True crime, outlaw romance, and hixploitation collide in the saga of Laura Upthegrove and John Ashley.
LITTLE LAURA AND BIG JOHN
... They'll Steal Into Your Heart -- Then Shoot Their Way Out!!
Based on a true story, this action-packed, hard-hitting depiction of the infamous Ashley gang who terrorized the southeast in the 1920's also illustrates a desperate love between two people destined for destruction.
Quick Answer
Little Laura and Big John is a 1973 American biography crime drama directed by Luke Moberly about the infamous outlaw couple Laura Upthegrove and John Ashley, whose lives spiral into crime and chaos in the 1920s.
Programmer's Pick
If you're hunting for a true-crime romance with as much dirt as devotion, this Florida noir delivers. Karen Black and Fabian drive the mayhem, and the Ashley gang's infamous escapades make Prohibition look downright quaint.
— SassyFlix Programmer
Overview
Why This Matters
This film dramatizes the real-life exploits of the Ashley gang, offering a depiction of Florida's criminal underworld during the 1910s and 1920s.
Cast & Crew
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Why Cult
The film centers on the real-life partnership and criminal exploits of Laura Upthegrove and John Ashley—two lovers on the lam.
Expect regional grit, rural settings, and a cast of hard-luck criminals that define the hixploitation tag.
Based on actual events, the Ashley gang’s reign of terror through the southeast brings Prohibition-era crime to life.
The film weaves the doomed romance of Laura and John into its crime narrative, fusing passion with peril.
Scene Gallery
Questions from the Vault
When was Little Laura and Big John released? +
Little Laura and Big John was released in 1973.
Who directed Little Laura and Big John? +
Little Laura and Big John was directed by Luke Moberly.
How long is Little Laura and Big John? +
Little Laura and Big John has a runtime of 82 minutes.
What genre is Little Laura and Big John? +
Little Laura and Big John is a biography, crime, and drama film.
