IMDb > Earthquake (1974)
Earthquake
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany credits
Awards & Reviews
user reviewsexternal reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guidemessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsmemorable quotes
Did You Know?
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
box office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Earthquake (1974) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (See all 18 | slideshow)

Overview

User Rating:
5.7/10   6,980 votes »
Your Rating:
Saving vote...
Deleting vote...
/10   (delete | history)
Sorry, there was a problem
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 35% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Mark Robson
Writers:
George Fox (written by) and
Mario Puzo (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Earthquake on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
15 November 1974 (USA) See more »
Genre:
Action | Drama | Thriller See more »
Tagline:
An Event... See more »
Plot:
Various stories of various people as an earthquake of un-imagineable magnitude hits Los Angeles. Full summary » | Full synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 2 wins & 7 nominations See more »
NewsDesk:
(44 articles)
Blu-ray Release: Earthquake
 (From Disc Dish. 25 March 2013, 3:55 PM, PDT)
Mad Monster Hosts Blacula Screening and Q&A with Special Guests on February 13th
 (From Dread Central. 11 February 2013, 8:49 PM, PST)
Super-8 End Of The World Movie Madness February 5th at The Way Out Club in St. Louis
 (From WeAreMovieGeeks.com. 17 January 2013, 7:59 PM, PST)
User Reviews:
This used to be one hell of a town, officer. See more (139 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Charlton Heston ... Stewart Graff

Ava Gardner ... Remy Graff

George Kennedy ... Lew Slade

Lorne Greene ... Sam Royce

Geneviève Bujold ... Denise Marshall (as Genevieve Bujold)

Richard Roundtree ... Miles Quade
Marjoe Gortner ... Jody
Barry Sullivan ... Dr. Willis Stockle

Lloyd Nolan ... Dr. James Vance

Victoria Principal ... Rosa Amici

Walter Matthau ... Drunk (as Walter Matuschanskayasky)
Monica Lewis ... Barbara
Gabriel Dell ... Sal Amici

Pedro Armendáriz Jr. ... Chavez (as Pedro Armendariz Jr.)
Lloyd Gough ... Bill Cameron

John Randolph ... Mayor
Kip Niven ... Walter Russell
Scott Hylands ... Asst. Caretaker
Tiger Williams ... Corry Marshall

Donald Moffat ... Dr. Harvey Johnson

Jesse Vint ... Buck
Alan Vint ... Ralph
Lionel Johnston ... Hank
John Elerick ... Carl Leeds
John S. Ragin ... Chief Inspector

George Murdock ... Colonel
Don Mantooth ... Sid (as Donald Mantooth)
Michael Richardson ... Sandy
Alex Brown ... Pool Player (as Alex A. Brown)
Bob Cunningham ... Dr. Frank Adams
John Dennis ... Brawny Foreman
Gene Dynarski ... Dam Caretaker
Bob Gravage ... Farmer Mr. Griggs

H.B. Haggerty ... Pool Player
Tim Herbert ... Las Vegas Man
Dave Morick ... Technician
Ines Pedroza ... Laura (as Inez Pedroza)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Josh Albee ... Boy with Radio (uncredited)
Joan Blair ... Pawnbroker's Wife (TV version) (uncredited)
Hal Bokar ... Dam Workman #1 (uncredited)
Vivian Brown ... Woman #1 (uncredited)
Ian Bruce ... Officer Scott - Wilson Plaza (uncredited)
William H. Burton ... Stranger (uncredited)
Ric Carrott ... National Guardsman (uncredited)
David S. Cass Sr. ... Sherriff Merle - Slade's Nemesis (uncredited)
Lonny Chapman ... L.A.P.D. Captain (uncredited)
Sam Chew Jr. ... Tony - Kathie's Husband (uncredited)
Shannon Christie ... Dr. Vance's Nurse (uncredited)
Patty Elder ... Blonde Secretary in Royce Building (uncredited)
Kenny Endoso ... Bar Cook (uncredited)
Robert C. Ferro Jr. ... Sports Car Thief (uncredited)
Bruce M. Fischer ... Man #1 (uncredited)
James W. Gavin ... Helicopter Pilot (uncredited)
Ernest Harada ... Seismologist (uncredited)

Jerry Hardin ... Man #2 (uncredited)

Diana Herbert ... Woman #2 (uncredited)
Bert Kramer ... Policeman (uncredited)
Karl Lukas ... Man #3 (uncredited)
Jimmy Nickerson ... Seismology Graduate Student (uncredited)

