Earthquake (1974 film): Difference between revisions
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''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 (movie)|Midway]]'' ([[1976]]), ''[[Rollercoaster (movie)|Rollercoaster]]'' ([[1977]]) and ''[[Battlestar Galactica (1978)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' but had limited use and was dispensed with after this. |
''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 (movie)|Midway]]'' ([[1976]]), ''[[Rollercoaster (movie)|Rollercoaster]]'' ([[1977]]) and ''[[Battlestar Galactica (1978)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' but had limited use and was dispensed with after this. |
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==Sequel== |
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A script for a sequel, "Earthquake II," 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. "Earthquake II" details the main characters adjusting to new lives in [[San Francisco]] as refugees from the [[Los Angeles]] quake of the original film, as another major, more catastrophic earthquake and tsunami strikes the [[Bay Area]]. |
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==Ride== |
==Ride== |
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Revision as of 10:13, 27 November 2005
Earthquake is the title of a blockbuster 1974 film that was among several successful so-called disaster movies 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.
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 and Walter Matthau (credited as "Walter Matuschanskayasky".)
Trivia
- The 1974 theatrical release used a Sensurround subwoofer system to create the feeling of an earthquake. This was simply a set of large sub-woofers 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.
Awards
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.
Sequel
A script for a sequel, "Earthquake II," 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. "Earthquake II" details the main characters adjusting to new lives in San Francisco as refugees from the Los Angeles quake of the original film, as another major, more catastrophic earthquake and tsunami strikes the Bay Area.
Ride
Earthquake, the ride is at Universal Orlando Resort. At the beginning you are given three small presentations showing how certain special effects are achieved. This includes shots of Earthquake (film) and miniatures used in the film, a mock naval scene with a suprise for one of the volunteers, and for the finale, you are put in a subway car and taken into a subway station in the middle of an earthquake.