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 H. Braunstein	...	Dr. Drake (as Alan Braunstein)
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:

psychotronic film | rock concert | camp | disguised as a priest | free love | 

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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

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Warrior football team in the movie is the actual name of the Socorro High School team, in Socorro, New Mexico, where part of this movie was filmed, and the real Warrior's colors really are blue and white.

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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

Various Voices: This is the real God speaking. Will the owner of the dark blue Mustang convertible, license number TUV525, please turn off your parking lights.

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Connections

References The Sound of Music (1965)

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Soundtracks

On Wisconsin
[Fight song played by band]

User Reviews

Nutty psychedelic sci-fi comedy.

The late 60s/early 70s saw a handful of genuinely odd pseudo counter-culture movies released by American studios, including cult classics like 'The Trip', 'Greetings', 'Psych-Out', 'Cult Of The Damned', 'Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls', and 'Zachariah'. Whether they were "genuine" of just plain exploitation is open to debate, and also a moot point all these years later. Fake or not they are a lot of fun now for 60s buffs. You can add Roger Corman's 'Gas-s-s-s' to that list. The movies premise is that a gas has been accidently released that kills everyone over the age of twenty-five. A hippie on the run from the police (Robert Corff) teams up with a scientist (Elaine Giftos), and the two go on a road trip to New Mexico, trying to find a rumoured hippie Utopia. Along the way they hook up with two couples - revolutionary Ben Vereen ('Roots') and his pregnant rock'n'roll fanatic girlfriend Cindy Williams ('Laverne And Shirley'), and their weirdo pals Bud Cort ('Harold And Maude') and Talia Shire ('Rocky'). The six companions come across many strange situations on their journey, including a militant dune buggy riding football team, Country Joe and The Fish on a golf course, and Edgar Allen Poe, Lenore and The Raven riding a motorbike. Yup, it's one of those kind of movies! Silly, self indulgent, with a lot of half baked (pun intended) jokes that aren't entirely successful. Even so quite a trip if you are in the right frame of mind. Nowhere near as good as Corman's 'Bloody Mama' (released in the same year), but it's probably his most overlooked movie, from a long, varied and consistently underrated career. One day he will receive the recognition he deserves, both as a producer/director, and for getting many important actors and film makers their first breaks.

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:

American International Pictures (AIP), San Jacinto Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

78 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1