Earthquake (1974)

Director:

Mark Robson

Writers:

George Fox (written by)
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:

Attempted Rape | Fire Hose Used As Rope | Adultery | Reservoir Dam | Psychopath

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 1 win & 7 nominations

Cast

Charlton Heston	...	Stewart Graff
Ava Gardner	...	Remy Royce-Graff
George Kennedy	...	Sgt. 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.	...	Officer Emilio Chavez (as Pedro Armendariz Jr.)
Lloyd Gough	...	Bill Cameron
John Randolph	...	Mayor Lewis
Kip Niven	...	Walter Russell
Scott Hylands	...	Max, Assistant Dam Caretaker
Tiger Williams	...	Corry Marshall
Donald Moffat	...	Dr. Harvey Johnson
Jesse Vint	...	Buck, Jody's Roomate
Alan Vint	...	Hank, Jody's Roomate
Michael Richardson	...	Ralph, Jody's Roomate
John Elerick	...	Carl Leeds
John S. Ragin	...	Chief Inspector, L.A. Dept. of Water & Power
George Murdock	...	Colonel, Army Corps of Engineers
Don Mantooth	...	Sid, National Guard Officer (as Donald Mantooth)
Lionel Johnston	...	Sandy, National Guard Officer
Alex Brown	...	Pool Player
Bob Cunningham	...	Dr. Frank Adams
Johnny Dennis	...	Brawny Foreman - Army Corps of Engineers
Gene Dynarski	...	Fred, Dam Caretaker
Bob Gravage	...	Farmer Griggs
H.B. Haggerty	...	Big, Bald Pool Player
Tim Herbert	...	Las Vegas Booking Agent
Dave Morick	...	Technician, City of L.A. Emergency Services
Ines Pedroza	...	Laura, Royce's Office Secretary (as Inez Pedroza)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Joan Blair	...	Pawnbroker's Wife (TV version)
Reb Brown	...	Boy on Motorcycle (scenes deleted from theatrical version but used in TV version)
William H. Burton	...	Stranger (scenes deleted)
Sam Chew Jr.	...	Kathie's Husband (TV version)
James W. Gavin	...	Helicopter Pilot (scenes deleted)
Bert Kramer	...	Policeman at Emergency Control Center (scenes deleted)
Frances Osborne	...	Housewife at Supermarket (scenes deleted)
Sandy Ward	...	Studio Guard (scenes deleted)
William Whitaker	...	Ambulance Driver (scenes deleted)
Josh Albee	...	Boy with Radio (uncredited)
Hal Bokar	...	Dam Workman #1 (uncredited)
Vivian Brown	...	Woman #1 (uncredited)
Ian Bruce	...	Officer Scott, Wilson Plaza (uncredited)
Ric Carrott	...	National Guard Private (uncredited)
David S. Cass Sr.	...	Sherriff Merle, Slade's Nemesis (uncredited)
Lonny Chapman	...	L.A.P.D. Captain (uncredited)
Shannon Christie	...	Dr. Vance's Nurse (uncredited)
Patty Elder	...	Blonde Secretary in Royce Building (uncredited)
Kenny Endoso	...	Bar Cook (uncredited)
Robert Feero	...	Car Thief (uncredited)
Bruce M. Fischer	...	Man #1 (uncredited)
Ernest Harada	...	Seismologist (uncredited)
Jerry Hardin	...	Man #2 (uncredited)
Diana Herbert	...	Woman #2 (uncredited)
Karl Lukas	...	Man #3 (uncredited)
Jimmy Nickerson	...	Seismology Graduate Student (uncredited)
Stuart Nisbet	...	Loudspeaker Voice (voice) (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 tracktor driver (uncredited)
Kitty Vallacher	...	Grocery Store Clerk (uncredited)
Keith Walker	...	Radio Voice (voice) (uncredited)
Dick Warlock	...	Diver at Hollywood Reservoir (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 (in alphabetical order)
George Fox		written by
Mario Puzo		written by

Produced by
Bernard Donnenfeld	....	producer
Jennings Lang	....	executive producer
Mark Robson	....	producer

Original Music by
John Williams

Cinematography by
Philip H. Lathrop		(director of photography) (as Philip Lathrop)

Film Editing by
Dorothy Spencer

Production Design by
Alexander Golitzen

Art Direction by
E. Preston Ames

Set Decoration by
Frank R. McKelvy

Costume Design by
Burton Miller

Production Management
Wallace Worsley Jr.	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Murray Schwartz	....	second assistant director
Fred R. Simpson	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Fred Tuch	....	assistant art director
A. Leslie Thomas	....	sketch artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Melvin M. Metcalfe Sr.	....	sound
Ronald Pierce	....	sound

Special Effects by
Frank Brendel	....	special effects
Clifford Stine	....	special effects
Albert Whitlock	....	special photographic effects
Mike Reedy	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Glen Robinson	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Roswell A. Hoffmann	....	matte photography (as Ross Hoffmann)
Glen Robinson	....	miniatures

Stunts
John Daheim	....	stunt coordinator
Rick Arnold	....	stunts (uncredited)
Lorraine Bendix	....	stunts (uncredited)
May Boss	....	stunts (uncredited)
Buff Brady	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bob Bralver	....	stunts (uncredited)
Fred Brookfield	....	stunts (uncredited)
Alex Brown	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tony Brubaker	....	stunts (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)
John Daheim	....	stunts (uncredited)
Carol Daniels	....	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)
Gary Epper	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jeannie Epper	....	stunts (uncredited)
Stephanie Epper	....	stunts (uncredited)
Pamela Estrom	....	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)
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)
Byron Quisenberry	....	stunts (uncredited)
Glenn Randall Jr.	....	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)
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
Clifford Stine	....	special photography
Ron Anderson	....	electrician (uncredited)

Other crew
James W. Gavin	....	helicopter pilot (uncredited)
Tom Greene	....	production associate (uncredited)
Booker McClay	....	publicist (uncredited)
Gene Palmer	....	director: additional scenes (television version) (uncredited)

Production Companies

• The Filmakers Group
• Universal Pictures

Distributors

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

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:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) (Westrex Recording System) | Mono (35 mm optical prints) | Sensurround (70 mm and 35 mm magnetic prints) | 4-Track Stereo (35 mm magnetic prints)

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Singapore:PG | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 (1976) | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

The Filmakers Group

Trivia:

Ava Gardner surprised director Mark Robson by insisting that she do her own stunt work, including dodging blocks of concrete and heavy steel pipes.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: During the final scene, a looped-in background dialog track repeats itself before fading out.

Quotes:

Sam Royce: Give me your panty hose damnit.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003)

It's not a negative to have heart in the genre.

Take yourself to 1974, are you there ?, good, now you maybe can appreciate this film a little more. Earthquake suffers from old age, it's a statement we see and hear a lot, but it's a fact that some films stand the test of time whilst others don't. In this desensitised computer age it is easy to forget that not all the tools available in film making today were available back then when films like this were made, so I firmly judge this as a 1974 offering and it delivers enough entertainment to satisfy my genre persuasions.

A chief complaint of many is the long build up of characters, cries of boring can be read across the site, I just don't see it that way, yes we want the quake and mayhem destructible, because 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 the disaster strikes and it doesn't disappoint, and for those with a good home cinema system it literally rocks, we are treated to a series of sequences that hold our attention and come the films fitting finale {no cop outs here folks}, Earthquake has done its job in spite of less than admirable acting performances from some of the bigger names on show.

A solid 7/10, rumble rumble.