A mid-19th century mulatto slave is torn between his success as a pit-fighter and the injustices of white society.
Acting
Pam Grier elevating every frame she's in—legitimately great performance in chaos.
Practical Effects
Bare-knuckle fight sequences that look genuinely brutal, no stunt doubles visible.
Director
Steve Carver
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Ken Norton was a real heavyweight boxing champion; his fight scenes use almost no choreography. Steve Carver replaced original director Burt Kennedy after creative disputes.
Produced by Dino De Laurentiis as a cash-in on MANDINGO's success, this became one of the last big-budget exploitation films before the genre collapsed. The cast fought constantly with producers over the graphic content.
US
