Movie Title: Dirty Mary Crazy Larry
Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller
Writer: Leigh Chapman and Antonio Santean (based on the book by Richard Unekis)
Starring: Peter Fonda, Susan George, Adam Roarke, Kenneth Tobey, Roddy McDowall, Vic Morrow, Dick Warlock, Ted White, Eugene Daniels, Lynn Borden, Janear Hines, Elizabeth James, Adrianne Herman, James W. Gavin, Al Rossi
Review: The plan was simple. Empty a supermarket manager's safe and buy a car that'll will help down on their luck race driver Larry (Peter Fonda) and mechanic Deke (Adam Roarke) get back on the track. But what they didn't count on was Larry's one nightstand, Mary (Susan George), coming along for the ride. Get ready to burn rubber with Dirty Mary Crazy Larry!
What might seem like just another "car chase" picture, Dirty Mary Crazy Larry has more going on than meets the eye. You do get some of the most harrowing driving stunts ever put on film, and some tense helicopter flying stunts, too! What might surprise you is the characters and their relationships throughout the movie. Peter Fonda, Susan George, and Adam Roarke are an appealing trio of lost souls looking for a direction to go. They each have a sadness about them that makes their bond stronger and their hard-driving escape that much more entertaining and meaningful. And the late Vic Morrow, as a policeman who refuses to wear a uniform, badge, or carry a gun, is probably the most interesting character to follow. I would've liked to have see his character get his own movie. I like this one for the chases, but I love it for the quiet character moments.
Speaking of chases, Dirty Mary Crazy Larry has plenty of them! The high-speed pursuits, the white-knuckle turns, and glass shattering crashes really will surly get your heart racing and your blood pumping. Some of the stunt work looks incredibly dangerous, and probably was back in those days, but they need to be seen to be believed; especially when the police cruiser goes for a swim. You'll be holding your breath! And the ending will have your jaw on the floor. Trust me.
So if you enjoy full throttle car chase movies with interesting characters and high-speed stunts, then
put the pedal to the metal and race along with Dirty Mary Crazy Larry.
Fun Fact: Peter Fonda (Larry) and Vic Morrow (Franklin), are the fathers of Bridget Fonda and Jennifer Jason Leigh, respectively, who played antagonists in the 1992 film Single White Female (1992).