Black Mama, White Mama [DVD]

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.

Review was originally written for my site Mind of Tatlock (visit for the "uncut" version). The Blu-ray was provided for review.Black Mama, White Mama features a lot of nudity, beautiful women (Pam Grier and Margaret Markov are the leads in this flick, so beauty is front and center), a portion of the plot dedicated to a women’s prison, with a lesbian prison guard no less (Lynn Borden); a honky-tonk Sid Haig; and an actual honest to god --- measuring contest. Now, how can you not end up loving this movie? Seriously, your pulse would have to be close to zero to not get a kick out Black Mama, White Mama. Arrow Video knows this and has gone above in beyond in releasing it on a fantastic Blu-ray, with all new special features and wonderful audio and video. I could stop the review now and tell you to go out and buy it, but why not read on see what’s up with this truly fun movie…Movie:Black Mama, White Mama is all about the sexy women, b--bs, action and laughs. Its plot follows Lee (Grier) and Karen (Markov), who after breaking out of a lesbian run prison, are being chased down by Sid Haig dressed like a cowboy, Karen’s resistance friends and Lee’s mob enemies. It’s an action-packed, laugh riot, with a lot going on in such a tightly packed runtime of 87 minutes.It isn’t all roses and hot b--bies, though, as there are a few choices I don’t agree with. The early scenes with the prison and Lynn Borden’s erotically charged character Matron Densmore come and go way too fast for my distasteful tastes. I would have loved to see more scenes in the prison, but mainly cause I enjoyed all the female nudity and staring at Borden whilst she fondles herself as she peeps at the prisoners during an extended shower scene. What can I say, I’m a perv.Even with the blink and you miss it prison stuff, the rest of the movie is still a blast to watch. Pam Grier and Margaret Markov work wonderfully together, be it when they are fighting with each other, rolling around and tearing each others clothes off, or when they are both working together to take down a pervy man. Sid Haig is also wonderful in this movie and he hits all the right notes with his wacky portrayal of the hired thug tasked with bringing in the escaped convicts. He knows when to relax, though, as he finds time to frolic with the daughters of one of his associates, and also manages to fit in some time to measure two guys penises (long story, don’t ask).As you can see, Black Mama, White Mama is a flick that takes bits and pieces from the enjoyable blacksploitation and women’s prison films of its time, but also manages to provide plenty of laughs, action set pieces and a scene of a topless woman licking a hairy chested man for no reason whatsoever. If that isn’t enough to make you immediately drop what you are doing and watch this flick, well, I don’t know what to think.Blu-ray Opinion:Arrow Video can do no wrong it seems, as they once again give us a wonderful Blu-ray, with solid audio and video and a special features package that is incredibly enjoyable to check out. There are some really delightful interviews with lead actress Margaret Markov, co-star Sid Haig (yes, he too also agrees that the clothing choices were a bit ridiculous), an archive interview with director Eddie Romero, a commentary with filmmaker Andrew Leavold, and finally a trailer and a gallery. There is also a booklet and reversible sleeve provided with the Blu-ray. The only complaint I have is the lack of an interview with Pam Grier. I would love to hear what she has to say about this movie, but alas, we don’t get to find out.Verdict:Black Mama, White Mama is 87 minutes of good times. It’s got everything I love in a movie: beautiful women, b--bies, laughs, action, b--bies and finally, and most importantly, b--bies. The Blu-ray from Arrow Video will fit in nicely on your shelf next to Coffy and Sheba, Baby, two other wonderful Pam Grier releases from the stellar Arrow Video.

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.

I love Pam Grier! I grew up in Detroit and as a white kid in the seventies, no female actress got me so excited about women and sex as Pam Grier did. She's the ultimate sex symbol woman!I just recently bought a Blu-ray triple feature collection called "The Women in Cages" collection. A Roger Corman release that "Shout Records" saw some selling potential to release onto Blu-Ray.Well, that was a good move, because even thought some of the acting was unforgivably, mildly, atrocious, the girls all looked so good. And that's what's what's important to me. I have the DVD's of "Black Mama, White Mama", "Coffy", and "Foxy Brown", so now, more than ever, I want these films released as remastered Blu-Ray releases.People who concentrate so hard on living for the moment, and only caring about the current movie releases of the day, are never going to see the art of sexy, saucy cinema that was so much more apparent in the seventies.There use to be a time where the natural art of just looking good, was more important than all that CGI, which in a way, detracts from the story and only makes a film look like meaningless but impressive moving art. Bring back the "natural beautiful woman" to film, because I sure miss movies when the seems all looked natural and realistic.Watch any of these early Pam Grier films and you'll see what I mean.

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 greatFeatures include Sid Haig interview (15min) Margaret Markov interview, commentary, an archive interview with director, trailer, gallery.Cool reversible sleeve with original poster artRegion B only, 87-mins, 1973.Language English, Subtitles English SDHRated 18 for strong violence.

I bought Coffy which was OK. I thought Blackmama Whitemama could be better?No! Unbelievable rubbish! Who released this as a film!?

The item came really fast, in perfect condition.Everything is as described. The story is great - real classic exploitation from 70's,picture quality is perfect.100 % entertainment.There's a booklet and some bonus materials with the disc, which is good.The price is cheap so, don't hesitate - BUY IT NOW!

Nice release from arrow, but the movie was just ok. Item came as described.

It's done !