Gas! -Or- It Became Necessary to Destroy the World in Order to Save It. (1970)

A gas is let loose upon the world that kills anyone over 25 years old.

Director:

Roger Corman

Writer:

George Armitage (screenplay)

Stars:

Bob Corff, Elaine Giftos, Bud Cort

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bob Corff	...	Coel (as Robert Corff)
Elaine Giftos	...	Cilla
Bud Cort	...	Hooper
Talia Shire	...	Coralee (as Tally Coppola)
Ben Vereen	...	Carlos
Cindy Williams	...	Marissa
Alex Wilson	...	Jason
Lou Procopio	...	Marshal McLuhan
Phil Borneo	...	Quant
Alan Braunstein	...	Dr. Drake
Jackie Farley	...	Ginny
David Osterhout	...	Texas Ranger
Juretta Taylor	...	Zoe
Michael D. Castle	...	Burroughs (as Mike Castle)
Alan DeWitt	...	Dr. Murder

Storyline

A gas is let loose upon the world that kills anyone over 25 years old.

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Plot Keywords:

nudity | shot to death | keep off the grass sign | pot smoking | golf ball | 

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Taglines:

Invite a few friends over to watch the end of the world!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some language, sexuality and drug content

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

September 1970 (USA)

Also Known As:

Gas-s-s-s

Filming Locations:

Acoma Indian Reservation, New Mexico, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

San Jacinto Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

79 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was the last film that Roger Corman directed for American International.

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Goofs

After breaking a road barrier, the car of the main character has 3 out 4 headlights broken, later they are intact, while it does not seem probable they would be repaired.

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Quotes

Marshal McLuhan: You know? A good woman is like a steel brush. Think about it.

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Connections

References The Singing Nun (1966)

User Reviews

Interesting, but flawed Corman curio

This is the film that Roger Corman says was his final straw with AIP. After mildly editing WILD ANGELS and THE TRIP, their virtual elimination of "God" and the obliteration of the original ending led him to form New World Pictures.

Seeing this film at the American Cinemateque in a striking new print shows both its virtues as a one-of-a-kind (well, at least for anybody BUT Corman!) oddity as well as a failed attempt at counter-culture comedy. It's hard to see how even the original Director's Cut (if it exists at all) would really be that much of an improvement. What is on the screen is still probably about 90% of what Corman shot, and it's a scattershot affair. The Cinematography and Music stand out, as well as bits of the acting, particularly by Elaine Giftos.

Roger Corman spoke after the Cinemateque screening.

Corman said that he hadn't seen the movie since its release in 1970. It was edited before its theatrical release by AIP. Most significantly was the almost complete elimination of the voice of "God". Corman speculated that since AIP had gone public (stock market) around that time, that they were concerned that the "Jewish comic"-type voice would be considered sacriligious! Then, AIP cut the most elaborate shot in the entire film. The original ending! Elaine Giftos and Robert Corff were to "walk off into the sunset in the most cliched ending possible." This was shot in a big panaroma shot "with marching bands and the whole cast included." Corman said that it STILL bothers him that as released, the film "has no ending."