Stuart Nisbet ... Loudspeaker Voice (voice) (uncredited)
Frances Osborne ... Housewife (uncredited)
Grant Owens ... Police Officer (uncredited)

Charlie Picerni ... Pool Player (uncredited)
George Sawaya ... Deputy Sherriff (uncredited)
Fred Scheiwiller ... Jay the Bartender (uncredited)

Debralee Scott ... Kathie (TV version) (uncredited)
Dean Smith ... Pool Player (uncredited)

John Tuell ... Prop Tractor Driver (uncredited)
Kitty Vallacher ... Grocery Store Clerk (uncredited)
Keith Walker ... Radio Voice (voice) (uncredited)
Sandy Ward ... Studio Guard (uncredited)
Dick Warlock ... Diver at Hollywood Reservoir (uncredited)
William Whitaker ... Ambulance Driver (uncredited)
Don Wilbanks ... Dam Workman with Blowtorch (uncredited)
Forrest Wood ... Man #4 (uncredited)
Clint Young ... Dam Workman #2 (uncredited)
Create a character page for: ?

Directed by
Mark Robson 
 
Writing credits
George Fox (written by) and
Mario Puzo (written by)

Produced by
Jennings Lang .... executive producer
Mark Robson .... producer
Bernard Donnenfeld .... producer (uncredited)
 
Original Music by
John Williams 
 
Cinematography by
Philip H. Lathrop (director of photography) (as Philip Lathrop)
 
Film Editing by
Dorothy Spencer 
 
Casting by
William Batliner (uncredited)
Robert J. LaSanka (uncredited)
 
Production Design by
Alexander Golitzen 
 
Art Direction by
E. Preston Ames 
 
Set Decoration by
Frank R. McKelvy  (as Frank McKelvy)
 
Costume Design by
Burton Miller 
Edith Head (uncredited)
 
Makeup Department
Connie Nichols .... hair stylist (uncredited)
Mark Reedall .... makeup artist (uncredited)
 
Production Management
Wallace Worsley Jr. .... unit production manager (as Wallace Worsley)
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Murray Schwartz .... second assistant director
Fred R. Simpson .... first assistant director
Michele Futrell .... trainee assistant director (uncredited)
 
Art Department
Fred Tuch .... assistant art director
Leo Anderson .... assistant prop man (uncredited)
Ed Keyes .... property master (uncredited)
Ray LaPorte .... stand-by painter (uncredited)
Paul Seitz .... leadman (uncredited)
Ed Shanley .... construction coordinator (uncredited)
A. Leslie Thomas .... illustrator (uncredited)
A. Leslie Thomas .... sketch artist (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Melvin M. Metcalfe Sr. .... sound
Ronald Pierce .... sound
Jack Danskin .... boom operator (uncredited)
William Morris .... cable man (uncredited)
Dennis C. Salcedo .... optical sound recordist (uncredited)
 
Special Effects by
Frank Brendel .... special effects
Johnny Borgese .... special effects (uncredited)
Jack McMaster .... special effects (uncredited)
Mike Reedy .... special effects technician (uncredited)
Glen Robinson .... special effects (uncredited)
 
Visual Effects by
Roswell A. Hoffmann .... matte photography (as Ross Hoffman)
Glen Robinson .... miniatures
Clifford Stine .... special photography
Albert Whitlock .... special photographic effects
 
