EARTHQUAKE

US, 1974, 123 minutes, Colour.
Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, George Kennedy, Lorne Green, Genevieve Bujold, Richard Roundtree, Marjoe Gortner, Victoria Principal, Lloyd Nolan, Walter Matthau.
Directed by Mark Robson.

Earthquake is not a shattering film, although the special effects disaster-seeking audiences are after will not disappoint fans: collapsing buildings, burst dams, lowering people by chair in skyscrapers, are all most convincing - re-
emergence into a solid sunlit street outside the theatre is not reassuring. The 'human element' is stronger than usual in such films - Genevieve Bujold is most attractive, Richard Roundtree's bike stunts absorbing and Marjoe Gortner's sadist
National Guard an unexpected alarm. A not quite omnipotent Charlton Heston saves as many as he can in model heroism. Spectacular melodramatic entertainment.

1. Audience response to and interest in the disaster trend? The quality of this particular film within the genre and its convention?

2. The importance of the special effects and their quality? The 'Sensurround' shaking of the theatre, the destruction of the dam. the collapse of the city? How realistic. how effective and moving?

3. The atmosphere of realism in the re-creation of the city, its ordinary way of life, people and their situations. the destruction and its effect? How credible for the audience?

4. How important were the human stories? How realistic. how trite. the impact of the earthquake on each of them?

5. The dramatic impact of the earthquake, its look, destruction. consequences. effect? The change of life for people and a city?

6. The structure of the film and its emphasis on a day and a couple of days. the background of the seismic experts. the data, the city control, the ordinary people,. the build-up of suspense in expecting the earthquake?

7. The portrayal of the city of Los Angeles itself, its buildings and streets, people, the mayor and his not wanting to lose face, his disbelief at the information given. the desperation of the seismic people?

8. The focus of Stuart Graff as hero? Charlton Heston in this kind of film? As a person. ordinary citizen, his relationship with his wife and the shaky marriage. his satisfaction in working for her father, his beginning the affair with Denise and his attitude towards her and her child? His being pictured in ordinary circumstances? Being confronted by the earthquake? His work with Slade to save people? The clash with Remy? His seeking out Denise? The final choice, his heroism, dying with Remy?

9. How convincing a character was Remy? The neurotic wife,, relationship with her father, hold over her husband. her confronting her husband. her death with him?

10. Her father and the ordinary older generation,, seen at work, his heroism when the building was collapsing. saving others, his heart attack?

11. How attractive was Denise? Her being presented at home. with her son. her choices, the disaster in the stormwater channel and her being rescued? Her surviving the 'quake?

12. The character of Quade, his stunt work,, his sister.. the destruction and his trying to help?

13. Rosa and the incident at the shop, her being at the pictures her being lost' her fear, the threat of Jody? Being rescued by the police? An indication of the real threats and dangers to people?

14. Slade and his role in the police, the chase of the criminals his clash with authority impact of the deaths. the sequence in the bar. his helping rescuing Rosa. confronting of Jody?

15. The character of Jody and his joining the Guard, his fanaticism ambiguity of sexuality and brutality his madness and confronting of Rosa, his death?

16. The build-up to the dam and the people at the dam, its bursting and the effect? Its destruction of the freeway and the traffic?

17. Comment on the earthquake itself, the effects, the lift sequence, the gas, people falling and being crushed, the nobility of the hospitals and Doctor Vance?

18. The comment on people's behaviour in such crises, ugly, noble?

19. This kind of film as Hollywood entertainment? Spectacle, drama, suspenseur sensation? The stars (even Walter Matthau in a comic role?) as a good example of its kind?