Bloody Mama
“You gotta' believe... You gotta' have faith... But first, you gotta' get rid of the witnesses!”
Synopsis
Sexually abused as a young girl, Kate "Ma" Barker grows into a violent and powerful woman by the 1930s. She lovingly dominates her grown sons and grooms them into a pack of tough crooks. The boys include the cruel Herman, who still shares a bed with Ma; Fred, an ex-con who fell in love with a fellow prisoner; and Lloyd, who gets high on whatever's handy. Together they form a deadly, bizarre family of Depression-era bandits.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Roger Corman on BLOODY MAMA
Type: Featurette • Published 2013-07-01
Top Cast
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Shelley Winters
'Ma' Kate Barker
Pat Hingle
Sam Adams 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
Stacy Harris
Agent McClellan
Lisa Linsky
Young Kate (as Lisa Jill)
Steve Mitchell
Sheriff
Roy Idom
Ferry Boat Passenger
Drew Bonner
Bank Customer (uncredited)
Ted Eccles
Victim (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
Hof International Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
March 24, 1970
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Roger Corman
- Screenplay & Story
- Robert Thom
- Original Score
- Don Randi
- Original Title
- Bloody Mama
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 30m
- Production Studios
- American International Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Roger Corman
Robert Thom, Don Peters
Don Randi
John A. Alonzo
Eve Newman
James H. Nicholson, Samuel Z. Arkoff, Roger Corman
Department Leadership Roster
Robert Thom
Screenplay
Roger Corman
Director
Roger Corman
Producer
John A. Alonzo
Director of Photography
Eve Newman
Editor
Don Randi
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 18 — Restricted to adults 18 and older.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Bloody Mama.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Bloody Mama
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Bloody Mama about?
Sexually abused as a young girl, Kate "Ma" Barker grows into a violent and powerful woman by the 1930s. She lovingly dominates her grown sons and grooms them into a pack of tough crooks. The boys include the cruel Herman, who still shares a bed with Ma; Fred, an ex-con who fell in love with a fellow prisoner; and Lloyd, who gets high on whatever's handy. Together they form a deadly, bizarre family of Depression-era bandits.
Who directed Bloody Mama?
Bloody Mama was directed by Roger Corman.
Who stars in Bloody Mama?
The principal cast of Bloody Mama includes Shelley Winters, Pat Hingle, Don Stroud, Diane Varsi, Bruce Dern.
When was Bloody Mama released and how long is it?
Bloody Mama was released in 1970 with a total runtime of 1h 30m.
Who composed the musical score for Bloody Mama?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Bloody Mama was composed by Don Randi.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Bloody Mama?
Bloody Mama holds official age classifications: DE: 18 (FSK 18 — Restricted to adults 18 and older.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).