DRUM

US, 1976, 100 minutes, Colour.
Warren Oates, Isela Vega, Ken Norton, Pamela Grier, Yaphet Kotto, John Colicos, Fiona Lewis.
Directed by Steve Carver.

Mandingo, was a prime example of the historical soap-opera laying on the sex and sadism (probably historically verifiable) for a sensationally prurient look at the past (with a certain enjoyable zest and flair). Ads said Mandingo lit the fuse and Drum is the explosion. Well, perhaps it comes with continuous big bangs, but that is about all in a repetition of 19th century Southern decadence. There is plenty of plot, attack on loathsome whites and glorification of oppressed blacks. Ken Norton may not have defeated Muhammad Ali, but here he is a box-office winner. Kyle Onstott's books will probably provide him with screen material while popularity lasts.

1. Audience response to this kind of film? Can the film be described as good or, as most critics said, trash? Why?

2. The atmosphere of the film of Mandingo, the popularity of the novels, the appeal of the times, subject and treatment? The popularity of the films for the audiences of the 70s?

3. The interest in and appeal of America in the south and in the early nineteenth century? The ethos of the south, pre-war luxury and wealth, a slave society, decadence. lust and violence? Could audiences identify with this, or are’ they repelled? The attraction of an evil and decadent society? Fantasy and reality?

4. How well did the film create its setting and situations? Did it seem authentic? The initial scenes of slavery in Cuba? The transition to New Orleans and its way of life? Again the transition to Falconhurst and the property for the breeding of stud negroes? The plantation life and work? The houses, the brothels, the fighting centres of New Orleans and the south? The quality of the visual presentation? How true was the presentation of this way of life? Is this important for this kind of film?

5. Were the characters credible? Their behaviour? How realistic, how sensationalized?

6. Interest in the background of Drum's birth? The way of life in Havana, the slave sequences, the white mother, the black father, inter-racial relationships, lust and love? The birth of the boy and his commitment to the nurse? The torture and death of his father? Audience sympathy towards Drum at the beginning of the film, towards his nurse, his mother?

7. The visual presentation of New Orleans especially the brothel? Drum and the impact of his personality and character, his culture work? His relationship with his real mother? To the nurse? His attitude towards the clientele at the brothel?

8. The importance of the initial party sequence. its length, introduction to the characters, way of life and attitudes of the south? The Frenchman and his cruelty, homosexual overtones, his associate? The introduction to Hammond Maxwell and his company? Attitudes of ugliness and decadence?

9. The focus on fighting: Drum and Blaise? Their fight, the background to it, the build-up, the savage details? Later training, later fights? Roman Empire attitudes towards life and death?

10. The contrast in tenderness between Drum and the girl that he chose? The Frenchman and his homosexual assault? The background for vengeance? Drum as a victim of this kind of society, audience sympathy for him?

11. The contrived fight and the death of the nurse? The effect on Drum and Blaze?

12. The contrast with the life at Falconhurst? Maxwell and his way of life aristocracy, wealth, his stud farm? His relationship with his daughter? His taking of Blaise and Drum?

13. The visualizing of the crisis between Maxwell's daughter and Blaise? The focus for the revolution? The character of the daughter, her way of life, emphasis on sexuality and curiosity? Augusta and her lack of control? Drum's concern?

14. The character of Augusta and the background of the brothel? Her posing as a lady and yet her calculating to be Mrs. Maxwell? Her role at Falconhurst, manners and style, influence on Maxwell's daughter?

15. Drum and the crisis at Falconhurst? His attitudes towards Blaise, towards Maxwell, his daughter? Decisions and involvement?

16. The party and the discussion of the aristocracy, especially about castration and the racist attitudes? The people from the brothel being present at the party?

17. The arrival of the slave buyer and his personality? Cruelty? The visual plight of the slaves? Blaise sharing this? Drum's attitude?

18. The importance of the massacre and its effect? Audience sympathies? The cruelty towards the white aristocracy and their slaughter? The mowing down of the negroes?

19. Maxwell and Augusta being safe? Was this just for the background of the film? Drum's helping them?

20. The fact that Drum had to leave? His future?

21. What are the basic values presupposed in audiences in response to this kind of film?