Savage! (1973 theatrical film)

Savage! is a 1973 American-Philippines action film with elements of blaxploitation. The funding and distribution came from Roger Corman's New World Pictures which also provided the leading players from among a number of American actors who regularly appeared in such features. It was produced and directed by Cirio H. Santiago who, between 1973 and his death in 2008, partnered with Corman on over 40 Philippines-based action-adventure exploitation films which took advantage of much lower local production costs.[1][2][3]

Savage!
Film poster for Savage! by John Solie
Directed byCirio H. Santiago
Written byEd Medard
Produced byCirio H. Santiago
StarringJames Iglehart
Lada Edmund, Jr.
Carol Speed
CinematographyPhilip Sacdalan
Edited byRichard Patterson
Music byDon Julian
Distributed byNew World Pictures
Release date
  • May 1973 (1973-05)
Running time
81 min
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The title role is played by top-billed James Iglehart, with co-stars Lada Edmund, Jr. and Carol Speed.[4] As in most such productions of the 1970s and 1980s, the setting is not identified as the Philippines, but rather an unspecified Latin American location ruled by a military-based authoritarian regime.[5][6]

The soundtrack is by Don Julian.

Plot

edit

The main character played by James Iglehart is a criminal on the run who gets involved in a revolution against a military government.[7] An unnamed tropical country in Central or South America is governed by a military dictatorship. Jim Haygood starts out working for the government to defeat rebel forces and capture the rebel leader Moncada. Later he becomes appalled by his superiors' abuses and brutality, subsequently sides with the rebels and becomes known under the nom de guerre "Savage". He is joined by two American friends who are performers at the local American club — knife-thrower Vicki and acrobat Amanda.[8]

Cast

edit

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Gattanella, Jack. "Savage! 1973 Directed by Cirio H. Santiago" (Letterboxd)
  2. ^ "The Films of Cirio H. Santiago (1936 - 2008)" (Critical Condition / Obscure and Bizarre Films on Video & DVD)
  3. ^ Savage at Grindhouse Database
  4. ^ Savage press photo/lobby card {front and back, stamped "SUN-TIMES MAR 19 1973"} depicting James Iglehart and Carol Speed
  5. ^ Parish, James Robert and Hill, George H. Black Action Films: Plots, Critiques, Casts, and Credits for 235 Theatrical and Made-for-Television Releases. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 1989 ISBN 0899504566
  6. ^ Koven, Mikel J. Blaxploitation Films (Oldcastle Books, December 1, 2010) ISBN 1842434101
  7. ^ Geek.com, November 6, 2019 - MOVIES, 11 Forgotten Blaxploitation Classics That Deserve Your Time,← Savage! By K. Thor Jensen
  8. ^ The Spinning Image - Savage! - Reviewer: Andrew Pragasam
edit