Bloody Mama
Encyclopedia
Bloody Mama is a 1970 low budget film very loosely based on the story of Ma Barker
. It was directed by Roger Corman
and starred Shelley Winters
in the title role, depicted as a corrupt mother who encourages and organizes her children's criminality. The film featured an early appearance by a young Robert De Niro
as Lloyd Barker. In reality, Ma Barker's involvement in criminality was fairly limited.
In 2008, Bloody Mama was nominated for AFI's Top 10 Gangster Films list.
), the sadistic Herman (Don Stroud
), the bisexual Fred (Robert Walden
), and the loyal,drug obsessed Lloyd (Robert DeNiro). The gang is joined by a gunman named Kevin (patterned after gunman Alvin Karpis
, played by Bruce Dern
), and resorts to violent action and robberies climaxing in a gun battle in the Everglades.
Ma Barker
Kate "Ma" Barker was the mother of several criminals who ran the Barker gang from the "public enemy era", when the exploits of gangs of criminals in the U.S. Midwest gripped the American people and press...
. It was directed by Roger Corman
Roger Corman
Roger William Corman is an American film producer, director and actor. He has mostly worked on low-budget B movies. Some of Corman's work has an established critical reputation, such as his cycle of films adapted from the tales of Edgar Allan Poe, and in 2009 he won an Honorary Academy Award for...
and starred Shelley Winters
Shelley Winters
Shelley Winters was an American actress who appeared in dozens of films, as well as on stage and television; her career spanned over 50 years until her death in 2006...
in the title role, depicted as a corrupt mother who encourages and organizes her children's criminality. The film featured an early appearance by a young Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro, Jr. is an American actor, director and producer. His first major film roles were in Bang the Drum Slowly and Mean Streets, both in 1973...
as Lloyd Barker. In reality, Ma Barker's involvement in criminality was fairly limited.
In 2008, Bloody Mama was nominated for AFI's Top 10 Gangster Films list.
Plot
The film starts as young Kate Barker (Lisa Jill) is brutalized by others, including her father. As she gets older, she in turn brutalizes others and robs banks with her sons, among them are Arthur (Clint KimbroughClint Kimbrough
Louis Clinton Kimbrough was an American actor.-Early life:Louis Kimbrough was born to Fred and Lucinda Kimbrough in Oklahoma City...
), the sadistic Herman (Don Stroud
Don Stroud
Donald Lee Stroud is an American actor and surfer who appeared in many films in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and has starred in over 100 films and 175 television shows to date.-Early life:...
), the bisexual Fred (Robert Walden
Robert Walden
Robert Walden is an American television and motion picture actor. He is best known for his role as Joe Rossi on Lou Grant for which he was nominated for an Emmy three times and his role as Joe Waters on Brothers...
), and the loyal,drug obsessed Lloyd (Robert DeNiro). The gang is joined by a gunman named Kevin (patterned after gunman Alvin Karpis
Alvin Karpis
Alvin Francis Karpis , nicknamed "Creepy" for his sinister smile, was an American criminal known for his alliance with the Barker gang in the 1930s. He was the last "public enemy" to be taken.-Early life:Karpis was born to Lithuanian immigrants in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and was raised in Topeka,...
, played by Bruce Dern
Bruce Dern
Bruce MacLeish Dern is an American film actor. He also appeared as a guest star in numerous television shows. He frequently takes roles as a character actor, often playing unstable and villainous characters...
), and resorts to violent action and robberies climaxing in a gun battle in the Everglades.
Cast
- Shelley WintersShelley WintersShelley Winters was an American actress who appeared in dozens of films, as well as on stage and television; her career spanned over 50 years until her death in 2006...
(Kate "Ma" Barker) - Lisa Jill (Young Kate)
- Bruce DernBruce DernBruce MacLeish Dern is an American film actor. He also appeared as a guest star in numerous television shows. He frequently takes roles as a character actor, often playing unstable and villainous characters...
(KevinKevinKevin is a male first name of Irish origin. It is believed that Saint Kevin was the one who popularized the name, although Kevin is not a biblical name. Caoimhghín is believed to be derived from the Irish cóem "kind, honest, and handsome" and gein "birth"...
) - Don StroudDon StroudDonald Lee Stroud is an American actor and surfer who appeared in many films in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and has starred in over 100 films and 175 television shows to date.-Early life:...
(HermanHermanHerman is a Dutch and English male given name. Its original meaning was "army man" and derives from the Germanic elements "heri" meaning "army" combined with "man" meaning "man"...
) - Robert WaldenRobert WaldenRobert Walden is an American television and motion picture actor. He is best known for his role as Joe Rossi on Lou Grant for which he was nominated for an Emmy three times and his role as Joe Waters on Brothers...
(FredFredFred may refer to:People:*Fred , pen name of French comics creator Fred Othon Aristidès*Fred Tuttle , American farmer from Vermont who ran for the U.S...
) - Alex NicolAlex NicolFor the Distinguished Service Cross recipient, see Alexander Nicol.Alex Nicol was an American actor and director. Nicol appeared in many Westerns including The Man from Laramie...
(George, Kate's Husband) - Robert DeNiro (LloydLloydThe name Lloyd is a variation of the Welsh word llwyd or clwyd, which means "grey" or "brown".-People:See main articles:* Lloyd * Lloyd * Lloyd Lloyd or Lloyd's or Lloyds may also refer to:...
) - Pat HinglePat HingleMartin Patterson "Pat" Hingle was an American actor.-Early life:Hingle was born Martin Patterson Hingle in Miami, Florida, the son of Marvin Louise , a schoolteacher and musician, and Clarence Martin Hingle, a building contractor. Hingle enlisted in the U.S. Navy in December 1941, dropping out of...
(Sam Pendlebury) - Clint KimbroughClint KimbroughLouis Clinton Kimbrough was an American actor.-Early life:Louis Kimbrough was born to Fred and Lucinda Kimbrough in Oklahoma City...
(ArthurArthurArthur is a common masculine given name. Its etymology is disputed, but its popularity derives from its being the name of the legendary hero King Arthur....
)