Crazy Mama

Summary

Crazy Mama is a 1975 American action comedy film, directed by Jonathan Demme, produced by Julie Corman and starring Cloris Leachman. It marked the film debuts of Bill Paxton and Dennis Quaid.

Crazy Mama
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJonathan Demme
Screenplay byRobert Thom
Story byFrances Doel
Produced byJulie Corman
StarringCloris Leachman
Stuart Whitman
Ann Sothern
Linda Purl
Jim Backus
Donny Most
CinematographyBruce Logan
Edited byAllan Holzman
Lewis Teague
Music bySnotty Scotty and The Hankies
Distributed byNew World Pictures
Release date
June 1975
Running time
83 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$2.3 million[1]
Box office$2.3 million (United States and Canada rental)[2][3]

The film focuses on a beauty parlor owner and her family, who lose their belongings to repossession. The trio of women soon start a crime spree. Their confrontation with law enforcement officers ends in a shootout.

Plot edit

In 1958 Long Beach, California, Melba Stokes is a beauty parlor owner, living with her mother Sheba and daughter Cheryl. They flee when landlord Mr. Albertson comes to demand the back rent and repossess their belongings.

On the road, heading back to Arkansas to reclaim the family farm, the Stokes women begin a crime spree. They rob a gas station first, then head for Las Vegas. In pursuit of pregnant Cheryl is her boyfriend, Shawn, while Melba meets up with a runaway Texas sheriff, Jim Bob Trotter. Further battles with the law along the way eventually lead to a shootout in which Jim Bob and others are killed. Melba is left alone, on the lam, but begins life again in a new town with a new look.

Cast edit

Production edit

The original director was Shirley Clarke but she was fired ten days prior to filming and Demme (who had been preparing Fighting Mad for Corman[4]) took over. Among the changes Demme made was to the ending, which was originally to have all the leading characters die. Producer Julie Corman gave birth to her first child during production.[1]

Soundtrack edit

Reception edit

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 92% of 12 reviews are positive, and the average rating is 6.5/10.[5]

Home media edit

On December 17, 2010, Shout! Factory released the title on DVD, packaged as a double feature with The Lady In Red, as part of the Roger Corman Cult Classics collection.[6]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Christopher T Koetting, Mind Warp!: The Fantastic True Story of Roger Corman's New World Pictures, Hemlock Books. 2009 p 86-87
  2. ^ "Big Rental Films of 1976". Variety. January 5, 1977. p. 14.
  3. ^ Donahue, Suzanne Mary (1987). American film distribution : the changing marketplace. UMI Research Press. p. 295. ISBN 9780835717762. Please note figures are for rentals in US and Canada
  4. ^ Chris Nashawaty, Crab Monsters, Teenage Cavemen and Candy Stripe Nurses - Roger Corman: King of the B Movie, Abrams, 2013 p 147
  5. ^ "Crazy Mama". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  6. ^ "Roger Corman's Cult Classics". shoutfactory.com. Retrieved December 31, 2012.

External links edit