Crazy Mama

For the song by the same name, see JJ Cale.

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
Box office	$2.3 million (United States and Canada rental)

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 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) 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.

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.

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

• Bloody Mama
• Big Bad Mama
• To a God Unknown
• List of American films of 1975

External links

• Crazy Mama at IMDb
• Crazy Mama at AllMovie
• Crazy Mama at Rotten Tomatoes