Dirty Mary Crazy Larry (1974)

The Worst Film Ever

i must have seen a different film!!

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Released in 1974, "Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry" stars Susan George and Peter Fonda in the eponymous roles. Larry is a wannabe racer and Mary a promiscuous hippie chick he picks up in a town where Larry and his mechanic, Deke (Adam Roarke), rob a grocery store (where Roddy McDowall plays the manager in a glorified cameo). The chase is on as the police (led by Vic Morrow) try to apprehend the speed trio in the Big Valley of California.This is actually one of the best 70's car-chase flicks. It plays like a mishmash of 1967's "Bonnie and Clyde" and 1971's "Vanishing Point." It's almost as good as the former and more compelling than the latter. Larry and Deke only turn to thuggery because of their desperation for money, but that doesn't negate that the first act establishes them as criminal scum, which naturally makes it hard to root for them. The fact that you sorta start hoping they get away is testimony to the quality of the screenplay and actors. While Susan George has a cute face, her body is too thin and un-curvy for my tastes. The fact that she plays an amiable skank doesn't help. Nevertheless, the social dynamics of the trio are interesting.Leonard Maltin in his movie guide gave the film a positive review, but criticized the ending because it was too "downbeat." Actually it ends the way it had to, emblematic of sudden hellish perdition. Enough said.The movie runs 93 minutes and was shot in areas West of Stockton, California.GRADE: A-

The roar of the engines, the glorious heroine... My high score for this overlooks the fact that this movie is badly constructed in many different ways, yet excellent in others. Counting first and foremost is the great casting, I am of course especially thankful for Susan George. Without her in it, I wouldn't have been here reviewing it today. She was the most exciting actress of her time, unfortunately ending up in movies where she shouldn't have been wasting her time, but in this one's case, wow! And again, wow! And again, wow! There is that scene with the police car coming up behind them like a vengeful shark, and the camera shows Mary's face, and wow! That expression! That giggle! That movie magic! That glorious partner-in-crime! Of course this movie begs to be remade, but I will be staunchly critical of whomever they choose as Mary. And actually it was remade, Charlie Sheen and Kristy Swanson during the Nineties in THE CHASE, not bad at all, but not with the same kind of vibe, not the feel of these late Sixties cars, and of course, no Peter OUTLAW BLUES Fonda or Susan George. By the way, Susan might be best known for STRAW DOGS, but this is the ultimate Susan George movie!The character of Larry was of course a total sh*t, and yet, the two protagonists made a powerful on-screen couple. What this one REALLY NEEDED when the bucks started rolling in was less of a lament about 'We Killed the Golden Goose, There Cannot Be a Sequel' as nothing about the film's ending was final, nothing is witnessed except that the car is clearly a flaming wreck. The sequel should just have shown them, in the grand old tradition of old-time movie serials, jumping from the car the moment before actual collision, and however corny my solution of course is, NEVER MIND WE'D HAVE HAD A SEQUEL.Vic Morrow gave particular depth to the movie, representing the other side, and was a full-fledged alternative lead instead of a cardboard character. The irony of the actor's death in a helicopter-related incident some years later does much to undermine watching this movie now. That is beyond control, just a twist of fate. Just as tragic is that Susan fizzled out soon afterward due to health problems, and of course, there were deaths among the rest of the cast as well. The curse of DMCL?

A high energy though essentially plot-less chase film. Director John Hough puts together a brainless, fun thriller starring Peter Fonda & Susan George. Fonda and crony Adam Roarke are on the run after robbing a grocery store (managed by Roddy McDowell) and are pursued by the nearly psychotic Vic Morrow. Good time girl George is in tow. There's nothing more to it than that. Fonda and George have little chemistry though Fonda & Roarke do. Morrow is great fun as a lunatic cop in a single-minded pursuit. Fonda rarely takes his sunglasses off. George is scantily clad and sexy to be sure, but her grotesque teeth are a real distraction. Nevertheless, once the chase is on, this film is a lot of silly fun. Surely this one influenced Tarantino's DEATH PROOF.

Dirty Mary Crazy Larry isn't a deep film. You aren't going to learn a lot about people watching this. The dialog is sophomoric and simple and the first 30 minutes tend to crawl. However, as the film progress' there is an anticipation, a desire to see it to the end. In my opinion the film wouldn't be much if it hadn't been for Susan George. By her own admission one doesn't have to dig too deep to perform in this role but she gave it all she had and she did indeed dig deep to fill out her character to the fullest. And it shows. And she's robust enough to handle anything Peter Fonda could dish out while driving on these open roads.The interesting fact is that the film is directed a British man who captured the American heartland perfectly. The film is beautifully shot and the abrupt ending will leave you stunned and speechless, sitting in your seat staring at the screen.Nothing profound here but it was good to see this again after so many years.