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[1]
Box office	$2.3 million (United States and Canada rental)[2][3]

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 debuts of Bill Paxton and Dennis Quaid.

The film focuses on a beauty parlor owner and her family, who lose their belongings to repossession. The trio of women soon start a crime spree. Their confrontation with law enforcement officers ends in a shootout.

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

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^[4]) 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.^[1]

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.^[5]

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.^[6]