Earthquake (1974). Photofest.
(Mark Robson, US 1974, 135 min., DCP)
Charlton Heston leads a cast that includes Ava Gardner, George Kennedy, Lorne Greene, Genevieve Bujold, and Richard Roundtree in this look at the potential effects of a major earthquake on Los Angeles. Heston is Stewart Graff, a construction engineer in an unhappy marriage to his boss’s daughter. When a quake measuring 9.9 on the Richter scale hits, Stewart jumps into action rescuing people from one of his buildings. Meanwhile, the quake also affects a disgraced cop (Kennedy) and a daredevil stuntman (Roundtree) who do their best to help others and survive this disaster themselves. Earthquake was the first film to use the short-lived Sensurround system, which added extra bass to the soundtrack to enhance the visceral aspects of the film. Keep an eye out for comedic actor Walter Matthau as a drunk in a bar that seems to feel the effects of the quake less than everyone else.