Prep School: Ten Films You Should Watch Before Django Unchained

9. Mandingo (1975)

Django Unchained is unique in its attempts to tackle themes of slavery, blaxploitation sass, and spaghetti western lore, all in one movie. According to the trailer (and the script, if you’ve read it), a large portion of the film is based around “Mandingo fighting” – if you’re unfamiliar with the practice, it consisted of two black slaves being pitted against one another in a fight to the death. 1975’s Mandingo showcases the ins and outs of this horrible blood sport, whilst telling the story of a ruthless Southern plantation land owner and his family.

Leonardo DiCaprio’s Calvin Candie may have started life as with influence from a character here played by James Mason, but it’s the melodramatic aspects that bring Mandingo closer to Django Unchained. Because beneath the surface, Django Unchained is a simple love story between two people who just happen to live in Hell. Mandingo is also bloody, crude and unashamedly trashy, just as Quentin Tarantino’s latest movie promises to be.