One of my all time favorites.

Don't Believe the Hype

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

Released in 1974, "Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry" stars Susan George and Peter Fonda in the eponymous roles. Larry is a wannabe racer and Mary a promiscuous hippie chick he picks up in a town where Larry and his mechanic, Deke (Adam Roarke), rob a grocery store (where Roddy McDowall plays the manager in a glorified cameo). The chase is on as the police (led by Vic Morrow) try to apprehend the speed trio in the Big Valley of California.This is actually one of the best 70's car-chase flicks. It plays like a mishmash of 1967's "Bonnie and Clyde" and 1971's "Vanishing Point." It's almost as good as the former and more compelling than the latter. Larry and Deke only turn to thuggery because of their desperation for money, but that doesn't negate that the first act establishes them as criminal scum, which naturally makes it hard to root for them. The fact that you sorta start hoping they get away is testimony to the quality of the screenplay and actors. While Susan George has a cute face, her body is too thin and un-curvy for my tastes. The fact that she plays an amiable skank doesn't help. Nevertheless, the social dynamics of the trio are interesting.Leonard Maltin in his movie guide gave the film a positive review, but criticized the ending because it was too "downbeat." Actually it ends the way it had to, emblematic of sudden hellish perdition. Enough said.The movie runs 93 minutes and was shot in areas West of Stockton, California.GRADE: A-

I was trying to find this movie for a very long time and I finally got it.Its my No.1 still Its interesting to know that this movie ended on a same way as "Wanishing point" from 1971.Peter Fonda here have made a great role same as Susan George.I usually like this adventure movie, spec. that part where we have car race.I wonder if this movie was produced in 1973 or in 1974????.Some years ago I watch it on our local TV station here and I was very happy that I was watching on TV :-).Im trying to find more movies like this with car chase but still I cant find list of it.In the end I will suggest to my friends to see this one, and I know it will tell me Its an old one but still my best movie and my No.1 great job :-)

but it more than makes up for that in sweet road action. One car chase leads to another, bridges are jumped, and there's even a low-flying helicopter chase. And as much as I like Adam Roarke's pensive angst in this movie, the real one to watch out for is Vic Morrow. For the crime that Fonda and Roarke committed (unarmed theft), you've gotta wonder why Morrow would come down on them as hard as he did. His big move in the end (although brilliant) was overly vindictive. What makes this hard- line lawman tick? And that ending's a true shocker that hits me right where I live.But in the end, this movie's a classic. The chases are fun, the stunts are cool, and it's just an awesome ride.And that is one righteous Charger. 7.5/10

A modern audience might only enjoy this piece of 1974 disposable rubbish as something of its time. But as one of the generation it was originally aimed at, I can point to many strengths. Firstly, it is very moral. The only people who die are the villains (in the last seconds of the film). All the cops and bystanders are shown (in good 1970's style) extricating themselves safely from their wrecked vehicles. Secondly, it has Susan George in it; well worth looking at (as is I presume Peter Fonda if you are of the female persuasion). Thirdly, the very lack of any plot development allows you to watch the film with your brain in neutral while just enjoying mindless car chases at a time before they were 'enhanced' with CGI and camera-shake.