DIRTY
MARY, CRAZY LARRY (1974)Director: John Hough
Anchor Bay/20th Century Fox
DIRTY
MARY, CRAZY LARRY (1974)With the exciting
news that Anchor Bay would be working with 20th Century Fox to release some
of their catalog titles, film fans were overjoyed! It's easy to forget that
among the films of New World, Dimension, AIP and other independent companies
of the 60s, 70s and 80s, 20th Century Fox distributed many favorite cult titles.
Maybe the biggest (besides the VALLEY OF THE DOLLS films and MYRA BRECKINRIDGE)
is DIRTY MARY, CRAZY LARRY. This little-film-that-could became a huge cult item
during its original theatrical release and a brief home video release in the
80s has resulted in top dollar for original copies and even gray market copies
among collectors. Tarantino even borrowed a clip for JACKIE BROWN in 1997. Finally,
the ultimate 70s car chase film has hit DVD in a big way and is one of the highest
recommended discs of the year.
The film's sparse plot follows Larry and Deke, two rednecks in search of quick cash who meticulously plan a robbery of the local super market. However, as they make their getaway, they find themselves with an unwanted accomplice: Mary, Larry's one-night stand who tags along with the pair because she has nothing better to do. The trio are pursued throughout the state by Sheriff Everett Franklin and his bumbling police squad, and iron out their differences to become a speed-loving, thrill-seeking team.
For
a film with no real storyline, DIRTY MARY CRAZY LARRY is hard not to fall in
love with. Even with the incredible stunt work and action sequences, the film
would be an utter bore except for the fact that the audience's attention is
kept by the wonderful cast of characters and a tight script brimming with smart
dialogue. All three of the leads have a great time playing these outlaws, but
the top billing is well deserved for Peter Fonda and Susan George. The chemistry
between the mismatched lovers is incredible, and so is their dialogue! Fonda
delivers the film's best zingers, calling Susan George "Supercrotch"
and threatening to "braid her tits," among other classics. Fonda had
made a career of playing society rebels, from THE TRIP to EASY RIDER, FIGHTING
MAD to THE WILD ANGELS, but this is probably his most engaging role. Even though
Larry is introduced as a sloppy unlikable redneck, his interaction with Deke
and Mary endears him to the audience and though he's being pursued by the police,
the audience never once wishes for him to get caught. His cheeky grin and wise-ass
sense of humor makes him an easy anti-hero to cheer for. George, after playing
the victim in STRAW DOGS, EYEWITNESS and DIE SCREAMING MARIANNE, was finally
given a meaty role here which should have kept her on the road to stardom. Instead,
she wound up appearing in more cheesy horror films and low-budget flicks. She
digs her teeth deep into the character of Mary, a sexually active vixen who
tags along for the ride and craves every moment of excitement. Her sparring
with Larry show all the trademarks of a ballsy Southern chick, and this is a
Susan George I wish we saw more of during her career. Some of Mary's best moments
are when she reveals she isn't the tough sexy broad she aims to be; her chat
with Deke during a break to fix a tire is very moving and George pulls it off
beautifully, straddling the character's dual personality with ease. Adam Roarke
is given what seems like the least interesting character, and one wonders if
the film would still work without him. But his rivalry with George, which develops
into a quiet respect for one another, is a key plot element. His character,
Deke, suffers from the same introduction as Larry, holding the grocery store
manager's family hostage, but in subtle character touches such as his affection
for the little girl hostage, we're tipped off to 
the
fact that he's as gentle as a kitten. In the speeding car that Larry thinks
is in a Nascar race, Deke is the mechanic in the pit stop...and also the voice
of reason. Just as memorable is Vic Morrow as the Sheriff, desperate to catch
the group in what is probably the most important crime of his law enforcement
career. He is determined to bring in these criminals, and does everything in
his power to do so, even attempting to run them off the road with a helicopter!
Roddy McDowall appears in an unbilled cameo as the super market manager whose
family is held hostage to pull off the robbery, Kenneth Tobey (THE THING) has
a brief role as Franklin's superior, and look out for Bob Minor as a black cop
who drives through a billboard which says "STUPID"!
And
then there are the action sequences! Boy does this movie stand up to the test
of time! As it is revealed in the disc's documentary, the majority of these
car crash scenes were too close for comfort, with stunt men risking life and
limb multiple times just for the hell of it. Peter Fonda performed all his own
high speed driving, with Susan George really sitting next to him during it all!
Keep in mind during the incredible sights of rolling and flying cars, side-swipes,
explosions, collisions, screeching tires and helicopter chases that Hough would
direct ESCAPE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN for Disney the following year. Talk about going
from a rollercoaster to a merry-go-round! The most important message taken away
from DIRTY MARY, CRAZY LARRY is its anti-establishment ethics. The audience
eventually forgets that Larry, Deke and Mary are criminals on the run: it's
the young generation against "The Man," which would explain why viewers
cheer for them to cross the state line and escape from the never-ending cop
cars. The shock ending is well known today, but it still packs a wallop, even
for those who know it's coming. Yet another big shock while watching the film:
it's rated PG!
The 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer is simply stunning, there's no other word to use. Where there is some grain during the opening credits and a handful of sequences, the image is clear and bright, colors quite lovely and vibrant and blacks are sharp. There are three audio options: Dolby Surround 5.1, Dolby Surround 2.0 and a standard mono track. The 5.1 track is the preferable choice, it really thrusts the sound effects.
A
treasure trove of extras do a fine job commemorating the film, and this is definitely
a film deserving of such lavish treatment! Director John Hough and stars Susan
George and Peter Fonda appear in "Ride the Wild Side," a lengthy documentary
which features many incredible stories about the behind-the-scenes adventures
shooting the film. Hough discusses his origins with "The Avengers"
and LEGEND OF HELL HOUSE before launching into a series of incredible tales
about making this film. He talks about the influences on the film, the work
ethics of the actors, the many close calls by the stuntmen, and its success
($30 million, outgrossing THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE from the same studio!). Fonda,
as in his other DVD interviews, comes across as a little egotistical, but this
may be where his cocksure performances stem from, so I can't complain. He spends
a little too much time just telling the narrative of the film, but also shares
great memories of Adam Roarke and toying with Susan George on-set. George, who
had looked pretty haggard by the early 80s (watch her in VENOM and see what
I mean), has aged quite well, especially considering the real-life turmoil she
went through a couple of years ago (read her talent bio and be amazed that she
has survived to tell her stories!). She discusses some of the surprises Fonda
threw her way during shooting and her affection for the characters, how she
got the role through working with Hough on EYEWITNESS, and re-enacts her famous
opening line! Accompanying the documentary is a feature-length audio commentary
by director Hough moderated by Perry Martin. Hough elaborates on his comments
from the documentary, with some great stories about Susan George designing her
own clothing, Roddy McDowall's uncredited cameo, the surprise ending irritating
Fox and their pla
ns
for a sequel, his working relationships with the leads, and describes all of
the stunts and how they were accomplished. It's a thoroughly engrossing listen,
and fans of the film will probably love listening to this more than once. Two
trailers (both with a cheesy country rock song which isn't in the film), two
TV spots; three radio spots; a TV commercial for a 1969 Dodge Charger (the car
the trio steal after ditching their blue Chevy); a big and beautiful stills
gallery with tons of posters, stills, lobby cards, candid behind-the-scenes
shots, pressbook photos, and Super 8 film covers; and talent bios of Hough,
Fonda and George polish off the incredible Supercharger Edition! Adam Rockoff
also contributes an intelligent essay about the film in booklet form.
(Casey Scott)