History Film / Earthquake

* ExtremelyShortTimespan

* ArtisticLicenseGeology: You don't get 9.9 on the Richter Scale, because rock lacks the capability to build up that much pressure before it gives to the quake. The greatest quake recorded in history was 9.5 in Chile in 1960. The Strike-Slip plates around LA can only hold about an 8.0 (which is 'only' 1000 atom bombs). The Richter Scale is being directly associated with damage.

* ArtisticLicenceGeology: You don't get 9.9 on the Richter Scale, because rock lacks the capability to build up that much pressure before it gives to the quake. The greatest quake recorded in history was 9.5 in Chile in 1960. The Strike-Slip plates around LA can only hold about an 8.0 (which is 'only' 1000 atom bombs). The Richter Scale is being directly associated with damage.

* ArtisticLicence - Geology: You don't get 9.9 on the Richter Scale, because rock lacks the capability to build up that much pressure before it gives to the quake. The greatest quake recorded in history was 9.2 in Chile. The Strike-Slip plates around LA can only hold about an 8.0 (which is 'only' 1000 atom bombs). The Richter Scale is being directly associated with damage.

* BigBad: Jody Joad is the closest to one, considering he's one of the major characters trying to survive an earthquake.

* BullyingADragon: Jody's housemates bullies him to a point he took his revenge by gunning him down after catching them looting.

* VillainousBreakdown: Jody's reaction to his object of lust Rosa for rejecting him out of fear of his AxCrazy side can count, which prompts him to commit an AttemptedRape, in turn leading George Kennedy to pull BigDamnHeroes moment in time and saving Rosa from the madman.

Quintessential DisasterMovie from the outbreak of that genre in the [[TheSeventies 70s]], alongside ''Film/{{Airport}}'', ''Film/ThePoseidonAdventure'' and ''Film/TheToweringInferno''. Directed by Mark Robson, and starring Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, George Kennedy, Lorne Greene, Geneviève Bujold, Richard Roundtree, Marjoe Gortner, Barry Sullivan, Lloyd Nolan, Victoria Principal, Monica Lewis and Walter Matthau.

* ArtisticLicence-Geology: You don't get 9.9 on the Richter Scale, because rock lacks the capability to build up that much pressure before it gives to the quake. The greatest quake recorded in history was 9.2 in Chile. The Strike-Slip plates around LA can only hold about an 8.0 (which is 'only' 1000 atom bombs). The Richter Scale is being directly associated with damage.

* ArtisticLicence:Geology: You don't get 9.9 on the Richter Scale, because rock lacks the capability to build up that much pressure before it gives to the quake. The greatest quake recorded in history was 9.2 in Chile. The Strike-Slip plates around LA can only hold about an 8.0 (which is 'only' 1000 atom bombs). The Richter Scale is being directly associated with damage.

* ArtisticLicenceGeology: You don't get 9.9 on the Richter Scale, because rock lacks the capability to build up that much pressure before it gives to the quake. The greatest quake recorded in history was 9.2 in Chile. The Strike-Slip plates around LA can only hold about an 8.0 (which is 'only' 1000 atom bombs). The Richter Scale is being directly associated with damage.

* UsefulNotes/LosAngeles

* HeroicSacrifice: Remy falls off a ladder trying to escape a flood in the sewer, and Stewart, instead of climbing the ladder to safety (and the waiting arms of his girlfriend Denise, jumps off in a futile effort to save Remy. Both of them are swept away by the rushing torrent.

The film was originally written by Mario Puzo, of ''Film/TheGodfather'' fame. He dropped out from production due to contractual obligations to work on ''The Godfather: Part II''. The script collected dust for a time until Universal Studios thought they could make a buck off of it due to the success of ''{{Airport}}'' and ''ThePoseidonAdventure''. In order to draw audiences in, screenings of the film used a technique called "Sensurround", in which loud speakers simulated an earthquake within the cinema. Despite lukewarm reviews at best, Universal Studios's predictions were correct and the film was a rollicking financial success, grossing $79 million whereas its budget had been a mere $7 million.

* TheRedStapler: People all over the country wanted to buy the SUV that Stewart drives, with a custom transmission having "eight forward speeds and three reverse." Only they couldn't; the transmission was made by the studio for the truck.

* DuelingMovies: Dueled with ''The Towering Inferno''.
** Tom Kennedy walked in late when the game show Split Second started (which is a little hard to do since game shows are not live, but on tape.) He explains his lateness by saying he went to see a DoubleFeature, ''Earthquake'' and ''Film/TheToweringInferno'' but all the marquee said was [[{{Pun}} "Shake and Bake."]]

* AllStarCast

** Tom Kennedy walked in late when the game show Split Second started (which is a little hard to do since game shows are not live, but on tape.) He explains his lateness by saying he went to see a DoubleFeature, ''Earthquake'' and ''Film/TheToweringInferno'' but all the marquee said was [[IncrediblyLamePun "Shake and Bake."]]

Quintessential DisasterMovie from the outbreak of that genre in the [[TheSeventies 70s]], alongside ''{{Airport}}'', ''ThePoseidonAdventure'' and ''TheToweringInferno''. Directed by Mark Robson, and starring Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, George Kennedy, Lorne Greene, Geneviève Bujold, Richard Roundtree, Marjoe Gortner, Barry Sullivan, Lloyd Nolan, Victoria Principal, Monica Lewis and Walter Matthau.

** Tom Kennedy walked in late when the game show Split Second started (which is a little hard to do since game shows are not live, but on tape.) He explains his lateness by saying he went to see a DoubleFeature, ''{{Earthquake}}'' and ''TheToweringInferno'' but all the marquee said was [[IncrediblyLamePun "Shake and Bake."]]