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IMDbPro

Earthquake

  • 1974
  • PG
  • 2h 2m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
17K
YOUR RATING
Charlton Heston, Victoria Principal, Geneviève Bujold, Ava Gardner, Lorne Greene, George Kennedy, Marjoe Gortner, Lloyd Nolan, Richard Roundtree, and Barry Sullivan in Earthquake (1974)
Trailer 1
Play trailer1:03
1 Video
99+ Photos
ActionDramaThriller

Various interconnected people struggle to survive when an earthquake of unimaginable magnitude hits Los Angeles, California.Various interconnected people struggle to survive when an earthquake of unimaginable magnitude hits Los Angeles, California.Various interconnected people struggle to survive when an earthquake of unimaginable magnitude hits Los Angeles, California.

  • Director
    • Mark Robson
  • Writers
    • George Fox
    • Mario Puzo
  • Stars
    • Charlton Heston
    • Ava Gardner
    • George Kennedy
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    5.9/10
    17K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Mark Robson
    • Writers
      • George Fox
      • Mario Puzo
    • Stars
      • Charlton Heston
      • Ava Gardner
      • George Kennedy
    • 192User reviews
    • 92Critic reviews
    • 56Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 3 wins & 7 nominations total

    Videos1

    Earthquake
    Trailer 1:03
    Watch Earthquake

    Photos109

    Earthquake (1974)
    George Kennedy in Earthquake (1974)
    Charlton Heston in Earthquake (1974)
    Lorne Greene and John Elerick in Earthquake (1974)
    Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, and Lloyd Nolan in Earthquake (1974)
    Charlton Heston and George Kennedy in Earthquake (1974)
    Charlton Heston and Ava Gardner in Earthquake (1974)
    Charlton Heston, Geneviève Bujold, Lorne Greene, and George Kennedy in Earthquake (1974)
    Earthquake (1974)
    Earthquake (1974)
    Charlton Heston and Ava Gardner in Earthquake (1974)
    Earthquake (1974)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Charlton Heston
    Charlton Heston
    • Graff
    Ava Gardner
    Ava Gardner
    • Remy
    George Kennedy
    George Kennedy
    • Slade
    Lorne Greene
    Lorne Greene
    • Royce
    Geneviève Bujold
    Geneviève Bujold
    • Denise
    • (as Genevieve Bujold)
    Richard Roundtree
    Richard Roundtree
    • Miles
    Marjoe Gortner
    Marjoe Gortner
    • Jody
    Barry Sullivan
    Barry Sullivan
    • Stockle
    Lloyd Nolan
    Lloyd Nolan
    • Dr. Vance
    Victoria Principal
    Victoria Principal
    • Rosa
    Walter Matthau
    Walter Matthau
    • Drunk
    • (as Walter Matuschanskayasky)
    Monica Lewis
    Monica Lewis
    • Barbara
    Gabriel Dell
    Gabriel Dell
    • Sal
    Pedro Armendáriz Jr.
    Pedro Armendáriz Jr.
    • Chavez
    • (as Pedro Armendariz Jr.)
    Lloyd Gough
    Lloyd Gough
    • Cameron
    John Randolph
    John Randolph
    • Mayor
    Kip Niven
    Kip Niven
    • Walter Russell
    Scott Hylands
    Scott Hylands
    • Asst. Caretaker
    • Director
      • Mark Robson
    • Writers
      • George Fox
      • Mario Puzo
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The producer, Jennings Lang, offered a cameo role to his friend Walter Matthau. Matthau accepted, without compensation, on the condition that he be billed under the name "Walter Matuschanskayasky," the last name being a long-standing "inside joke" that he had used for decades up. The role was originally scripted as "a drunk sits at the end of the bar", which was expanded by writer George Fox, giving the character lines of dialogue (involving toasts to celebrities). When the film was completed - as agreed to by Lang and Matthau - "The Drunk" was credited as "Walter Matuschanskayasky." This lead to a long-standing (and false) rumor that "Matuschanskayasky" was Matthau's real last name.
    • Goofs
      During the earthquake, a truck full of cattle turns upside down; however, the cattle remain in the truck, glued in place on the miniature.
    • Quotes

      Sgt. Lew Slade: Earthquakes bring out the worst in some people.

    • Alternate versions
      For the initial network television showing broadcast on NBC in September 1976, additional footage was shot to lengthen the film in order to show it over two nights. The most extensive segment of new footage is a subplot of a newlywed couple (Debralee Scott and Sam Chew Jr.) on a flight to Los Angleles so the husband can interview for a job with Stuart Graff (Charlton Heston). The plane tries to land as the earthquake hits, but the pilots are able to regain control and fly away before the runway breaks up. Other significant segments are new scenes with Jody (Marjoe Gortner) and Rosa (Victoria Principal), which establish Jody's obsession with Rosa, as well as one short scene in a pawn shop with Buck (Jesse Vint) and Hank (Michael Richardson), who play Marjoe's roommates in the theatrical version. Contrary to popular belief, these additional scenes were *not* "leftover" footage from the original 1974 theatrical release. Rather, the footage was filmed almost two years later by NBC to expand the film. These additional scenes were shot without the original director Mark Robson, who opted out, (in fact, he loathed the additional scenes), but they were shot with Universal's approval. In addition, two deleted scenes originally shot for the theatrical release were re-inserted into the television version, including a narrative opening about the San Andreas Fault, as well as a scene of Rosa brushing off a guy (Reb Brown) trying to give her a ride on his motorcycle. Incidentally, the version frequently running on the American cable channel "American Movie Classics" is the television version, and not the original theatrical version.
    • Connections
      Edited from Torn Curtain (1966)
    • Soundtracks
      C'est si bon
      (uncredited)

      Music by Henri Betti

      Played by a guitarist

    User reviews192

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    5/10
    Nice action drama without CGI overload.
    I really enjoyed the practical effects before CGI took over the film industry. This is the time when making disaster films was a huge challenge. This is decent film making at its best. The visual effects are incredible and is still good by today's standard. This must have been amazing at the time of release. Charlton Heston is a likable hero as usual. I enjoyed how the characters interacted with one another and how their characters developed during and after the disaster. The film did end rather abruptly, but it was an enjoyable action drama.
    helpful•11
    1
    • paulclaassen
    • Jun 15, 2018

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    FAQ1

    • Why is there animated blood in the elevator crash sequence?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 15, 1974 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Erdbeben
    • Filming locations
      • Hollywood Reservoir, Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • The Filmakers Group
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $7,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $79,666,653
    • Gross worldwide
      • $79,666,653
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 2 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

    Related news

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    Charlton Heston, Victoria Principal, Geneviève Bujold, Ava Gardner, Lorne Greene, George Kennedy, Marjoe Gortner, Lloyd Nolan, Richard Roundtree, and Barry Sullivan in Earthquake (1974)
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