Captured women from other regions were brought to ancient Rome for servitude, as common labor was seen as beneath the dignity of Roman citizens. After a slapstick kitchen brawl, some slobby Roman in charge of gladiator fights gets the idea of training the women to fight to spice things up a bit. When the women quickly realize it is a kill or be killed situation for them, they work on escaping.
Pam Grier gives a strong performance as Mamawi, teaming up again with Margaret Markov as Bodicia (they were co-stars in Black Mama, White Mamma). The fight sequences were realisticly sluggish — these weapons were heavy in real life and neither the men nor the women flip them around easily like plastic props.