Stunts
John Daheim .... stunt coordinator
Rick Arnold .... stunts (uncredited)
Lorraine Baptist .... stunts (uncredited)
Craig R. Baxley .... stunts (uncredited)
Lorraine Bendix .... stunts (uncredited)
May Boss .... stunts (uncredited)
Marilyn Bower .... stunts (uncredited)
Buff Brady .... stunts (uncredited)
Bob Bralver .... stunts (uncredited)
Fred Brookfield .... stunts (uncredited)
Alex Brown .... stunts (uncredited)
Tony Brubaker .... stunt performer (uncredited)
Jerry Brutsche .... stunts (uncredited)
Steven Burnett .... stunts (uncredited)
Polly Burson .... stunts (uncredited)
William H. Burton .... stunts (uncredited)
Hank Calia .... stunts (uncredited)
Joe Canutt .... stunt double: Charlton Heston (uncredited)
Joe Canutt .... stunts (uncredited)
Mickey Caruso .... stunts (uncredited)
David S. Cass Sr. .... stunts (uncredited)
Bill Catching .... stunts (uncredited)
Dottie Catching .... stunts (uncredited)
Roydon Clark .... stunts (uncredited)
Eugene Collier .... stunts (uncredited)
Erik Cord .... stunts (uncredited)
Paula Crist .... stunts (uncredited)
Dick Crockett .... stunts (uncredited)
Evelyne Cuffee .... stunts (uncredited)
Howard Curtis .... stunts (uncredited)
John Daheim .... stunts (uncredited)
Carol Daniels .... stunts (uncredited)
Jadie David .... stunts (uncredited)
Paula Dell .... stunts (uncredited)
Dick Dial .... stunts (uncredited)
Nick Dimitri .... stunts (uncredited)
Bennie E. Dobbins .... stunts (uncredited)
Gary Downey .... stunts (uncredited)
Larry Duran .... stunts (uncredited)
Bud Ekins .... stunts (uncredited)
Patty Elder .... stunts (uncredited)
Kenny Endoso .... stunts (uncredited)
Andy Epper .... stunts (uncredited)
Gary Epper .... stunts (uncredited)
Jeannie Epper .... stunts (uncredited)
Stephanie Epper .... stunts (uncredited)
Pamela Estrom .... stunts (uncredited)
Robert C. Ferro Jr. .... stunts (uncredited)
Lila Finn .... stunt woman (uncredited)
Donna Garrett .... stunts (uncredited)
Ralph Garrett .... stunts (uncredited)
James W. Gavin .... stunts (uncredited)
Mickey Gilbert .... stunts (uncredited)
Orwin C. Harvey .... stunts (uncredited)
Bob Herron .... stunts (uncredited)
Eddie Hice .... stunts (uncredited)
Freddie Hice .... stunts (uncredited)
Larry Holt .... stunts (uncredited)
Tommy J. Huff .... stunts (uncredited)
Vic Hunsberger .... stunts (uncredited)
Loren Janes .... stunts (uncredited)
Julie Ann Johnson .... stunts (uncredited)
Louise Johnson .... stunts (uncredited)
Kevin N. Johnston .... stunts (uncredited)
Peaches Jones .... stunts (uncredited)
Eddie Juaregui .... stunts (uncredited)
Debbie Kahana .... stunts (uncredited)
Kim Kahana .... stunts (uncredited)
Henry Kingi .... stunts (uncredited)
William T. Lane .... stunts (uncredited)
Gene LeBell .... stunts (uncredited)
Julius LeFlore .... stunts (uncredited)
Terry Leonard .... stunts (uncredited)
Fred Lerner .... stunts (uncredited)
Alison Logsden .... stunts (uncredited)
Maurice Marks .... stunts (uncredited)
Paula Martin .... stunts (uncredited)
Denver Mattson .... stunts (uncredited)
Troy Melton .... stunts (uncredited)
Johnny Miller .... stunts (uncredited)
Bob Minor .... stunts (uncredited)
Harry Monty .... stunts (uncredited)
Eddie Mulder .... stunts (uncredited)
Stevie Myers .... stunts (uncredited)
Jimmy Nickerson .... stunts (uncredited)
Paul Nuckles .... stunts (uncredited)
Harvey Parry .... stunts (uncredited)
Regina Parton .... stunts (uncredited)
Regis Parton .... stunts (uncredited)
Barbara Perlman .... stunts (uncredited)
Charlie Picerni .... stunts (uncredited)
Don Pike .... stunts (uncredited)
Melvin Robert Porter .... stunts (uncredited)
Byron Quisenberry .... stunts (uncredited)
Glenn Randall Jr. .... stunts (uncredited)
Ernest Robinson .... stunts (uncredited)
Ronald C. Ross .... stunts (uncredited)
Audrey Saunders .... stunts (uncredited)
Russell Saunders .... stunts (uncredited)
George Sawaya .... stunts (uncredited)
Fred Scheiwiller .... stunts (uncredited)
Felix Silla .... stunts (uncredited)
Dean Smith .... stunts (uncredited)
Eddie Smith .... stunts (uncredited)
Evelyn Smith .... stunts (uncredited)
Marilyn Stader .... stunts (uncredited)
Tom Steele .... stunts (uncredited)
Cyndi Swan .... stunts (uncredited)
Bob Terhune .... stunts (uncredited)
Jack Verbois .... stunts (uncredited)
Rock A. Walker .... stunts (uncredited)
Bud Walls .... stunts (uncredited)
Marvin Walters .... stunts (uncredited)
Dick Warlock .... stunts (uncredited)
Richard Washington .... stunts (uncredited)
Jesse Wayne .... stunts (uncredited)
Jack Wilson .... stunts (uncredited)
James Winburn .... stunts (uncredited)
Bob Yerkes .... stunts (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Ron Anderson .... electrician (uncredited)
Tony Askins .... camera operator (uncredited)
Howard Boyles .... grip best boy (uncredited)
Vance Gage .... crab dolly grip (uncredited)
Gary Graham .... camera operator (uncredited)
Bill Johnson .... camera operator (uncredited)
Wilbur Kinnett .... gaffer (uncredited)
Carl Manoogian .... key grip (uncredited)
Lou Ramos .... best boy electric (uncredited)
 
