Bloody Mama (1970)

good back-story, and good acting

It's a mild crowd pleaser for people who are exhausted by blockbusters.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

"Bonnie and Clyde" (1967) a Slick and Influential Hollywood Game Changer was Criticized for Glamorizing Gangsters and Criminals (as if that was something new). Roger Corman's Movie did No such Glamorizing. In Fact, Corman chose to go Quite the Opposite.In expected Fashion, His Movie is Depressing, Disturbing, Cutting Edge, and Sleazy, and has been Accused of Dramatic Debasement for Profit. It was, and it makes it a Stand-Out Cult Movie because of it.Shelley Winters is Perfectly Cast and Lights Up the Screen with Her Demented Character alongside an Early Robert DeNiro as a Drug Addled Glue Sniffer and Heroin Injector. Don Stroud, looking more Handsome than Usual is the Eldest of the Barker Clan and Impresses with a Brooding Brutality. Pat Hingle, as a Depression Era Millionaire, also does Good Work as Corman's Answer to the Decades Hypocrisy.The Violence of the Title, is Slowly Paced, Culminating in a Guns Blazing Shootout Ending. Before that the On Screen Killings and utter Disregard for Human Life is the most Unsettling. Senseless and Sadistic Murders combined with two Early Rape Scenes sets the Stage for Incest, and other Abnormalities.Probably Corman's most Offensive Films, it is Considered one of His Best in some circles. It isn't but shows Low-Budget Skills (synonymous with the Writer, Director, Producer). While none of Corman's Movies came anywhere near the Oscars, He was nevertheless given an Academy Award for Lifetime Achievement.His Eye for Talent is well Documented as is His way of Making Money with Exploitation. Roger Corman was a Walking Film School for Talented Embryonic Filmmakers. Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola are Proud Graduates.

Bloody Mama is a dramatic feature that is loosely based on the real story of Ma Barker,a corrupt mother who encourages and organizes her children's criminal activities.It stars Shelley Winters in the title role together with Bruce Dern,Don Stroud,Diane Varsi,Robert De Niro, Robert Walden and Pat Hingle.The film was directed by Roger Corman.The movie starts as young Kate Barker is brutalized by her father and older brothers, who rape her. After 35 years, the middle-aged Kate 'Ma' Barker now get her chance to brutalize innocent people herself.She gets to make a living by robbing banks with her four sons namely: the pragmatic Arthur;the sadistic Herman;the bisexual Fred; and the loyal Lloyd. They did it to build a fortune during the late 1920's when the United States was suffering from The Great Depression.This is obviously a gangster film.By today's standards,it is dated but nevertheless,it still manages to be fun and entertaining especially when we see good performances from the cast like Shelley Winters and the young Robert De Niro.It could have been a great classic gangster film probably similar to Bonnie And Clyde if only it had a better script instead of an underdeveloped screenplay. It still worth to view at least once though.

Bloody Mama (1970) ** 1/2 (out of 4) Roger Corman directed this Depression era film about Ma Barker (Shelley Winters) and her four sons who go on a crime spree. I've been wanting to see this film for quite some time since it features a young Robert DeNiro playing one of the sons. The film isn't a total success but it's still a lot of fun in spots even though it drags on a tad bit too long. The best part of the film is Winters who really sinks her teeth into the role and perfectly captures Barker's craziness as well as her tenderness with her sons. The supporting cast is very good with DeNiro, Bruce Dern, Don Stroud, Clint Kimbrough, Robert Walden, Alex Nicol and Scatman Crothers. The action is a lot of fun and there are plenty of shootouts, which were all clearly influenced by Bonnie and Clyde. There's also quite a bit of silly nudity and sex but the most bizarre scene also contains the darkest humor and that's when the four boys rape a woman and their mother lines them up, slaps each of their faces and then warns them that women are dirty beasts.

It's not trash, but it's certainly not in a class with BONNIE AND CLYDE or even DILLINGER, but BLOODY MAMA is a ton of fun. Shelley Winters is scary, creepy and actually a little touching as "the greatest mother of them all." Her kinky brood is played by up'n'comers Robert Walden, Robert De Niro and Don Stroud. They're all terrific, with DeNiro chewing a bit of scenery as Lloyd, the family's glue-sniffing junkie. Roger Corman's direction is, as expected, efficient and lean, although it's remarkably blood-free, despite the inflammatory title. The supporting cast includes Diane Varsi (looking pretty lousy with a perm and bad skin) and Pat Hingle (as the family's unlucky kidnapping victim).