MovieChat Forums > Mandingo (1975) Discussion > If you think this movie was racist, you ...

If you think this movie was racist, you should read the book!

posted 18 years ago by Lorilynn1028
16 replies | jump to latest

I only glanced through it here and there and I couldn't believe how trashy it is.
The book is beyond shocking and makes the film look tame!

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] SeldonRL 18 years ago

In fact there were about 10 sequels to the book. The original book takes place around the 1830's and sequels go to the post Civil War era. Good trashy fun reads.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] jtate1960 18 years ago

Kyle Onstott wrote the original trilogy -

Mandingo
Drum
Master Of Falconhurst

Subsequent sequels were written by Lance Horner and Ashley Carter.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] papibear 18 years ago

It was indeed. It was a bit hokier/trashier than "Mandingo", but both films are worth seeing, even if they are terribly flawed and a peculiar mix of hard-hittingly honest and salaciously exploitative. "Mandingo", at least, has the morally disturbing love story between Hammond Maxwell and his slave girl Ellen. I say "morally disturbing," not because of the racial difference, but because of the moral quandary Hammond experiences, being genuinely in love with Ellen (and having that love returned), yet also being forced by his society and his father to perpetuate her continued enslavement and dehumanization. The ending of their story is, ultimately, very sad and enraging.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] GuildNavigator84 18 years ago

FELT authentic!?! Jesus Christ, don't people think critically anymore!

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] JoeLoebner 18 years ago

I bought the book on a school field trip. Great read, it contains more detail than the movie.

[–] coxm-1 15 years ago

"I can't believe there even WAS a book. The film is sub-literate enough as it is."

Yeah, there's a book - it's rather thick, too. I read it when I was a teen.

[–] none-85 15 years ago

Some of the quotes in the book are startling.

Doc Redfield to Ham: "You had ought to burn him. Cut him first with a dull butcher knife and then burn em. It's the only way to learn em."

Warren Maxwell to Brownlee: "Hung em? Just hung em for killin all those white folks? They had ought to have burned em."

[–] LadyLovie 14 years ago

my mother read just about the whole series, I get easily offended, the movie is offensive enough. I'll try reading it.

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Popeye has eaten his spinach

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] none-85 14 years ago

I like the book and all those of the Falconhurst series.

Some of the quotes are startling and even hilarious:

Doc Redfield to Ham after they discover Hammon's wife Blanche had sex with Mede, ham's showpiece Mandingo slave: "You had ought to burn him. Cut him first with a dull butcher knife and then burn em. It's the only way to learn em."

Warren Maxwell to Brownlee, speaking about Nat Turner: "Hung em? Just hung em for killin all those white folks? They had ought to have burned em."

[–] madetwolastforever 13 years ago

I read all of the series, too, including Mandingo. Read them during my teens. I didn't find them offensive because I'm sure it all happened. All the atrocities and indignities were unfortunately a fact of life. Can't change history, as much as one would love to ...

Oh, and I'm black.