Casting Department
Karl Brindle .... extras casting (uncredited)
Grady Rape .... extras casting (uncredited)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tom Bronson .... wardrobe: men (uncredited)
James Gilmore .... wardrobe: men (uncredited)
Sheila Mason .... wardrobe: ladies (uncredited)
 
Editorial Department
Eddie Broussard .... assistant film editor (uncredited)
 
Transportation Department
Alby Thomas .... transportation captain (uncredited)
 
Other crew
Emigdio Chavez .... craft service (uncredited)
James W. Gavin .... helicopter pilot (uncredited)
Tom Greene .... production associate (uncredited)
Gary Jouvenat .... auditor (uncredited)
Rod Langham .... operations (uncredited)
Booker McClay .... publicist (uncredited)
Gene Palmer .... director: additional scenes (television version) (uncredited)
Esther Panel .... production secretary (uncredited)
Leo Pepin .... assistant to production manager (uncredited)
Victoria Weisbart .... script supervisor (uncredited)
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
See more »
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
123 min | USA:160 min (TV version) | Canada:121 min (Ontario)
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.20 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
4-Track Stereo (35 mm magnetic prints) | Sensurround (70 mm and 35 mm magnetic prints) | Mono (35 mm optical prints) | 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) (Westrex Recording System)
Certification:
Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 (1976) | Sweden:15 | UK:PG (video rating) (1987) (2003) | USA:PG (Certificate #24032) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Singapore:PG | Iceland:16 | Australia:PG | Argentina:13 | UK:A (original rating)
Filming Locations:
1329 Carroll Avenue, Central Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USASee more »
Company:
Universal PicturesSee more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
The crash that motorcycle daredevil Miles Quade has coming out of the loop on the stunt track was not scripted, but an actual spill taken by the stuntman Bud Ekins. Ekins was uninjured and the crash was worked into the final cut.See more »
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: During the aftershock sequence in the underground parking garage, you can see columns of brick that are obvious props fall, but stay completely intact without falling apart.See more »
Quotes:
Sgt. Lew Slade:[to the citizens bombarding him for help] Shut up! You're all going to have to help yourselves! Most of the police in this district were killed in that station house. And the guys that were on patrol when the quake hit, well they probably got more to do than they can handle. Now look you, get as many volunteers as you can...See more »
Movie Connections:
Featured in Leonard Nimoy Demonstrates the Magnavision Videodisc Player (1981) (V)See more »

FAQ

Why is there animated blood in the elevator crash sequence?
See more »

User Reviews

   (Review this title)
8 out of 10 people found the following review useful.
This used to be one hell of a town, officer., 4 March 2008
Author: JohnRouseMerriottChard from United Kingdom

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, 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 its detractors give 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, 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, reflection is needed and surely got. 7/10

Was the above review useful to you?
See more (139 total) »

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Earthquake (1974)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Earthquake on blu ray in June hairybro2000
what kind of idiot.... danisdabomb
would San Diego have felt the earthquake danisdabomb
'Earthquake' out on Blu-ray June 4, 2013. phoenixandrew
Anyone else remember seeing this in Sensurround? markb67
Would 1970's people have taken shelter in an office building basement? HiFiAudioGuy
See more »

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Training Day Before the Devil Knows You're Dead So Sweet, So Dead The Dark Knight Australia
IMDb User Rating:
 IMDb User Rating:
 IMDb User Rating:
 IMDb User Rating:
 IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Action section IMDb USA section

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Edit page' button will take you through a step-by-step process.