IMDb RATING
5.9/10
3.4K
YOUR RATING
Competition between privately owned Los Angeles, California ambulance companies is played for humor.Competition between privately owned Los Angeles, California ambulance companies is played for humor.Competition between privately owned Los Angeles, California ambulance companies is played for humor.
Michael McManus
- Walker
- (as Mike McManus)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe tight budget imposed by Twentieth Century Fox meant the leads had to accept deferred payments for making this movie. Bill Cosby (Mother) and Harvey Keitel (Speed) agreed to the deferred money. The producers wanted Valerie Perrine to play "Jugs", but she wouldn't defer any money. Raquel Welch wanted the part badly, and would work for deferred money, so she was cast instead.
- GoofsAt several places in the film, the actor's lip movements do not match the audio, revealing that the dialogue was toned down. During Tony's job interview, Fishbein is heard saying "all-day heat on" but his lip movements are "hard-on." Later, when discussing Murdoch, Jugs is heard saying "a $100 bill sticking out of his ear" but her lips clearly say "out of his ass."
- Quotes
Harry Fishbine: This is STILL the United States of America, god damn it! Los Angeles, California! Land of the free, home of the...
Mother: Rams and the Dodgers!
- ConnectionsFollowed by Mother, Juggs & Speed (1978)
- SoundtracksNo Love Today
Music by Roger Nichols
Lyrics by Will Jennings
Performed by Michelle Phillips
Arranged and Adapted by Gene Page
Featured review
"You can't bribe a city official with an I.O.U."
Black comedy, about a ragtag ambulance company out of Los Angeles battling their competitors while picking up an eclectic group of needy passengers, could best be described as schizophrenic (quirky bordering on outrageous). It manages to match its silly, yet surprisingly catchy, title with a well-written script and an excellent cast. Bill Cosby, Raquel Welch and Harvey Keitel make up an easy starring trio (another surprise), and Welch in particular seems extremely comfortable in the chaotic surroundings. Supporting players Allen Garfield, Valerie Curtin and Dick Butkis as the Texan are all fun, though there's perhaps too much of live-wire Larry Hagman (having a permanent meltdown). Peter Yates directed, and while he's quick on his feet he's not always adept at managing the viewer's responses through the morass; these entangled vignettes needed a bit more subtlety and class. Still, there are big laughs in the picture, a few tender moments, not to mention Los Angeles looking bright-and-shiny. I saw this in the theater in 1976, and the audience--probably having expected a full-on slapstick comedy--filed out looking bewildered. The movie wasn't ahead of its time ("MASH" prepared us for this messy mix of dark laughs), but it seems to play better today than it did upon its release. Remade as a TV-movie in 1978 (with an extra 'g' in Jugs). **1/2 from ****
helpful•71
- moonspinner55
- Aug 20, 2005
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- C.R.A.S.H.
- Filming locations
- Venice Canals, Venice, Los Angeles, California, USA(Junkie pulls out shotgun on ambulance driver)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $3,000,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 38 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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