Movie Review: Earthquake (1974) directed by Mark Robson
There are many attractive features to living in Los Angeles. Ground stability isn’t one of them. The San Andreas Fault runs nearby, and it’s overdue for a major seismic shift in the area. This movie asks, “What if the Big One hit now?”
To give us some investment in the lives affected, we’re introduced to multiple characters. Stuart Graff (Charlton Heston) is a construction engineer who used to be a professional football player (he was once on the same team with Frank Gifford.) He married his college sweetheart Remy (Ava Gardner) and got a job with her father Sam Royce’s (Lorne Greene) firm, where he’s done very well. Unfortunately, their marriage is falling apart due to Remy’s jealousy over Stuart spending time with pretty widow Denise Marshall (Genevieve Bujold) and her young son. Stuart’s feeling guilt over having sent Denise’s husband on the job that claimed his life, but there also is an attraction there.
Lew Slade (George Kennedy) is a Los Angeles City police officer who has just been suspended for punching out a Los Angeles County cop who was more concerned with chewing Lew out for trespassing into his jurisdiction than catching a hit and run driver. Lew doesn’t go far, just heading to the nearest bar (in uniform!) to slam down some bourbon. A year back, Lew arrested stunt motorcyclist Miles Quade (Richard Roundtree) and his assistant Sal Amici (Gabriel Dell) when they were caught up in a riot, and now they’re warm acquaintances. Miles is having an audition for a Las Vegas gig, and wants Sal’s sister Rosa (Victoria Principal) to be the associated eye candy. Rosa doesn’t know that the shift manager at her local grocery store, Jody Joad (Marjoe Gortner), who has a difficult personal life despite being in the National Guard, is infatuated with her.
Meanwhile, Max (Scott Hylands) is a caretaker at the Mulholland Dam, bored with the routine inspections that are part of his job, and Walter Russell is an intern at the California Seismological Institute that’s been running the numbers on the director’s pet project that might allow them to predict earthquakes. A minor tremor causes a couple of deaths, but they’re key ones and Walter realizes that if his figures are correct, the Big One will be hitting within 72 hours.
Halfway through the movie, the Big One does indeed hit, partially destroying Los Angeles, and now the struggle to survive begins. Some of the characters rise to the occasion…others do not.
This film was part of a cluster of big budget disaster movies in the early 1970s. It’s star-studded, has some spectacular miniature effects (with one or two less good effects) and at two hours is just about the right length to feel substantial without dragging. The early deaths help keep up the interest of action fans while all the subplots are set up, and while the authorities are understandably skeptical of the earthquake prediction, they aren’t actively stupid about it like some other disaster movies, and take some steps to mitigate the possible danger.
John Williams’ score isn’t one of his memorable ones, but works just fine.
It’s understandable why Stuart is unhappy in his marriage. Remy is depicted as a selfish person who has become insecure about her appearance as she’s aging, and tries to pressure her father into making sure that Stuart gets positive reinforcement at work to keep him in the relationship. Their marriage is childless, and Stuart is bonding with Denise’s son. In the first version of the ending, Remy would die, leaving Stuart free to get with Denise. Charlton Heston didn’t like that version, and had script approval, so the ending doesn’t reward infidelity.
Particularly striking is Jody’s portrayal as a bullied loser who finally gets a taste of power…and turns into a monster. He doesn’t take his housemates’ “jokes” about his presumed sexual orientation at all well. Part of his infatuation with Rosa is that she was one of the few customers who didn’t treat him like shit, and he’s turned that into a sign that she’s attracted to him. From her side, he’s just this guy she sees at the grocery store, and never had any reason to be mean to him. She’s shocked and horrified when he murders some looters (his bullies) and then keeps her captive “for her protection.”
I watched the “widescreen” edition. There’s also a “TV cut” that’s actually longer as new footage was shot to push it as a two-night “event.”
Content note: Multiple deaths, some gory, as well as gruesome wounds on survivors. Death of children. (The dog lives.) Stuart and Denise engage in extramarital heavy petting off-camera. Rosa wears a tight t-shirt and her breasts are the focus of attention in one scene. Homophobia and bullying. Attempted rape.
Political: Lew is a mild example of the “cowboy cop” who breaks regulations, and is depicted as being in the right (at least in that situation), but doesn’t kill anyone. It’s Jody who abuses his (temporary) National Guard power and murders criminals. The mayor of Los Angeles worries about his political career if the earthquake warning turns out to be a dud, but decides that potentially saving lives is worth the risk.
Overall: This is a classic disaster movie, and well worth seeing for the effects and some of the acting. Some parts have become dated or are a little too melodramatic, and you’ll just have to endure those. Best on a large screen, I think.
