Dirty Mary Crazy Larry (1974)

Larry Rayder is an aspiring NASCAR driver, Deke Sommers is mechanic. As they feel they collectively are the best, the only thing that is holding them back is money to build the best vehicle... See full summary »

Director:

John Hough

Writers:

Leigh Chapman (screenplay), Antonio Santean (screenplay)

Stars:

Peter Fonda, Susan George, Adam Roarke

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Peter Fonda	...	Larry
Susan George	...	Mary
Adam Roarke	...	Deke
Kenneth Tobey	...	Donahue
Eugene Daniels	...	Hank
Lynn Borden	...	Evelyn
Janear Hines	...	Millie
Elizabeth James	...	Dispatcher
Adrianne Herman	...	Cindy
T.J. Castronovo	...	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

Storyline

Larry Rayder is an aspiring NASCAR driver, Deke Sommers is mechanic. As they feel they collectively are the best, the only thing that is holding them back is money to build the best vehicle possible. As such, they decide to rob a supermarket's office of the money in its safe to pursue their dream. On the most part, their robbery is successful, although their plan breaks down in its end phase, which doesn't allow them as much getaway time as they wanted. Another problem they face is an unexpected third person in their getaway, Larry's one night stand Mary Coombs, who doesn't like the fact that Larry ran off on her, although she eventually also says that she doesn't want any of the money. With a police scanner and two-way radio in their souped up Dodge Charger, they try to outrun the police, who have an identification of their vehicle, and a general description of the three. The police pursuit is led by the tenacious Sheriff Everett Franklin, who knows he and his team can catch them, ...

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Plot Keywords:

helicopter | robbery | mechanic | carsploitation | pantyhose | 

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Taglines:

They don't call them that for nothing.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 May 1974 (USA)

Also Known As:

La fuga del loco y la sucia

Filming Locations:

Oakdale, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$28,401,735, 31 December 1974

Company Credits

Production Co:

Academy Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System) (uncredited)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Three Chargers were used in the film; Two 1969 Dodge Chargers (one "R/T" and one coupe), and one 1968 Dodge Charger (coupe). Two of the Chargers were intentionally damaged in the front (after a scene where the Charger collided with the truck), and there is a notable difference in the damage from car to car

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Goofs

As the grocery store manager and his female assistant talk over the dire situation involving the manager's family you can see the reflection of a hand and partial boom mic pole in the huge glass window adorning the upstairs office.

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Quotes

Larry Rayder: Hey, Deke, it turns out Dingleberry here's a joke after all.
Mary Coombs: [quoting book] "The murderer, is not unaccountable for his own murder. And the robbed should not be blameless for being robbed. For it is the cornerstone of the temple, that is no higher than the lowest stone in its foundation."
Larry Rayder: Now, don't start speaking in puns to me woman.
Mary Coombs: That is from a book, bozo! And, if you'd read once in a while, perhaps you'd know what I'm talking about!
Larry Rayder: Oh, books, Europe, Lear Jets, Sam Baker, shoplifting... ...
[...]

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Alternate Versions

Several scenes cut from the original theatrical release were re-inserted for some television cuts of the film: Among these is a scene in the walnut grove after the collision with the fruit truck where Mary (Susan George) chides Larry (Peter Fonda) about not being literate enough to understand a quote from a book. Another occurs where four hoods at the swap meet are being interviewed by the police after Larry, Mary, and Deke tear off in the souped up Dodge Charger. The houdlums stall the officer's questions by commenting back and forth about what kind of engine was in the Charger.

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Connections

Featured in Hollywood's Hottest Car Chases (2010)

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Soundtracks

Time (Is Such a Funny Thing)
Written by Danny Janssen and Bobby Hart
Sung by Marjorie McCoy

User Reviews

"K-i-s-s o-f-f!"

Ostensibly a mindless, flashy car-chase-&-crash B-flick has all the usual drive-in elements, but there's more going on here than at first appears. Two NASCAR enthusiasts, needing to buy a new entry vehicle, concoct an elaborate plan to rob a grocery store; Larry is the talent behind the wheel, Deke is the contemplative brains of the outfit. Soon they're saddled with good-time girl Mary, stubborn and sassy, who proves her mettle on a wild ride getting out of town. From Richard Unekis' book "The Chase", with a plot that is exactly that, yet the script by Leigh Chapman and Antonio Santean is surprisingly funny and literate and John Hough's direction is exceptionally tight with very little nonsense. Peter Fonda is appropriately manic, loose and shaggy, and Susan George has fun playing low-class (she has a tough time camouflaging her British accent, but it passes); every time Mary uses her brains, it provides more shading and substance in the character. Adam Roarke is a revelation as accomplice Deke, a sensitive, complicated man with heart and soul; he's not above larceny--he even masterminds it--but he's a thinker, and a realist. This film should have broken Roarke as a star in Hollywood, he is incredibly good. Vic Morrow has the standard role of the lawman on the trio's trail (he plays cat-and-mouse with them, and vice-versa, which is routine) and it's nice to see Roddy McDowall in a non-hysterical role as the supermarket manager. The chases are terrifically charged with adrenaline and excitement, and while the character animosities are trivial, the movie is stylish and wire-drawn. Apparently a big hit with Quentin Tarantino, who used a film-clip in his "Jackie Brown" (and adopted this picture's violent, jokey tone as well). Good show: *** from ****