The overacting of Lurene Tuttle makes this very low budget crime drama quite a campfest, but indeed a rather violent and often shocking one. Having been played fictionally by Blanche Yurka in "Queen of the Mob" and later by Shelley Winters on "Batman" and "Bloody Mama", as well as with a different name by Irene Dailey in "The Grissom Gang", and probably several other actresses on TV crimes dramas, this one can't be missed for shear audacity. They torture their victims before killing them (although one gets to play russian roulette), and in a ridiculous twist at the party with John Dillinger and Machine Gun Kelly. Later, Baby Face Nelson makes an appearance. Tuttle is the one who says the bible and beef quote above, giving it indication to her husband why she wants him out so she can train her son to begin a life of crime.
"We are honorable people. You keep your word and we'll keep ours", she tells the wife of a kidnapping victim, and it's obvious that she will not be keeping her word. The film looks very cheaply made as if it was filmed for television yet deemed too violent to be shown. The incestuous relationship with the sons is deluded in this retelling although they are definitely completely controlled by her. Rule number one, she says over and over. Don't get caught, slapping the one young son who does, over and over. She finds her match in one of her son's girlfriends, Myrna Dell, whom she obviously can't stand. Don't expect the true Ma Barker story here. It's about as accurate as an episode of "The Untouchables", but looks cheaper and feels it with the sleazy nature of its structure. Perhaps better viewed as an unintentional comedy.
"We are honorable people. You keep your word and we'll keep ours", she tells the wife of a kidnapping victim, and it's obvious that she will not be keeping her word. The film looks very cheaply made as if it was filmed for television yet deemed too violent to be shown. The incestuous relationship with the sons is deluded in this retelling although they are definitely completely controlled by her. Rule number one, she says over and over. Don't get caught, slapping the one young son who does, over and over. She finds her match in one of her son's girlfriends, Myrna Dell, whom she obviously can't stand. Don't expect the true Ma Barker story here. It's about as accurate as an episode of "The Untouchables", but looks cheaper and feels it with the sleazy nature of its structure. Perhaps better viewed as an unintentional comedy.