ZZZZPG

ZPG (1972)
dir: Michael Campus

ZZZZPG
Cracked #105, November 1972
a: John Zeverin (Severin)

ZPG stood for Zero Population Growth, an idea floating around at the time (still talked about at flat-earth levels) that was the basis for this movie, the concept of this dystopian science-fiction film (basically the only kind of science-fiction before Star Wars). In this future, the population of earth has become so uncontrollable that there is a moratorium on all births for thirty years, punishable by death.

Russ (Oliver Reed) and Carol (Geraldine Chaplin) are a couple who work at a twentieth-century museum and yearn to have an actual baby.

Walter Matthau as Kotch is in the opening panel. That movie is also spoofed in this issue.

There is an option for couples such as this who are allowed to adopt realistic dolls that won't eat, so won't burden an already overpopulated Earth. This isn't good enough for Russ and Carol, who want a real baby. (They conceive one in the movie but here they buy one on the black market). They have to hide the fact that theirs is real to not tip off the authorities or anyone who sees them and is required to turn them in.

Their neighbors, George (Don Gordon) and Edna (Diane Cilento) know they have a real baby and want to share or else they'll turn Russ and Carol in.

Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice was about two progressive couples that tried everything new, building up to their attempt at a foursome. It received an X rating when released but today is tamer than any family film. Conversely, it's shocking what had G and PG ratings then.

Carol and Russ go underground and find their way to an island free from excess pollution, where they're free to raise a baby without consequences.

Parodies of the Planet of the Apes franchise, Rosemary's Baby, and Willard are also on this blog.

And that's all she wrote. I've run out of movie parodies for now, but more will probably show up eventually and I'll post those as I get them. I'm still around on all other major social networks for anyone wanting to find me, though I'm considering quitting Twixter soon, since a mass exodus seems to be afoot.