Dirty Mary Crazy Larry (1974)

46% of critics liked it
(13 reviews)
65% of users liked it
(5,429 ratings)

Three outlaws hit the road until the road hits back in this supercharged action thriller. Larry (Peter Fonda) is a stock car driver whose reckless nature has caused him a long run of bad luck. Larry and his friend and mechanic Deke (Adam Roarke) need money if they're to get a new car and get back in… More Three outlaws hit the road until the road hits back in this supercharged action thriller. Larry (Peter Fonda) is a stock car driver whose reckless nature has caused him a long run of bad luck. Larry and his friend and mechanic Deke (Adam Roarke) need money if they're to get a new car and get back in competition, so they map out a plan to hold up a grocery store after 150,000 dollars has been dropped off for payroll and working cash. The heist goes as planned, except for one little hitch -- Larry spent the night before with his occasional girlfriend Mary (Susan George), and she has planted herself in Larry's car and isn't about to budge. With Mary along for the ride, Larry and Deke try to outrun the cops and make their way to freedom, though lawman Franklin (Vic Morrow) is determined to shut them down. Much loved by both gearheads and action film fans for its hair-raising stunt work and solid performances from the leading cast, Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry was a surprise box-office hit in 1974, grossing nearly 30 million dollars in its initial release. Roddy McDowall appears uncredited as the manager of the supermarket. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 33 min.
Directed By: John Hough
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1974 Wide
On DVD: Jun 28, 2005
Studio: Anchor Bay Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
What little narrative or characterization shows up on screen could barely fill an abridged short story.
Vincent Canby, New York Times
The film is so bereft of emotion and so full of physical movement that it's possible this is a point that John Hough, the director, and the screenwriters wanted to make. It's a very small point to be made by such a noisy picture.
R. L. Shaffer, IGN DVD
Dirty Mary Crazy Larry is a classic heist chase picture driven by a somewhat dated premise and paper-thin characters.
Simon Abrams, Slant Magazine
Peter Fonda makes a better badass in Dirty Mary than he does a milquetoast in Race with the Devil.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
There is practically no plot, and even less character development, but the script is based on a novel, most likely a thin one.
Felix Vasquez Jr., Film Threat
A worthy car film for the hot rod era...
, Time Out
The script, about small-timers who wished they were bigger, is soon totally undermined by Fonda's most complacent performance to date and Susan George's sub-Goldie Hawn antics.
Sean Axmaker, St@tic Multimedia
An iconic outlaw classic of seventies speed cinema...
Mark Athitakis, Filmcritic.com
nothing new to anybody who's caught five minutes of an episode of The Dukes of Hazzard.

Read all 9 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

El Hombre I

What the film lacks in terms of character development and logic, it makes up for in its devotion to spectacular automobile mayhem. The sensation that the cars are actually driving at an intense speed is conveyed by the bobbing of the camera as it tries to keep the actors' faces… More
What the film lacks in terms of character development and logic, it makes up for in its devotion to spectacular automobile mayhem. The sensation that the cars are actually driving at an intense speed is conveyed by the bobbing of the camera as it tries to keep the actors' faces in frame while shooting inside the moving vehicle. What's the movie about? Outlaws on the run, ditzy hitch-hiker, pursuing lawman who does things his own way, battle of wits, a helicopter and a train. <a href="http://s273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/?action=view¤t=Dirtymarycrazylarry2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/Dirtymarycrazylarry2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Michael G

Such a fun and entertaining movie. Great car chase(s) and fun performances. Even parts snappy and painful dialogue. It started off kind of grim but soon got enjoyably ridiculous. Deke was awesome and Peter Fonda was cool. Not Captain America (Easy Rider) cool, but still cool even if… More
Such a fun and entertaining movie. Great car chase(s) and fun performances. Even parts snappy and painful dialogue. It started off kind of grim but soon got enjoyably ridiculous. Deke was awesome and Peter Fonda was cool. Not Captain America (Easy Rider) cool, but still cool even if he drives NASCAR. Susan George was cute enough, but Mary was kind of annoying and those teeth were frightening. Vic Morrow was a crackhead and the Roddy McDowell cameo was nice too. I know the ending is supposed to be this big shocker but it just kind of made me laugh. A fun watch regardless.
Adam M

Adam Roarke, who looks like Alec Baldwin, is one cool dude; Fonda's mean streak is just enough to tarnish his hippie anti-hero thing; Susan George tries to do an American accent & it's endearing
Steve S

Featuring the perfect ending for this type of movie, How Thelma and Louise should have ended. Pure mucslce car '70's action, and offbeat character study.
Patrick D

Great car movie. It's exciting and holds your attention. The dialogue is great