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Poster for Mandingo

Mandingo

Seen it?

1975 | 127 min | Romance, Drama, History

Weeknight Watchearly rating

Why it’s a Weeknight Watch

It's still drawing plenty of interest, but just 29% on Rotten Tomatoes held it back. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for romantics and history buffs. If you loved Raging Bull or Nickel Boys, start here. Audiences love it more than critics do: a crowd-pleaser first.
The mood
Warm and romantic.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 7 min.
What might put you off
  • Rated R: meant for adults.
  • Made in 1975: an older pace and style.
  • Critics were cooler on it than audiences.

Warren Maxwell, the owner of a run-down plantation, pressures his son, Hammond, to marry and produce an heir to inherit the plantation. Hammond settles on his own cousin, Blanche, but purchases a sex slave when he returns from the honeymoon. He also buys his father a new Mandingo slave named Mede to breed and train as a prize-fighter.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsWeak

    29% on Rotten Tomatoes

  • AudiencesSolid

    6.6 out of 10

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Reach & staying powerSolid

    Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactStrong

    About 214K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Richard Fleischer

  • Perry KingHammond Maxwell
  • James MasonWarren Maxwell
  • Susan GeorgeBlanche Woodford Maxwell
  • Ken NortonMede (Ganymede)
  • Richard WardAgamemnon
  • Brenda SykesEllen
  • Lillian HaymanLucrezia Borgia
  • Roy PooleDoc Redfield
  • Ji-Tu CumbukaCicero
  • Paul BenedictBrownlee