BB17-085 — GUMS
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YEAR: 1976
FILM STUDIO / PRODUCTION: Cum Laude Films / Masada Film Releasing Corporation / Blake Films
TAGLINE: “Guaranteed to get you back into the water”
DIRECTOR: Robert J. Kaplan
CAST: Terri Hall, Brother Theodore, Robert Kerman, Jody Maxwell, Crystal Sync, Paul Styles
SCREENPLAY: Paul E. Cohen, Robert J. Kaplan, Sam Cohen
MUSIC: Brad Fiedel
GENRE: Adult Comedy / Parody / Sexploitation / Fantasy
POSTER PRINTER: M.A.P.S. Litho Pty. Ltd. — visible lower right
FORMAT: Australian Daybill

Gums is a 1976 adult comedy created as a deliberately outrageous parody of Jaws, replacing the shark with a predatory mermaid played by Terri Hall. The film received a theatrical release and became part of the American midnight-movie circuit.

POSTER DESIGN FEATURES: A wonderfully bizarre Australian Daybill with predominantly black line-art against white, contrasted by vivid orange-red typography. The artwork directly parodies Jaws: the S.S. Gums carries an absurd collection of hunters while a mermaid rises from stylised waves below. The oversized GUMS title and “Guaranteed to get you back into the water” line openly spoof the marketing of Jaws.

COLLECTOR'S NOTE: A great example of 1970s exploitation cinema responding almost immediately to a major mainstream hit. Beyond its Jaws parody connection, Gums has cult-film interest through Brother Theodore, who later voiced Gollum in the animated The Hobbit and The Return of the King, and Robert Kerman. Its cheeky Australian artwork gives it particularly strong crossover appeal for collectors of exploitation, parody and cult cinema posters.