A psychologically disturbed matriarch presides over her damaged family of bank-robbing misfits.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Shelley Winters | ... |
'Ma' Kate Barker
|
|
| Pat Hingle | ... |
Sam Pendlebury
|
|
| Don Stroud | ... |
Herman Barker
|
|
| Diane Varsi | ... |
Mona Gibson
|
|
| Bruce Dern | ... |
Kevin Dirkman
|
|
| Clint Kimbrough | ... |
Arthur Barker
|
|
| Robert De Niro | ... |
Lloyd Barker
|
|
| Robert Walden | ... |
Fred Barker
|
|
| Alex Nicol | ... |
George Barker
|
|
| Pamela Dunlap | ... |
Rembrandt
|
|
| Michael Fox | ... |
Dr. Roth
|
|
| Scatman Crothers | ... |
Moses
(as 'Scatman' Crothers)
|
|
| Stacy Harris | ... |
Agent McClellan
|
|
| Lisa Linsky | ... |
Young Kate
(as Lisa Jill)
|
|
 |
Steve Mitchell | ... |
Sheriff
|
|
|
Roy Idom | ... |
Ferry Boat Passenger
|
| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
|
|
Drew Bonner | ... |
Bank Customer (uncredited)
|
| Ted Eccles | ... |
Victim (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Alan Haufrect | ... |
Prisoner (uncredited)
|
|
|
Gura Lashlee | ... |
Daddy (uncredited)
|
|
|
Frank Snell | ... |
Federal Agent (uncredited)
|
Directed by
| Roger Corman | ||
Written by
| Robert Thom | ... | (screenplay by) |
| Robert Thom | ... | (story by) and |
| Don Peters | ... | (story by) |
Produced by
| Samuel Z. Arkoff | ... | executive producer |
| Roger Corman | ... | producer (produced by) |
| Norman T. Herman | ... | co-producer |
| James H. Nicholson | ... | executive producer |
Music by
| Don Randi | ||
Cinematography by
| John A. Alonzo | ... | director of photography (as John Alonzo) |
Editing by
| Eve Newman | ||
Makeup Department
| Dave Grayson | ... | makeup artist (as David Grayson) |
| Bette Iverson | ... | hair stylist (as Betty Iverson) |
Production Management
| Elliot Schick | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Gary Grillo | ... | assistant director |
| George Bowden | ... | second assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Michael Ross | ... | property master |
Sound Department
| Charles T. Knight | ... | sound mixer (as Charles Knight) |
Special Effects by
| A.D. Flowers | ... | special effects |
Stunts
| Bud Walls | ... | stunt coordinator |
Camera and Electrical Department
| John Elsenbach | ... | camera operator |
| Roy Hogstedt | ... | assistant camera |
| Richard King Sr. | ... | key grip (as Richard King) |
| Robert E. Thomas | ... | gaffer |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Thomas Costich | ... | wardrobe |
Music Department
| Virgil Beckham | ... | musician |
| Gerard Belisle | ... | musician |
| Ernie Earnshaw | ... | musician |
| David Garland | ... | musician |
| Art Munson | ... | musician |
| Don Randi | ... | musical director |
| Al Simms | ... | music supervisor |
| Tony Terran | ... | musician |
Script and Continuity Department
| Tom Moore | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Clifton Bush | ... | transportation captain |
Additional Crew
| William Bond Jr. | ... | our man in Arkansas |
| Michel Levesque | ... | visual consultant (as Michael Levesque) |
| Earl Wingard | ... | unit publicist |
Production Companies
Distributors
- American International Pictures (AIP) (1970) (United States) (theatrical)
- Film AB Corona (1970) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Cinémas Associés (1970) (France) (theatrical)
- LIF (1970) (Italy) (theatrical)
- Actueel Film (1971) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Glori Art (1971) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- MGM-EMI (1971) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Damaskinos-Mihailidis (DM) [gr] (1972) (Greece) (theatrical)
- Syncron Film (1972) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Roadshow Films (1973) (Australia) (theatrical)
- PC Jacinto Santos (1978) (Spain)
- Roadshow Home Video (1982) (Australia) (video)
- Mayco (Norway) (VHS)
- VCL Communications (1984) (West Germany) (VHS)
- Vestron Video (United States) (VHS)
- Home Video Hellas (HVH) (1985) (Greece) (VHS)
- RCV Orion (United States) (VHS)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (United States) (VHS)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (United States) (DVD)
- EuroCine Films (2008) (Spain) (DVD)
- Impulso Records (2008) (Spain) (DVD)
- Kino Lorber (2014) (United States) (video)
- Astral Films (Canada)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Cinefx (optical effects)
- Edit International (sound effects)
- Pacific Title (title design by)
- Ryder Sound Services (sound)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
A psychological gangster film based on fact. Machine gun totin' Ma Barker lead her family gang (her sons) on a crime spree in the Depression era. Her loyal brood have every perversion imaginable. The sadistic Herman sleeps with his Ma. When Fred Barker is released from prison, he brings home his cellmate and lover Kevin Dirkman, who also sleeps with Ma, much to Fred's chagrin. Lloyd Barker is a spaced-out drug addict who sniffs glue if nothing better is around. Ma kidnaps happy-go-lucky millionaire Sam Adams Pendlebury and holds him for ransom. Arthur Barker, Ma's wallflower son, and Herman's hooker lady friend Mona Gibson also figure in the story. The bloody finale is virtually choreographed, and a visual stunner. Filmed in the Ozarks. Written by alfiehitchie |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Say it with bullets! See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
|
Additional Details
| Also Known As |
|
| Runtime |
|
| Country | |
| Language | |
| Color | |
| Aspect Ratio |
|
| Sound Mix | |
| Filming Locations |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | In one scene where Herman Barker (Don Stroud) punches Ma Barker (Shelley Winters) in the nose, Stroud accidentally punched Winters in the nose for real, and hurt her badly enough that she had to be taken to the hospital. See more » |
| Goofs | In the prison cell when Freddie is walking on Dirkman's back, if you look on the cell wall behind him, you'll see graffiti of a Nazi swastika on the wall. The movie takes place circa 1930 and the Nazi symbol didn't even exist (at least in America's consciousness) until the late 1930's-1940's. Correction: The swastika was used as good luck symbol long before the Nazis. It was a common Native American symbol of good fortune and was on the official patch of the 45th Infantry Division of the US Army prior to 1930. So it's use as graffiti is not impossible. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into Frogs (1972). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Bloody Mama See more » |
| Quotes |
'Ma' Kate Barker:
[opens door and walks into boys' room, where Fred and Kevin are lying in bed together]
I don't wanna sleep alone tonight. Fred Barker: Ma, I can't. 'Ma' Kate Barker: Freddie, I don't want to cuddle with you tonight, baby. Kevin, I want you. Kevin Dirkman: Well, we're all feeling kinda weird tonight, Ma. 'Ma' Kate Barker: ...Kevin, I've been promising myself you for a long time, and I want you tonight Kevin Dirkman: Well, honey, I'm ready. [rolls over Freddie, rubbing him sexually as he climbs out of bed. In a subsequent masochistic ecstasy, Fredde burns himself with his cigar] See more » |