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Universal Pictures
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When the big one finally hits L.A.
Various interconnected people struggle to survive when an earthquake of unimaginable magnitude hits Los Angeles, California.
John Chard
Sep 28, 2019 · via TMDB
This used to be one hell of a town, officer. Earthquake is directed by Mark Robson and written by Mario Puzo and George Fox. It stars Charlton Heston, George Kennedy, Ava Gardner, Geneviève Bujold, Lorne Greene, Richard Roundtree & Marjoe Gortner. A catastrophic earthquake hits Southern California and begins to level Los Angeles... "It's not a negative to have heart in the disaster genre of film" Take yourself to 1974, are you there? Good, now maybe you can appreciate this film a little more? Maybe? Earthquake does suffer from old age, it's a statement we see and hear a lot, but it's a fact that some film's stand the test of time whilst others do not. In this desensitised computer age, it is easy to forget that not all the tools available in film making today were available back when film's like this were being made. So as is my want, I firmly judge this as a 1974 offering, to which it delivers enough entertainment to fully satisfy my genre leanings and entertainment persuasions. The main complaint of many is the long build up of the characters, cries of boring can be read across internet forums and critics blogs. I just don't see it that way, yes we want the quake and the mayhem destruction that will follow it, because really this is a disaster film after all, but is it so bad that the film has heart to go with the crash bang wallop? After the build up of characters, where relationships and character traits are formed, the disaster strikes and it doesn't disappoint, utter destruction as effects and noise fill the eyes and ears, where those with a good home cinema system finding it literally does rock the house. We are then treated to a series of sequences that hold and engage our attention, upsetting passages of human sadness, punctured by heroic surges as Heston and the fabulous Kennedy set about saving life, hell! saving the town even. Then it's the film's fitting finale, where there are no cop outs, the makers choosing to go out with a darker edge than the detractors give it credit for. Some can scoff at a blood splat effect, or rant about some of the acting on show, but Earthquake achieves two important things. One is that it entertains as a visual experience (quality model work), the other is that it doesn't soft soap the devastating effects of an earthquake. As the camera pulls away from a ravaged L.A. the impact is sombre, where reflection is needed and most assuredly surely gotten. 7/10
JPV852
Aug 28, 2019 · via TMDB
Not a great disaster movie and a far far cry from The Poseidon Adventure and The Towering Inferno (a personal favorite of mine) but some decent special and miniature effects even when the performances were always the best. Still passable 1970s-era entertainment.
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Charlton Heston
Stewart Graff
Ava Gardner
Remy Royce-Graff
George Kennedy
Sgt. Lew Slade
Lorne Greene
Sam Royce
Geneviève Bujold
Denise Marshall
Richard Roundtree
Miles Quade
Marjoe Gortner
Jody
Barry Sullivan
Dr. Willis Stockle
Lloyd Nolan
Dr. James Vance
Victoria Principal
Rosa Amici
Walter Matthau
Drunk
Monica Lewis
Barbara
Gabriel Dell
Sal
Pedro Armendáriz Jr.
Chavez
Lloyd Gough
Bill Cameron
John Randolph
Los Angeles Mayor
Kip Niven
Walter Russell
Scott Hylands
Asst. Caretaker
Donald Moffat
Dr. Harvey Johnson
Jesse Vint
Buck
Alan Vint
Ralph
John Elerick
Carl Leeds
John S. Ragin
Chief Inspector
George Murdock
Colonel
Alex Brown
Pool Player
Bob Cunningham
Dr. Frank Ames
John Dennis
Brawny Foreman
Gene Dynarski
Dam Caretaker
H.B. Haggerty
Pool Player
Tim Herbert
Las Vegas Man
Josh Albee
Boy with Radio (uncredited)
Reb Brown
Young Man on Motorcycle (uncredited)
Polly Burson
Earthquake Survivor (uncredited)
Ric Carrott
National Guardsman (uncredited)
David S. Cass Sr.
Sherriff Merle (uncredited)
Lonny Chapman
LAPD Captain (uncredited)
Sam Chew Jr.
Tony (Kathie's Husband) (uncredited)
Erik Cord
Office Worker (uncredited)
Kenny Endoso
Bar Cook (uncredited)
Jeannie Epper
Blonde Woman (uncredited)
Bruce M. Fischer
Man (uncredited)
Ernest Harada
Seismologist (uncredited)
Jerry Hardin
Man (uncredited)
Bob Harks
Man Fleeing Movie Theatre (uncredited)
Diana Herbert
Woman (uncredited)
Bert Kramer
Policeman (uncredited)
Paul LeClair
National Guardsman (uncredited)
Karl Lukas
Man (uncredited)
Jimmy Nickerson
Seismology Graduate Student (uncredited)
Stuart Nisbet
Man on Loudspeaker (voice) (uncredited)
Frances Osborne
Housewife (uncredited)
Grant Owens
Police Officer (uncredited)
Charlie Picerni
Pool Player (uncredited)
Leoda Richards
Emergency Soup Kitchen Worker in Wilson Plaza (uncredited)
George Sawaya
Deputy Sherriff (uncredited)
Debralee Scott
Kathie (TV version) (uncredited)
Dean Smith
Pool Player (uncredited)
Eddie Smith
Citizen (uncredited)
Arthur Tovey
Citizen (uncredited)
Dick Tufeld
Opening Narrator (uncredited)
Keith Walker
Man on the Radio (voice) (uncredited)
Sandy Ward
Studio Guard (uncredited)
Dick Warlock
Diver at Hollywood Reservoir (uncredited)
Don Wilbanks
Dam Workman with Blowtorch (uncredited)
Philip H. Lathrop
Director of Photography
John Daheim
Stunt Coordinator
Alex Brown
Stunts
Bob Bralver
Stunts
Bob Herron
Stunts
Bob Minor
Stunts
Bob Yerkes
Stunts
Bud Ekins
Stunts
Charlie Picerni
Stunts
Craig R. Baxley
Stunts
David S. Cass Sr.
Stunts
Dean Smith
Stunts
Dick Warlock
Stunts
Donna Garrett
Stunts
Eddie Hice
Stunts
Eddie Smith
Stunts
Erik Cord
Stunts
Evelyn Smith
Stunts
Felix Silla
Stunts
Fred Lerner
Stunts
Freddie Hice
Stunts
Gary Epper
Stunts
Gene LeBell
Stunts
George Sawaya
Stunts
Harvey Parry
Stunts
Henry Kingi
Stunts
Jack Verbois
Stunts
James Winburn
Stunts
Jeannie Epper
Stunts
Jerry Brutsche
Stunts
Jimmy Nickerson
Stunts
John Daheim
Stunts
Julie Ann Johnson
Stunts
Julius LeFlore
Stunts
Kenny Endoso
Stunts
Kim Kahana
Stunts
Loren Janes
Stunts
Peaches Jones
Stunts
Polly Burson
Stunts
Regis Parton
Stunts
Terry Leonard
Stunts
Tony Brubaker
Stunts
Troy Melton
Stunts
Mark Robson
Director
Dorothy Spencer
Editor
Mark Robson
Producer
John Williams
Original Music Composer
Mario Puzo
Writer
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Jun 4, 2013
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FISFiC Vol. 1
2011
Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs
2015
Sign in to vote
Battle your watched movies head-to-head
Community Top Movies
Evil Dead II
1987 · 14 wins
The Dark Knight
2008 · 14 wins
Halloween
1978 · 13 wins
Final Destination
2000 · 12 wins
Halloween II
1981 · 11 wins
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