Earthquake (VHS, 1996)

The premise is simple: What if, on a sunny early summer mid-morning,a massive earthquake struck downtown Los Angeles?

Made in 1974, this third entry in the big budget disaster epics follows the same formula as it's predecessors,Airport(1970) and The Poseidon Adventure (1972).Like the others, Earthquake is loaded with big name stars. Charlton Heston,George Kennedy,Ava Gardner,Lorne Greene,Genvieve Bujold,Barry Sullivan, Lloyd Nolan,Richard Roundtree,Marjoe Gortner,Victoria Principal are among the players.Also similar, Earthquake gives us a main plot, and a half dozen sub plots that weave in and out of the chaos.

Stewart Graff (Heston),successful architect in father-in law Sam's firm,is beset by marital troubles that will effect his career regardless of the outcome.He loathes his wife Remy(Gardner),a shrewish, harriden downing Seconal washed down with martinis at breakfast.She knows her husband no longer wants her, and alternates pathetic attempts to reawaken his feelings with bitter, viscious verbal attacks.She suspects him of having an affair.She's right.

The "other woman" is Denise Marshall(Genvieve Bujold in her lithsome heyday), single mother of a 8 year old son,in every way the polar opposite of Remy. Graff wants her, but he knows a divorce will be expensive,and very,very messy.

Lorne Greene as Sam Royce can best be described as Ben Cartwright in a suit. Authoritative and tough as nails,yet beloved by all who work for him.He loves his daughter,yet he values Graff and doesn't want to lose him over the breakup.

On the other side of town,a young Victoria Principal,almost unrecognizable as Rosa Amici, buys some groceries at the corner market.Short on change, the store manager(Gortner),eyeing her hungrily,tells her to bring it in "next time".She meets up with her brother Sal and his best friend Miles Quade(Roundtree), aspiring Evel Knieval-eske motorcycle rider preparing for his big event.

George Kennedy,veteran LA cop,nurses his anger in the local pub after being suspended for punching a brother officer in the face.Disgusted with his job, he completely ignores a pool game brawl erupting fifteen feet behind him.In the corner, a middle aged drunk in a garish hat and the LOUDEST shirt ever on film keeps toasting absent luminaries("Spiro T. Agnew!").You watch with a growing omniscient dread. You know what's coming.

And come it does.First,a rumble and a shake.Most people play it off.It IS, after all, California.Next,a bigger,longer one.People are beginning to feel a bit worried.Then all hell breaks loose,literally,and their separate lives come commonly crashing down.

Earthquake won an Oscar that year for Sound,it being one of the first films to use the new Dolby Surround Sound.If there was ever a film made for it... The quake goes on forever.Buildings collapse,cars and people are crushed by falling debris.Bridges sway madly,launching big rigs into a watery grave.It's graphic, and intense.All the worst case scenarios played out on the screen in glorious Technicolor.Then, it's over. Or is it? Far above the city, a dam worker drowns in an elevator shaft...

Far more than the destruction,it's the interaction of the players,weaving a tapestry of human nature that makes Earthquake memorable.Heartache and heroism intertwine,creating unlikely heroes. But, as Sgt.Lew rightly observes: "Earthquakes bring out the worst in some people..." Get your popcorn, set the system to Dolby and enjoy the movie that inspired the ride!