Ma Barker's Killer Brood

The Truth of Ma Barker's Intellect for Planning Crimes and Her Overall Involvement with Important Procedures of the Always Expanding Depression Era Gang where the "Family" were Members has been Debatable from the Outset.

She and Her Brood's Persona was Allegedly Fabricated by J. Edgar and His Gang at the F. B. I to Demystify the "Mother" Angle and make a "Pistol Packin' Mama" the Lurid Headline that Stuck.

Disputed by "Brainiac" Alvin Karpis, also Considered a Leader Among the "Gangland" of His Era, in Interviews.

He and other Members of the Organized Crime Group who were "In the Know" say the "Ma" had Trouble "Organizing Breakfast", let alone, Planning a Heist.

This Movie's Entertainment Value is High with Lurene Tuttle Giving a Compelling and Forceful Performance and along with some Heightened Violent Displays for its Era make this an Underrated, Engaging "Peek-In" on one of Headliners.

She, like No Other Mobster of Infamy, had that "Mother Angle", an Irresistible Story Component Slant from the Media, that Sells the Stuff of Legend to a Willing and Gullible Public.

This Film is a Mixture of Many of the "Myths" about Ma but also gets a Lot of Things Right. Like Her Ending in a Shootout with the Feds Along-Side Her Youngest and Favorite Fred Barker.

This is a Good Gangster Exploitation of the Popular and Colorful Radio and Newspaper Blitz that made House-Hold Names of Ma Barker and Her Ilk.

I saw this with my family as a surprise studio preview to get reviews from the public. I was10 years old and this was in Burbank, CA. It was shocking to me then but I now know it was pretty campy. But Mr. Barker's killing was the worst for me. I think my parents were pissed off but we stayed through to the end.

I agree -- it was low budget schlock at its worst -- but I enjoyed it! I enjoyed seeing a Young Don Grady (of TV's My Three Sons fame) as one of the kids in the beginning of the film...Lurene Tuttle was quite 'campy' in her portrayal of 'Ma.' I only knew her from her days as the older nurse on the late 1960's TV series 'Julia' (starring Diahann Carroll).

I'll tell you how much I enjoyed this picture, I had gone to see a movie based on a Tony Award winning play earlier in the day, something that I had been looking forward to seeing, but I was thoroughly disenchanted and disgusted with it.

At least, with 'Ma', I did not expect HIGH expectations of it, but I enjoyed it!

Saw this free on youtube... This movie was hilarious. Imdb says Made in Sherman Oaks...CA (I need to watch it again since I live in Sherman Oaks.) I loved it.

It has surprise after surprise...I don't care if it's real history. Neither would Tarantino.

Look at those 1930's cars......real classics. Also has a great song performed...pure camp genius and fast pace.

This film is terrific fun! It makes up for its tiny budget with wild, over-the-top performances (Lurene Tuttle was sweet-voiced Effie on the Sam Spade radio show...WHAT a DIFFERENCE!), extreme violence (one part where they set a guy on fire gets shown TWICE!) and goofy, quotable dialogue.

This is the kind of movie The Addams Family would watch with their kids.

With these things in mind, viewers looking for an accurate, historical picture will be disoriented, or at least disappointed. This is definitely not a good source for American History term papers. It is intended as a source for giggly thrills, and is a good one.