09/23/2025
20 Fun and Fascinating Facts About Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry You May or May Not Know!
1. Vic Morrow’s Premonition: Before filming the helicopter scenes, Vic Morrow insisted on a $1 million life insurance policy after a premonition of a fatal crash. Tragically, he was killed in a helicopter accident on set in 1982.
2. Iconic Charger: The film features a 1969 Dodge Charger R/T powered by a 440 cubic inch V-8 engine. Its unique greenish-yellow color has sparked decades-long debates among fans over its true shade.
3. Destruction Derby: Six 1972 Dodge Polara police cars were purchased and intentionally destroyed during filming to create epic chase scenes.
4. High-Speed Filming: Filming began in 1973, capturing a mix of old and new highway markings due to recent updates in U.S. road signage standards.
5. Tarantino Connection: A clip from Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry is featured in Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown (1997), linking the film to modern cult cinema.
6. Tarantino’s Film Fest: Quentin Tarantino also selected Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry for his first film festival in Austin, Texas in 1996, celebrating its cult classic status.
7. Multiple Chargers: Three Dodge Chargers were used during production, with the crew meticulously matching damage among them to maintain continuity on screen.
8. Stunt Driver Legend: Famed stunt driver Carey Loftin, known for his work on Vanishing Point (1971), contributed his expertise to the film, although he chose to remain uncredited.
9. Helicopter’s Tragic History: The Bell 206B JetRanger helicopter featured in the movie had a long history in Hollywood before being involved in a fatal crash in 1984.
10. Roddy McDowall’s Favor: Actor Roddy McDowall accepted a small role as a favor to director John Hough and requested that his name be kept off the credits.
11. Father-Daughter Connection: Peter Fonda (Larry) and Vic Morrow (Franklin) are the fathers of Bridget Fonda and Jennifer Jason Leigh, respectively—both of whom later starred in Single White Female (1992).
12. On-Set Jam Sessions: Despite their on-screen bickering, Peter Fonda and Susan George often relaxed between takes by playing guitar and singing together.
13. Rejected Musical Score: The film originally featured an upbeat score by Jimmie Haskell, but it was replaced with a more somber tone—except for one memorable song during the credits.
14. Fonda’s Need for Speed: Peter Fonda did most of his own driving, frequently pushing the limits and hitting speeds of 100 miles per hour during filming.
15. Car Consistency: Director John Hough shot the film in sequence to ensure that any damage to the cars was consistent throughout the movie.
16. Roddy McDowall’s Request: In addition to his favor, McDowall specifically asked that his name be omitted from the credits to avoid overshadowing the other actors.
17. From Hill Street to Swapmeet: Robert Hirschfeld, credited as “Swapmeet Customer #4,” is also known for his role as Officer Leo Schnitz on Hill Street Blues.
18. Local Talent: Many supporting roles were filled by Northern California-based actors, many of whom also appeared in films like Dirty Harry and American Graffiti.
19. Tarantino’s Homage: Beyond featuring a clip in Jackie Brown, Tarantino paid tribute to Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry by highlighting its influence and cult appeal.
20. Theme Song Lyrics: The film’s theme song, Time Is Such a Funny Thing, encapsulates its melancholic tone with lyrics that reflect on the fleeting nature of time.
