed integro. Edizione fuori parametro come buona prassi Arrow.

PLOT... 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. If you love these classic 70's Blaxploitation movies or just love Pam Grier then this movie is a must especially now it has this great Blu-ray release, the story is really good and is typically packed with bloody violence, lesbianism, nudity, lots of gun fights, girls in chains, pretty much everything you expect from these movies which is what makes them awesome, cheesy and sleazy yes but very cool, Sid Haig pops up as usual like he does in most of these movies playing his usual crazy eccentric character, Pam Grier is great as usual and pares up well with Margaret Markov who is a really beautiful actress, this is classic grindhouse stuff and really worth checking out. Blu-ray picture looks great Features include Sid Haig interview (15min) Margaret Markov interview, commentary, an archive interview with director, trailer, gallery. Cool reversible sleeve with original poster art Region B only, 87-mins, 1973. Language English, Subtitles English SDH Rated 18 for strong violence.

Awesome movie, great picture quality (sound is a bit weak, but that's the best there is) and fantastic packaging and bonus features! If you haven't bought a release from Arrow Video before, check them out! I own a couple of their discs and they are very impressive.

Que podemos decir, a estas alturas de la película, de Pam Grier? Enorme? Imperecedera? Heroína emblemática del cine de acción de los 70s? Es Pam Grier un dia más en la oficina... Ni mas ni menos.

Great film if you like 70s blaxploitation.