When the Earth Trembles
When the Earth Trembles

Movie spotlight

When the Earth Trembles

1976
Movie
80 min
Russian

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

IMDb5.5/10
Director: Bernard L. KowalskiGenres: Disaster, Thriller, Action, Drama

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'.

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