Grindhouse Weekly – ‘Dirty Mary Crazy Larry’

John Hough’s Dirty Mary Crazy Larry from 1974 is a fun carsploitation film starring Peter Fonda and Susan George (Straw Dogs). It was a pure coincidence that I picked this movie a week after Vanishing Point, as I had no idea they were so similar. This film plays out like a lighter, more comedic version of Vanishing Point, but it has a voice of its own. With an interesting cast of characters and very funny dialogue, Dirty Mary Crazy Larry is certainly one of the most accessible films we’ve discussed on this feature to date.

Peter Fonda plays Larry, an amateur racer car driver who decides to rob a grocery store with his mechanic, Deke (Adam Roarke), in order to get enough money to buy a new car. Larry’s sort of girlfriend, Mary (Susan George), decides to tag along on their adventure and after Larry reluctantly agrees, the road trip begins.

The first ten minutes or so of the film are spent introducing us to the characters, their motives, and the actual robbery itself, which was actually well thought out and clever.  After we get that out of the way, the rest of the movie consists of the three main characters trying to evade the police and get to safety. It’s basically a sillier, less drug induced version of Vanishing Point.

While the car chases and stunts are very well done and exciting to watch, the real gem of this film is the banter between the characters.  The odd relationship between Larry and Mary makes for some great conversations, and it’s clear that this is the focal point of the film. This would probably be nothing more than a by the numbers heist flick if it weren’t for the great script by Leigh Chapman and Antonio Santean. This was also adapted from a novel titled The Chase by Richard Unekis so much of the credit should also go to him.

On a technical level, this film was fairly average for the time period.  Nothing looked overtly bad, but it had a slightly unpolished indie vibe to it, which, along with the ending, helped set it apart from your typical Hollywood faire. The stunts were quite impressive, specifically the tangle between a Dodge Charger and a police chopper. One of the best things about seeing these crazy stunts in movies of this era is that you know what you’re seeing is real and not something created on a computer.  Practical effects will always win me over and I always give bonus points to any film that uses them.

For those of you looking for some lighter grindhouse fun, Dirty Mary Crazy Larry fits the bill. It’s got plenty of action and comedy, and it doesn’t disturb you to the core like some of its peers.  At the time of its release it received a PG rating, however if it were re-rated today it would most certainly get a PG-13, so I wouldn’t recommend it to your young step-child, but it is tame enough for a 13 year old to enjoy.