Home | Movies By Year | Movies from 1975
Crazy Mama
Buy Crazy Mama now from AmazonFirst, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the movie. And once you've experienced the movie, tell everyone what you thought about it.
Wikipedia article
'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.
Plot
In 1958 Long Beach, California, Melba Stokes is a parlour owner, living with her mother Sheba and daughter Cheryl. They flee when landlord Mr. Albertson comes to demand the back rent.
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 gets reacquainted with an old lover, Jim Bob. 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
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 CormanChris Nashawaty, 'Crab Monsters, Teenage Cavemen and Candy Stripe Nurses - Roger Corman: King of the B Movie', Abrams, 2013 p 147) 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.Christopher T Koetting, 'Mind Warp!: The Fantastic True Story of Roger Corman's New World Pictures', Hemlock Books. 2009 p 86-87
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
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.
See also
*'To a God Unknown'
*List of American films of 1975
Notes
Buy Crazy Mama now from Amazon
<-- Return to movies from 1975