Dirty Mary Crazy Larry (1974)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

John Hough

Writers:

Leigh Chapman (writer)
Antonio Santean (writer)

Release Date:

17 May 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

They don't call them that for nothing.

Plot:

Mary and Larry are two lovers who, with Larry's ace mechanic, rob a grocery store and flee the police...

Plot Keywords:

Mechanic | Train | Driver | Carsploitation | Chase

Cast

Peter Fonda	...	Larry
Susan George	...	Mary Coombs
Adam Roarke	...	Deke Sommers
Kenneth Tobey	...	Carl Donahue
Eugene Daniels	...	Hanks
Lynn Borden	...	Evelyn Stanton
Janear Hines	...	Millie
Elizabeth James	...	Dispatcher
Adrianne Herman	...	Cindy Stanton
T.J. Castronova	...	Steve (as Tom Castranova)
James W. Gavin	...	Helicopter Pilot (as James Gavin)
Al Rossi	...	Surl
Ben Niems	...	Police Chief Markey
George Westcott	...	Bridge Operator
Tom O'Neill	...	Farmer

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Iceland:12 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | UK:X (original rating) | USA:PG | UK:15 (video rating) (1987)

Filming Locations:

Archerdale Rd. & Ketcham Ln., Linden, California, USA

Company:

Academy Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The Bob Hirshfield listed in the credits as "Swapmeet customer #4" is the same Robert Hirschfeld who portrayed "Officer Leo Schnitz" in "Hill Street Blues" (1981).

Goofs:

Continuity: As they are driving the Dodge Charger, the windshield changes from cracked to intact between shots.

Quotes:

Larry Rayder: Yeah, yeah. So we got off to a bad start. Well ya' know what it means when somebody like me gets off to a bad start? Not a God damn thing.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Death Proof (2007)

Soundtrack:

TIME (Is Such A Funny Thing)

Why the film is worthwhile to me...

Yes, DMCL is shot well. Yes, the car chases are great. And yes, if '70's kitch is what you seek, you'll find plenty of it here. But that's not why I love the movie.

The reason I love the movie is this : the characters. I've read other users comments regarding the lack of writing or character motivation, and there is validity to that. But hey, the selling point of the film wasn't an in-depth look at people, the selling point was watching Peter Fonda and Susan George ram their car into several other cars.

But I digress, what I love about the characters (and what I hate about the characters in most action movies today) is that they are totally unlikeable. They even hate each other. Fonda is a complete jerk to everyone. Susan George rhymes with rich and Rorke is weak and ineffectual. Hey, most the time the characters don't like each other. And it's my opinion that these characters are unlikeable by design. Think about it: when was the last time you went to the movies and the main characters were people you were suppose to dislike? Rare is it that modern filmmakers will take that chance, Even more impressive, somehow you end up routing for these people.

Bottom line, it's a good chase movie, with solid performances by two 70's icons in thier prime. If you manage to catch it, you'll probably have a good time.