'' is the title of a blockbuster
1974 Film that was among several successful so-called
Disaster Movie s of the 1970s that places an all-star cast in life and death situations. The basic plot concerns the reactions and struggles for survival after a catastrophic
Earthquake registering 9.9 on the
Richter Scale hits the city of
Los Angeles ,
California .
Full of large-scale destruction and violence, ''Earthquake'' was one of the most successful films of
1974 , grossing over $80,000,000 USD ($300,000,000 USD, adjusted for inflation in 2005 dollars).
For the film's 1976 television premiere, additional footage was added to expand the running time of the film so it could be shown over two nights. Contrary to popular belief, this "television version" made no use of material originally left out of the theatrical release (save one small scene), but rather new footage was shot some two years after the original, using some of the stars from the theatrical version.
Directed by
Mark Robson and with a
Screenplay by George Fox and
Mario Puzo , it stars
Charlton Heston ,
Ava Gardner ,
Lorne Greene ,
George Kennedy ,
Genevieve Bujold ,
Richard Roundtree ,
Marjoe Gortner ,
Barry Sullivan ,
Lloyd Nolan ,
Victoria Principal ,
Monica Lewis and
Walter Matthau (credited as "
Walter Matuschanskayasky ".)
- The 1974 theatrical release used " Sensurround ", a Subwoofer system to create the feeling of an earthquake. This was simply a set of large subwoofers designed to create infra-bass (felt but not heard).
- On an episode of '' Quantum Leap '', Sam Beckett leaped in as one of the stuntmen on the film (footage from which was used). "Sam" is the man hanging from a piece of debris whom Sam Royce ( Lorne Greene 's character) attempts to save, but loses his grip and falls.
- Premiered on U.S. television in 1976, with additional footage and storylines added to lengthen the film in order to expand it over a two-night showing.
- Universal Home Video DVD release on May 9, 2006 will feature the original " Sensurround " audio track, duplicating the original theatrical "Sensurround" track, which generated low frequency, high-power sound waves which "shook" the theatre.
''Earthquake'' won an
Academy Award for Best Sound, as well as a Special Achievement Award for visual effects. The film introduced a widely publicised gimmick called "
Sensurround ." The marketing of the film made full use of this gimmick, and provided a novelty factor to help entice people into the cinemas. It was used again for the films ''
Midway '' (
1976 ), ''
Rollercoaster '' (
1977 ) and ''
Battlestar Galactica '' but had limited use and was dispensed with after this.
A script for a sequel, '', was written in late-1975, and featured the characters of
George Kennedy ,
Victoria Principal ,
Richard Roundtree , and
Gabriel Dell , but was never pushed into production. '' details the main characters adjusting to new lives in
San Francisco as refugees from the
Los Angeles quake of the original film, when another major, more catastrophic earthquake and tsunami strikes the
Bay Area .
is at
Universal Orlando Resort . At the beginning there are three small presentations showing how certain special effects are achieved. This includes shots of the film and miniatures used in the film.
The audience is then taken to a mock naval scene where there's a surprise for one of the volunteers.
Third, there's a demonstration of other special effects using a mannequin.
For the finale, the audience is transported to a recreated Montgomery Subway Station in , the platform begins to break apart and the electricity starts buzzing. A P.A. system is heard saying you've experience a slight tremor and there is no danger. But then, darkness falls and the train shakes heavier as the big one hits -- registering 8.3 on the
Richter Scale . As guests look around in the shaking subway, smoke puffs out of the platform as gas pipes rupture.
A part of the ceiling collapses into the subway as a propane truck slides down the roadway and explodes into the flames as it crashes into a concrete pillar. On the opposite of the platform, another subway train pulling into the station going in the oncoming direction suddenly runs off the track and just narrowly misses the shaking train.
As the earthquake stops, 65,000 gallons of water (looks to be San Francisco Bay) pours into the station and soaking the riders. As the water recedes, an employee of the ride yells "That's a wrap!" and riders are sent back to Oakland. As they leave, the entire soundstage resets itself as the earthquake waits for its next victims.
There is also a similar demonstration included on The Studio Tour, in Universal Studios Hollywood.
