Crazy Mama

In 1958 Long Beach, California, Melba Stokes is a beauty salon 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==

Roger Corman had enjoyed success making films about female gangsters with Bloody Mama and Big Bad Mama and wanted another one. The film was announced as Big Bad Mama II, then The American Dream before ultimately being known as Crazy Mama. Demme refused but Corman told him he had to if he wanted to make Fighting Mad. Demme agreed if his wife could direct second unit. Demme said he told Corman, "I want to help you out, but I know this is going to end poorly... you can't jump in this fast on a movie, make it in three weeks, and then have two weeks for the editing, mix it in one day and hope for a good picture. It's going to be a mess, you're going to perceive it as a mess, you're going to get mad at me." But Corman insisted they proceed. Demme said "all the actors hated the script - with good reason: it was lousy. It had a couple of good scenes in it, but it left a lot to be desired. It was one of those awful situations where you're trying to write it while you're shooting it. It also got shot too fast." Producer Julie Corman gave birth to her first child during production. Demme recalled " We were shooting a big gunfight/car crash scene and we had an ambulance standing by, and Julie went into labor. And our ambulance left with the producer being rushed to hospital to give birth.” Bill Paxton was a set dresser on the film and had his first speaking role in the movie. ==Reception==

Demme later said "Roger was furious at me" for changing the ending. "He thought I had totally ruined the movie, that this would be the first Mama film to lose money because it hadn't delivered all the elements. He was right, incidentally, it was the first to not make money, and he cancelled Fighting Mad." Demme protested this saying it was unfair since he had warned Corman that Crazy Mama "might end in tears." Corman agreed and made Fighting Mad." ==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) == 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, and both on a limited edition Blu-ray in 2021 with only 1500 units made. ==See also==