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U.S. Department of AgricultureEarthquake (1973)

San Fernando Valley earthquake of Feb. 1971, Sylmar, California.


This movie is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives

Producer: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Audio/Visual: Sd, C
Keywords: Earthquakes

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: Arensky - - February 2, 2005
Subject: An Important Visual Document
One would be hard pressed to find a better documentary about a disaster. "Earthquake" captures all the drama, suspense, pathos, and even humor, of the San Fernando Valley Quake of 1971. The documentary moves along quickly and uses actual newsreel footage as well as well-staged re-enactments, blended together in a leanly edited narrative. There are no long, self-serving sound bites here.

(Some current documentary filmakers should take note. If this movie were made today, it would probably run two hours or more with probably little more information being added than what is available in this 30-minute film.)

The only problem with "Earthquake" is that the print is obviously old and the color is somewhat faded. As an important historical document, "Earthquake" cries out for restoration.

Ed

Reviewer: Christine Hennig - - September 5, 2003
Subject: Earthquake
This film documents the 1971 Southern California earthquake wtih a focus on the rescue efforts. Federal disaster relief had just been increased and the Office of Emergency Preparedness formed, and the film shows how they addressed their first major disaster. The film is very straightforward and unemotional in its presentation and it all has that kind of depressing 70s feel to it, from the days when it seemed like every film and tv show was filmed on location in the ghetto. Still, some scenes are moving, some are disturbing, and there's even one funny scene: Office workers at some government agency get into an office in a building that was hit by the quake and find a big mess, including emergency preparedness brochures scattered all over the floor. One guy says, "Where's the disaster plan?" and a woman replies, "It's under all this junk somewhere!" A wonderfully ironic moment in a film that is otherwise slow-moving and turgid. Be aware that there are some brief scenes of bloody injured people, corpses, and body parts that may be upsetting to some peoplethese are quite brief and infrequent, though.
Ratings: Camp/Humor Value: N/A (though the moment in the office gets ***). Weirdness: ***. Historical Interest: *****. Overall Rating: ***.

Reviewer: Bob Beecher - - June 16, 2003
Subject: Excellent account of the 1971 quake
This movie, with its fine editing and dramatic narration is quite involving. Many scenes are taken from footage shot at the time of the incident intercut with explanatory reenactment scenes. Shown are California Governor Ronald Reagan, Vice President Spiro Agnew, Los Angeles Mayor Sam Yorty, LA Police Chief Ed Davis and many others. Many scenes including the Olive View Hospital, Van Norman Dam danger and subsequent evacuation of residents, fires, and building damage. Although the music score is a bit heavy-handed and overly dramatic at times, the movie takes the viewer through the early stages of emergency management and mutual aid coordination. Very well done. Nice use of volunteer agencies such as Civil Air Patrol and Red Cross.

Reviewer: Spuzz - - April 27, 2003
Subject: (does not star Charleton Heston)
This somewhat dated film. detailing the 1971 Earthquake in 1971, is actually quite involving, using obvious reanactments, and actual live cameras catching the action It starts right on the earthquake starts, thae narrator says the ground shakes "like an angry parent shakes his screaming child!" (ouch, that's not a good comparison to hear) we see many civic officials spring into actio, soon they're covering the major problems (vetaran's hospital collapsing, dam about to burst, and must act accordingly. And act they do. People are evacuated, buildings demolished, etc. A warning, this is not a tame show.. dead bodies are abound, so some shocks are done.. But get over that, and the somewhat degeneration (green) of the film, the film is an interesting 70's version of "You are there" films..

Shotlist

San Fernando Valley earthquake of Feb. 1971, Sylmar, California
Self-organizing film about rescue operations, good disaster footage, detailed reporting of actual events


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