Earthquake (1974)

Director:

Mark Robson

Writers:

George Fox (written by) and
Mario Puzo (written by)

Release Date:

15 November 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

An Event...

Plot:

Various stories of various people as an earthquake of un-imagineable magnitude hits Los Angeles.

Plot Keywords:

Earthquake | Daredevil | Policeman | Police | Widow

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 2 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

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)

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		(music score)

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		(costumes designed by)
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)

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures
• The Filmakers Group

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1974) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1975) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1976) (USA) (TV)
• MCA Home Video (1984) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1994) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• GoodTimes Home Video (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• GoodTimes Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• GoodTimes Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Cinéma International Corporation (CIC) (1974) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (19??) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (DVD)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (19??) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Cinematique  cosmetics by
• MCA  Sensurround(TM) created by
• Universal Pictures  Sensurround(TM) from: patent pending (as Universal)
• Universal Title  titles and opticals

Also Known As:

Runtime:

123 min | USA:160 min (TV version) | Canada:121 min (Ontario)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

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:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | Singapore:PG | Iceland:16 | Australia:PG | Argentina:13 | UK:A (original rating) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 (1976) | Sweden:15 | UK:PG (video rating) (1987) (2003) | USA:PG (Certificate #24032)

Filming Locations:

1329 Carroll Avenue, Central Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

The "Hollywood Dam" featured in the film is actually known as the "Mulholland Dam", named after famed engineer William Mulholland. The nearly-identical St. Francis Dam, near present-day Valencia, California, actually collapsed due to a geological fault on 12 March 1928. This disaster killed over 450 people and ranks second highest in terms of loss of life (behind the 1906 San Francisco earthquake) in the history of California.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the television version, the aircraft on which the newlywedsare flying changes repeatedly from a Boeing 707 to a Convair 880 and back again, each time with airline different markings. Nighttime shots of the plane are borrowed from the film Airport (1970)

Quotes:

Sgt. Lew Slade:I'm sorry I ever arrested you two, I've been paying for it ever since.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Quantum Leap: Disco Inferno - April 1, 1976 (#2.2)" (1989)

Great fun and a little bit educational.

What can I say about "Earthquake" that hasn't already been said before? A cast that includes Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, Lorne Greene, Genevieve Bujold, George Kennedy, and Victoria Principal, head this great story of Los Angeles and the lives that are affected by those who live their after a tremor registers at 7,1! The lives and lifestyles of these people, some pleasant, and some not, are put to the test as they are forced to deal with the cause and effect of having a thriving city on tectonic plates, that are rapidly moving. A gem of a film, ridiculed to no end because of varying opinions that should not matter to one of those inquiring minds! Ugh! And they say smoking is bad for you. People need to open their minds, and see. See that this film is not half as bad as most say it is. True, this film is a big Hollywood monopoly fest, and their are no unknowns to be seen, as you have Charlton Heston(Ben-Hur); Ava Gardner(MGM actress); Genevieve Bujold(Anne of a Thousand Days); among others, and even co-stars as Richard Roundtree(Shaft) and Victoria Principal(Dallas.) The cast works really well together, and the print shines.

There are a lot of facts explored here, such as animals crying out or running away moments before the quakes, that really give chills out of the reality of it. These are the really great things that happen, and give excitement, not artificial scares made up for the ongoing monopoly that this film has such a reputation for, but rather realistic knowledge that shows what might happen would such a quake strike the earth at such force. Also of note are the scenes with the dam, and the water rising after each "pre-shock" while a man falls out of an elevator full of water, drowned from it.

Great sets as well. Many sets are being torn apart in the quake scenes, while maintaining the reality of sets the tone.

The effects, which won a very deserved Oscar, are what really opens the audience's eyes. We see the valley, we see Capital Records, we see Wilshire, and even Zsa Zsa Gabor's bushes get totally eschewed during the disaster. What is really amazing, is that such matting and blue screen was put to use, that to this day, I still scratch my head on how it was all done. It would really be nice to see a featurette on how they did it all. Those scenes, in which there is an after shock, show millions of people running from a huge building that is literally falling to pieces before our very eyes! Amazing stuff. There is truly beauty in this film when looked for. An event... as the tagline reads is right. Every one knows earthquakes cause damage, but how much damage is seen? It was amazing to see Los Angeles fall to pieces, and show the rest of the world what it would be like were a 7.1 ricter scale.

Equally great is the Mario Puzo script. The first thing that drew me to this film was how well it pulls the audience into the drama between the characters. Think, in recent films, "Magnolia" meets "Volcano." The relationship between Heston and Gardner, while, can be laughable due to the nature of two divas facing off, is still capable of being appreciated. George Kennedy as a worn out cop plays strictly for drama, and even though he is inter cut with Walter Matthau as a sleazy barman cameo, he gets some seriousness for himself in the end. The structure of the film, from the setting up of the characters some fun(like Principal as Rosa Amici with her friend Roundtree as a daredevil) or characters that you can relate to(Bujold is great as aspiring actress.) As for the development of the disaster itself, the way the tremors start as small, and then the big shake, and then the after shock, builds really well, and the characters, with their emotional baggage and structured emotions deep, intertwine and create a great story that is fun for all.

Sensurround was a fast growing mechanism used in films and was fully extent in this one. Many people see this technique as the only reason this film was made, and yes, this was a big Hollywood picture made for monopoly purposes, but there was art in it from the artists who those big wigs hired.

There is a really good film here, and it still stands to this day. Great score by John Williams and there is a website you can go to to further understand the film as it is.

In the end, even though the reviews have not given this film the justice it deserved, the loyal filmmakers that appreciate art and the joy of dedication and film-making have kept this film where it belongs, with the reputation it deserves.