
Movie spotlight
When the Earth Trembles
A production conflict breaks out between the head of the hydroelectric power station's construction, Demidov, and the chief engineer, Prokofiev. Prokofiev prohibits construction work due to the danger of a rock collapse, but Demidov cancels the engineer’s ban.
Insights
Plot Summary
A massive earthquake strikes Los Angeles, causing widespread destruction and chaos. As the city grapples with the aftermath, a group of survivors, including a geologist and a socialite, must band together to navigate the perilous landscape and find a way to escape the collapsing metropolis. They face further dangers from aftershocks, fires, and the breakdown of social order.
Critical Reception
When the Earth Trembles was a made-for-television film that received a moderate reception, typical for disaster movies of its era. It capitalized on the public's fascination with natural disasters and offered a thrilling, albeit somewhat formulaic, viewing experience. While not critically acclaimed, it provided ample suspense and dramatic scenarios that appealed to a broad audience.
What Reviewers Say
The film delivers suspenseful disaster sequences that are its main draw.
Features a somewhat predictable plot typical of the disaster genre.
The ensemble cast provides adequate performances given the material.
Google audience: Audience reception for this made-for-TV film is not readily available in detailed summaries, but it is generally seen as a serviceable disaster movie from the 1970s.
Fun Fact
The film was part of a wave of disaster movies that gained popularity in the 1970s, following the success of theatrical releases like 'The Poseidon Adventure' and 'The Towering Inferno'.
AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources