Mother, Jugs & Speed (1976)

Competition between privately owned Los Angeles, California ambulance companies is played for humor.

Director:

Peter Yates

Writers:

Stephen Manes (story), Tom Mankiewicz (screenplay)

Stars:

Bill Cosby, Raquel Welch, Harvey Keitel

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bill Cosby	...	Mother
Raquel Welch	...	Jugs
Harvey Keitel	...	Speed
Allen Garfield	...	Harry Fishbine
Larry Hagman	...	Murdoch
L.Q. Jones	...	Davey
Bruce Davison	...	Leroy
Dick Butkus	...	Rodeo
Milt Kamen	...	Barney
Barra Grant	...	Miss Crocker
Allan Warnick	...	Bliss
Valerie Curtin	...	Naomi Fishbine
Ric Carrott	...	Harvey
Severn Darden	...	Moran
Bill Henderson	...	Charles Taylor

Storyline

Los Angeles, California: A new law says that the first ambulance that arrives at an accident obtains the contract to transport the injured person. The result is ruthless competition between several companies.

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Plot Keywords:

ambulance | drugs | suicide | shot through the mouth | sexual harassment | 

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Taglines:

The F & B Ambulance Co. is looking for a few good men... but they will take any body they can get.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Joseph Barbera, of Hanna-Barbera cartoons fame, had an idea to make a movie about ambulance driving. Twentieth Century Fox gave him development money to deliver a script. Barbera heard that Screenwriter Tom Mankiewicz, who'd written several James Bond movies, was interested, and hired him. Barbera set up Mankiewicz with a local ambulance company for some "real world" experience. Mankiewicz rode in an ambulance driven by Tom "Hap" Hazard, and witnessed the results of a stabbing on the Sunset Strip, as well as potential suicide and heart attack victims. After these ride-alongs, Mankiewicz know he had the makings of a terrific movie, and wrote the original script for this movie.

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Goofs

In the final shootout scene where Larry Hagman's character has been shot, the SWAT team arrives and in the background you can see SWAT team guys climbing a ladder to a roof across the street. In the next scene, from the same angle, you see the Swat team bring in and hoisting the ladder.

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Quotes

Tony Malatesta: They don't call me Speed for nuthin'.
Jugs: Well, let's hope they don't call you Speed for everything!

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: Cave Dwellers (1991)

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Soundtracks

Tijuana Taxi
(uncredited)
Performed by Herb Alpert
Written by Bud Coleman

User Reviews

Good Reality Comedy

Good gritty and realistic dark comedy about mid 1970's street culture told thru the daily adventures of a private Ambulance company.Great cast although the acting was lackluster.The directing, cinematography,script and story was average although the screenplay was good.The editing here was bad and made the movie look very cheaply done.To see Cosby portray a not so gentlemanly characer was entertaining if one is fammiliar with the actor.Also,Raquel Welch worshpers will truly enjoy her 30 something sex appeal here as well.Expect realistic portrayals with less than usual Holywood toning down formulas.If one is into that kind of 1970's street movie style mixed with some dark comedy,you will love this one.A cult masterpiece for it's genre.......

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 May 1976 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mother, Jugs & Speed

Filming Locations:

Mar Vista, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1