Video Beaverhausen: Cloris Leachman Is Crazy Mama

Just before she appeared as Phyllis on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Cloris Leachman starred in this Roger Corman produced film directed by a young Jonathan Demme (Married to the Mob, Silence of the Lambs).

Sure, it was a long fall from her Oscar-winning dramatic performance in The Last Picture Show but a girl needs to work.

In any event, this is a fun frolic for the star. Stuart Whitman is in this film as is Linda Purl, Ann Sothern, Jim Backus and Sally Kirkland. It's a great cast.

While based on the factual story of Ma Barker, whose gang robbed banks during the Great Depression, Dirty Mama is set in the affluent 1950s. It has plenty of kitschy 1950s atmosphere and a great 1950s soundtrack.

This made for very entertaining, campy viewing last night. I recommend this film, now on video. It's a whole lot of pistol-packin' fun!

Cine Beaverhausen: Ricki and the Flash starring Meryl Streep and Kevin Kline

Ricki and the Flash is a movie with more than one pedigree It's directed by Jonathan Demme, Oscar winner for Silence of the Lambs and stars three-time Oscar winner Meryl Streep and Oscar winner (for A Fish Called Wand) Mr Kevin Kline. Somehow, that didn't translate into box-office success for this movie.

Meryl plays Ricki, an over-the-hill rock star now that she's hit sixty. Streep's performance shows off her range as she flexes her comedic and dramatic abilities with equal aplomb.

The ever-sexy Kevin Kline is a great match as her ex-husband, Meryl's daughter is portrayed by her real-life one, Mamie Gummer. Rick Springfield is surprisingly strong as Meryl's younger boyfriend.

The movie's refreshingly lightweight for those in the mood for this kind of entertainment. I felt the script was a little weak, frankly, particularly the dialogue. But it's a star vehicle and that's largely what carries it through.

Meryl's character looks as if she is trying vainly to compete with Madonna with her hair and jewelry in this film. But she sure can belt out a rock tune as she previously demonstrated in Postcards from the Edge. Look out, Lady Gaga!