***SPOILERS*** Explosive follow up to the shocking movie about the pre Civil War South "Mandingo" has the son of the Mandingo slave Mede the grown up and fully developed Drum played by the then top heavyweight champion contender Ken Norton get involved in a slave revolt against his white slave masters when they try to castrate as well as murder his good friend fellow slave Blasé,Yaphet Kooto. That's when Blaze was accused of acting improperly by the master or slave owner of the house Hammond Maxwell's, Warren Oates, sex crazed teenage daughter Miss. Sophie, Rainbeaux Smith.Drum who at first had his outs with Blaze has now become his best friend but is helpless to save him in that "The Master" Mr. Maxwell who subconsciously knew what a liar and uncontrollable sexual predator, toward his bucks or male slaves, his daughter Sophie was but just couldn't admit it to himself. And had to do the poor and innocent Blaze in to uphold his daughter Sophie's honor. It's later that Drum who was the man who served refreshments. among other things , at Maxwell's New Orleans cat or whorehouse saw what was coming-a major slave revolt-and tried to stop it but by then things just got completely out of hand.****SPOILERS*** Shocking and fiery climax to this really over the top in violence and raw sexuality, as well as the over the top use of the "N" word, film with Blaze against his friend Drum's advice leading a suicidal slave revolt against the slave dealers in New Orleans that lead to disaster for both sides;Slaves and slaves owners. With reinforcements coming to the slave owners and their families rescues the by now very confused Drum is given the chance by his master Mr. Maxwell to escape in the bayou's before the white posse can get to him and is seen at the end of the film running for his life.P.S Despite it's shock value in depicting the pre Civil War deep south "Drum" was at times very historically accurate in how blacks-or African/Americans as their now called- were abused and treated, like farm animals, by their white masters. Still the movie put slave dealer and all around whore master Maxwell in a fairly good light in realizing how bad his business as a slave dealer was. It was Drum who got Maxwell to realize that blacks were as human as he and his fellow white slave dealers were but kept those feelings under wraps until the very end when with his home burned down and most of his family members massacred, due to his brutal treatment to his slaves, but that by then it was too late.

Back in 1976, Americans enjoyed Freedom of Speech, before it was effectively repealed by liberal fascists and their Political Correctness. Since then, the worst crimes a person can commit are (1) using the N-word, or (2) smoking non-marijuana cigarettes. These days, films about slavery -- except Spielberg's silly PC film -- have all but vanished. But in 1975 and 1976 we had MANDINGO and DRUM, films about slavery, which were immensely popular with black as well as white audiences. In my office, with many black female workers, they could hardly wait for DRUM, and several used their annual leave to attend the 11 AM show on opening day.MANDINGO is easily available in VHS and DVD, but DRUM is harder to find. There was a VHS, and now there's a DVD you can find on Ebay. Very possibly a bootleg, it comes with unwanted Japanese subtitles.The difference between MANDINGO and DRUM is like day and night. Like it or hate it, MANDINGO was a quality movie with skilled acting, photography, etc that moves right along. DRUM is boring and dull. It might seem hard to believe that a movie about a slave revolt, inter-racial sex, murder, rape, brutality, brothels, et cetera can be dull, but in the hands of an unskilled director it is one big un-amusing mess. Still, after MANDINGO you just gotta see it. 3/10

I personally enjoyed this film quite a bit. It is a rare classic and a gem of all gems. Before you view this, I suggest that you come in expecting pure camp and over the top scenes. None of it should be taken seriously.I can watch this one over and over. Ken Norton gives a performance only Ken Norton can give. Yappet Kotto is a genius in this one. The fight scenes are better than the original. This film is actually on a completely different level than it's predecessor, Mandingo. Where Mandingo is more serious in tone, this film does not take itself seriously. It's one laugh after another. It is a shame that we don't have an official release in the US. Guess Hollywood is too PC these days. Bunch of wimps if you ask me.

For those who don't know: MANDINGO and DRUM are both adaptations of books from the Falconhurst plantation series of novels by Kyle Onstott and, later, Lance Horner. There were several books in the series; thus far I've run across about five or six of them!DISCLAIMER: let me state right now that I am black and can totally understand how people are easily offended by these films. The thing is these films feature such sheer, unadulterated exploitation and overripe acting/dialogue that hardcore bad movie addicts will have a hard time NOT finding these films majorly entertaining! I flat-out admit that both MANDINGO and DRUM are among my favorite guilty pleasures, and I view them both as what would happen if John Waters could have gotten away with making a really sleazy soap opera set on a plantation. Some of the dialogue is so ridiculous that it's nearly impossible for me to take these films seriously at all, although the rape and torture does bring one back to the wretchedness of the situation.Anyway, I don't know where those of you who claim that DRUM is not a sequel to MANDINGO got that idea. Warren Oates is playing the same character that Perry King did in the first film, only this story takes place about fifteen years later. He even makes veilled references to what happened at the end of MANDINGO, specifically the fates of Ken Norton and Susan George. In other words, PAY ATTENTION! And if you think this is exploitativve, go back and watch the uncut version of ROOTS again. Sure it's more "legit" than MANDINGO and DRUM, but it is every bit the exploitative soap opera that they are. For the real flavor and excellence of ROOTS, read the book.