Mama's Dirty Girls (1974)

A cut-throat mother and her three daughters create murderous mayhem when they arrive in a rural town.  Starring Candice Rialson

The film starts straightaway with Candice Rialson as Becky standing topless in front of a bathroom mirror.

If there is a better way to start a film, I can't think of it.  I just wish I had better resolution; the best I could find is a crummy VHS copy.  I don't believe there is a clean restored version out there yet.

Becky sits in the living room and starts flirting with her stepfather, George; she tantalizingly applies her suntan lotion.

 George can hardly resist.  

 Becky lures him into her bedroom.

 George can't handle it any more, and jumps her bones.

 Oh shit.  Mama (Gloria Grahame) has arrived.  She catches him red handed.  

 Becky, once again, tempts her stepfather.  She lures him into the bathroom.

Suddenly, George is attacked by Mama and her other daughter, Addie.  They kill him and make it look like a suicide.

After George's funeral, we come to understand this was all a part of the plan. Mama had married him with every intention of having him killed (with the help of her daughters) and collect his fortune.  Unfortunately for them, George wasn't completely honest about his personal wealth, and they don't stand to gain anything from his death.  Mama bemoans a year wasted, and makes plans for them to move on to the next poor sucker they can milk for money.

In addition to Becky, Mama's other two daughters are Cindy (Mary Stoddard) and Addie (Sondra Currie).

Sheriff Roy has lost that lovin' feeling for his wife Charity (Anneka Di Lorenzo).  The problem is, she still loves him and won't let him go.

 Actress Anneka Di Lorenzo played Messalina in Caligula.  She was also in Rape Squad, The Centerfold Girls and Dressed to Kill.

 Mama and her three daughters arrive at a rural health resort.  She uses her womanly ways to convince the owner, Harold (Paul Lambert), to let them stay for free.

 Cindy strikes up a relationship with Paul (Dennis Smith) who lives near the health clinic.

 Addie gets to know Sheriff Roy.

 Before you know it, Mama already has a ring on her finger.  Her and Harold are married.

Addie and Sheriff Roy's relationship really starts to heat up.  She wants more, but he tells her that Charity won't agree to a divorce.

 Becky tempts the clinic's handyman, Willy (Joseph Anthony).

 But Becky is just a big tease.  She gets Willy stirred up, then delights in seeing him left blue balled.

 Addie confronts Charity at her home.

 When Charity won't relent in allowing her husband a divorce, Addie stabs her.

 Sheriff Roy won't prosecute his lover, so they pin it on Paul.

 Paul shows Cindy something he discovered in Harold's work shed - a box full of precious jewelry.

 Cindy confronts Mama about this, only to find out that she already knows about it.  Indeed, that's just part of the fortune she plans to inherit from this dupe Harold after she's had him killed.

 Becky is back to taunting Willy, playing mind games and insulting his manhood.

Willy (who I think is supposed to be mentally challenged) can't deal with the insults and erupts into a rage.

 He doesn't know his own strength; the big lug has broken Becky's neck, killing her instantly.

 Cindy now confronts Harold about the box of jewels.  

Since Harold obviously obtained these jewels illegally, he goes ballistic.  Mama jumps in to save Cindy.

Harold puts a knife to Cindy's throat and uses her as a human shield, escaping Mama's wrath.

Harold drives out to the middle of nowhere, with Mama following close behind.  Cindy is left for dead as Harold and Mama engage in a showdown.

 Harold runs over Mama, killing her, then drives his car to a fiery death.  Paul arrives to save Cindy.

Sheriff Roy almost took a step on the dark side and killed Paul... but he had a last minute change of heart and arrests Addie instead.  THE END

This was a damn good movie.  It did not fuck around one bit.  From beginning to end, it's loaded with a mean spirited energy.

Director John Hayes is fast becoming one of my favorite directors of the seventies.  His films have a raw edge to them, taking atypical twists and turns, never shying from the seedy side of things.  If Tennessee Williams wrote trashy drive-in movies, these are what he'd write.  I'll definitely visiting more of Hayes' work in the future.  [Previous Hayes flicks on VZ1: The Hang Up, Sweet Trash, and the not-so-impressive Cut Throats]

★★★★★★★★☆☆