This is one of the disaster movies from the 70s that no one ever brings up when talking about these films. You can sorta figure out why since it's similar to the better-known AIRPORT series which started off in 1970. It even stars Charlton Heston who was also in AIRPORT '75. In addition to Heston's star power you get Laurie Partridge(Susan Dey), Sheriff Lobo(Claude Akins) and Roosevelt Grier among others. Well done though probably pretty forgettable.
Charlton Heston has got to be the king of end-of-world cinematic. While this film isn't necessarily the apocalypse, during certain scenes of earthquakin' nastiness it at least seems comparable. It's hard for me to pick a favorite from the vast amount of 70s disaster flicks because they are all pretty similar in terms of quality(even the made-for-T.V. ones). This one follows the formula pretty closely with a bunch of guest stars, Ava Gardner(as the bitchy wife of ol' Chuck H.), George Kennedy(as a badass cop), Richard"SHAFT" Roundtree(as a black version of Evel Knievel!) and my personal favorite, Walter Matthau( as a perpetually drunken barfly!). Lots of destruction porn ensues after about 40 minutes with lots of debris taking folks out. Unfortunately the movie then drags on for an over 2 hour runtime which was a bit much. You do get a somewhat nihilistic 70s ending though if you tough it out.
When this played theatrically it was shown in SENSURROUND which was a new sound system that shook the audience up to recreate the quake experience. It made a few people sick so it wan't used on too many movies after this.
Along with SOYLENT GREEN and PLANET OF THE APES Charlton Heston made a great sorta-trilogy and great triple-feature of 70s end-of-the-world flicks. This one, which is a remake of the Vincent Price flick THE LAST MAN ON EARTH, the great Mr. Heston takes on a gang of mutated psychopaths with guns blazing. There's a kind-of blaxploitation feel to some of this one due to an African-American lady(Rosalind Cash) that shows up and one of the not-so nice freaky killers(Lincoln Kilpatrick) who is a black man whose skin has turned white due to the apocalyptic plague that's running rampant. There was also a 2007 remake of this, or I guess more accurately the novel that all these are based on, titled, same as the book, I AM LEGEND with Will Smith that I know I've seen but don't remember liking it much. The original Price film is a good one and seemingly a big influence on NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, so it is important but this is the one I've gone back to rewatch the most and that's probably because I enjoy that 70s style the most. Heston gets to do his Jesus impression, there's a cool denim jacket with a big middle finger on it and manages to have a happy and sad ending all at the same time.
