Crazy Mama
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 debut of Bill Paxton and Dennis Quaid.
| Crazy Mama | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Jonathan Demme |
| Screenplay by | Robert Thom |
| Story by | Frances Doel |
| Produced by | Julie Corman |
| Starring | Cloris Leachman Stuart Whitman Ann Sothern Linda Purl Jim Backus Donny Most |
| Cinematography | Bruce Logan |
| Edited by | Allan Holzman Lewis Teague |
| Music by | Snotty Scotty and The Hankies |
| Distributed by | New World Pictures |
Release date | June 1975 |
Running time | 83 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $2.3 million[1] |
| Box office | $2.3 million (United States and Canada rental)[2][3] |
Plot
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
- Cloris Leachman as Melba Stokes
- Stuart Whitman as Jim Bob
- Ann Sothern as Sheba Stokes
- Linda Purl as Cheryl Stokes
- Jim Backus as Albertson
- Donny Most as Shawn
- Tisha Sterling as Young Sheba Stokes
- Sally Kirkland as Ella Mae
- Dick Miller as Wilbur Janeway
- Harry Northup as FBI Man
- John Milius as Cop
- Beach Dickerson as Desk Clerk
- Bryan Englund as Snake
Production
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
- "All I Have to Do Is Dream" - Performed by The Everly Brothers
- "Black Slacks" - Performed by Joe Bennett & the Sparkletones
- "Devoted to You" - Performed by The Everly Brothers
- "I've Had It" - Performed by The Bell Notes
- "Lollipop" - Performed by The Chordettes
- "Money (That's What I Want)" - Performed by Barrett Strong
- "Running Bear" - Performed by Johnny Preston
- "Sleep Walk" - Performed by Santo & Johnny
- "Transfusion" - Performed by Nervous Norvus
- "Western Movies" - Performed by The Olympics
- "Endless Sleep" - Performed by Jody Reynolds (heard in the film's trailer but not in the film)
Reception
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 92% of 12 reviews are positive, and the average rating is 6.5/10.[5]
Home media
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]
Notes
- Christopher T Koetting, Mind Warp!: The Fantastic True Story of Roger Corman's New World Pictures, Hemlock Books. 2009 p 86-87
- "Big Rental Films of 1976". Variety. January 5, 1977. p. 14.
- Donahue, Suzanne Mary (1987). American film distribution : the changing marketplace. UMI Research Press. p. 295. Please note figures are for rentals in US and Canada
- Chris Nashawaty, Crab Monsters, Teenage Cavemen and Candy Stripe Nurses - Roger Corman: King of the B Movie, Abrams, 2013 p 147
- "Crazy Mama". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
- "Roger Corman's Cult Classics". shoutfactory.com. Retrieved December 31, 2012.