Where to Watch Mandingo (1975) in the US

What it's about

It's the mid-nineteenth century Louisiana. Falconhurst, a run down plantation, is owned by Warren Maxwell, and largely run by his son, Hammond Maxwell, who walks with a limp due to a childhood accident. Hammond is under pressure to get married and produce a male heir to continue the Maxwell legacy before Warren dies. With no experience courting a potential bride - his sexual experiences confined to slaves and whores - Hammond ultimately chooses his cousin Blanche for his wife in what would not be considered a courtship in its true sense. In turn, Blanche agrees to the marriage largely to escape the realm of her sadistic brother, Charles. As his father tells him is custom, Hammond, while on his and Blanche's honeymoon in New Orleans, also obtains a slave as a go to sexual partner, he buying Ellen, who he met when she was given to him in hospitality when visiting who was then her master. Concurrently, Hammond also purchases Mede, a Mandingo, as a slave, something Warren had always wanted because of their physical strength. The plan with Mede is to breed him with their female slaves to produce further Mandingos who they can sell for a higher price than other black slaves. However, Hammond, out of circumstance, uses Mede in the potentially lucrative sport of no holds barred slave fighting, often to the death. Hammond and Blanche end up having an unsatisfying marriage largely due to something Hammond discovers on their wedding night, he turning to Ellen instead as the preferred woman in his life. Blanche, in return, takes her anger out on Hammond in the only way she knows how. In the process, it is their slaves who pay the price for their problems.

Cast and crew

Director

Richard Fleischer

Writer

Kyle Onstott, Jack Kirkland, Norman Wexler

Starring

James Mason, Susan George, Perry King

Details

Release date

Jul 25, 1975

Language

English, French

Country

United States

Box office

$2,433,010

Awards

1 win total

Where to Watch Mandingo (1975) in the US — common questions

Where to watch Mandingo in the United States?

Mandingo is available free with a participating library card or to rent in the United States. Watch the movie free with a participating library card on Kanopy (HD). Rent the movie on Apple TV Store, Fandango at Home, and Prime Video.

Can I stream Mandingo or do I have to rent it in the United States?

Rent the movie on Apple TV Store, Fandango at Home, and Prime Video.

Can I watch Mandingo for free in the United States?

Watch the movie free with a participating library card on Kanopy (HD).