BB17-065 — MOTHER, JUGS & SPEED
Shop Now YEAR: 1976
FILM STUDIO / PRODUCTION: 20th Century-Fox / Peter Yates–Tom Mankiewicz Production
TAGLINE: “The F+B Ambulance Co. is looking for a few good men…but they will take anybody they can get.”
DIRECTOR: Peter Yates
CAST: Bill Cosby, Raquel Welch, Harvey Keitel, Allen Garfield, L.Q. Jones, Bruce Davison, Larry Hagman, Dick Butkus
SCREENPLAY: Tom Mankiewicz
STORY: Stephen Manes and Tom Mankiewicz
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Ralph Woolsey
GENRE: Black Comedy / Comedy-Drama
POSTER PRINTER: M.A.P.S. Litho Pty. Ltd.
FORMAT: Australian Daybill
Mother, Jugs & Speed is a 1976 black comedy directed by Peter Yates about the fiercely competitive world of privately operated ambulance services in Los Angeles. The film brings together Bill Cosby as “Mother,” Raquel Welch as “Jugs” and Harvey Keitel as “Speed,” supported by a notably strong ensemble including Larry Hagman and Bruce Davison. AFI confirms the production, cast and principal credits.
POSTER DESIGN FEATURES: A colourful Australian Daybill built around illustrated portraits of the film's three stars — Bill Cosby, Raquel Welch and Harvey Keitel — above a wonderfully chaotic F+B ambulance scene filled with tumbling patients and attendants. Coral-red, turquoise and blue typography contrasts strongly against the white background, while Raquel Welch is positioned prominently at the centre of the artwork. The Australian M classification, 20th Century-Fox logo and M.A.P.S. Litho printer credit appear at the bottom. The artwork also carries the cheeky subtitle “A Black and Blue Comedy.”
COLLECTOR'S NOTE: A strong 1970s ensemble poster with particularly good crossover appeal through Raquel Welch and Harvey Keitel, alongside director Peter Yates, who had previously directed Bullitt. Interestingly, during development Yates reportedly planned even wilder Los Angeles chase sequences than those he had staged for Bullitt. The supporting cast adds further interest through Dallas star Larry Hagman, Bruce Davison, L.Q. Jones and former NFL star Dick Butkus.
