Watch Big Bad Mama

Big Bad Mama is a 1974 action-comedy film directed by Steve Carver and starring Angie Dickinson, William Shatner, and Tom Skerritt. The movie follows the story of Wilma McClatchie (Dickinson), a single mother in the midst of the Great Depression who turns to a life of crime to provide for her family. Along with her two teenage daughters, Billie Jean (Susan Sennett) and Polly (Robbie Lee), Wilma robs banks, hijacks cars, and takes on the establishment.

The film opens with Wilma's husband dead, and her struggling to eke out a living for her family. She works as a waitress, but it's not enough to make ends meet. When she and her daughters witness a bank robbery, they decide to try their hand at it themselves. They soon discover that they have a knack for crime, and begin robbing banks one after the other.

Their criminal enterprise gains momentum, and they become more and more daring, taking on bigger and bigger targets. They are aided in their endeavors by a variety of colorful characters, including Fred Diller (Shatner), a smooth-talking con man who Wilma takes a shine to, and William J. Baxter (Skerritt), a government agent who is on their trail.

As the movie progresses, the McClatchie gang becomes more reckless and the stakes get higher. They rob a millionaire's mansion, hijack a train, and even take on the governor of the state. But as they become more successful, the law closes in on them, and Wilma must decide whether to continue on the path of crime, or turn her life around and go straight.

Big Bad Mama is a fun, action-packed romp that showcases Dickinson's considerable talent as an actress. She imbues Wilma with a combination of charm, grit, and vulnerability that make her an engaging and sympathetic character. Shatner is also a delight as Diller, and Skerritt brings a sense of gravitas to his role as the lawman on the hunt for the McClatchie gang.

The movie is also notable for its depiction of strong, independent women who work together to achieve their goals. Wilma, Billie Jean, and Polly are all capable and resourceful characters who refuse to let societal norms hold them back. They are unafraid to take risks and pursue their dreams, even if it means breaking the law. This message of empowerment was ahead of its time and was a groundbreaking concept for a film of its era.

The film also boasts some impressive action sequences, including a thrilling train heist and a car chase that rivals anything seen in modern action movies. The humor in the movie is also well done, with several scenes that are laugh-out-loud funny.

Overall, Big Bad Mama is an entertaining and engaging movie that is well worth a watch. It is a product of its time, but its themes of female empowerment and the pursuit of the American Dream remain relevant today.

Big Bad Mama is a 1974 action movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 23 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.7 and a MetaScore of 60.