"Earthquake": The Movie Quiz | Movies

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which motion picture studio released "Earthquake"?

Answer: Universal

During the 1970s, Universal scored big with its stable of disaster films, including all four parts of the "Airport" series and "Rollercoaster". "Earthquake" was released in the US in 1974, the same year 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros released their joint disaster epic, "The Towering Inferno".

2. Which well-known author wrote the first draft of the screenplay for "Earthquake"?

Answer: Mario Puzo

Best known for writing "The Godfather", Mario Puzo wrote the first draft of the "Earthquake" script in 1971. The script involved action in various points in and around Los Angeles, and special effects like a massive traffic pileup and huge tidal waves. Such expansiveness and effects would have made shooting the movie impossible.

By the time Universal began pushing to produce the movie, Puzo, busy with production of "The Godfather II", wasn't able to edit his script. George Fox was brought in to edit and ultimately rewrite the script. (Thanks to EarthquakeMovie.com, http://members.aol.com/earthquakemovie/index.html, for additional information.)

3. Architect Stewart Graff (played by Charlton Heston) finds himself caught in an unusual love triangle. One the one hand, he has his long-suffering wife, Remy (Ava Gardner), who can't stand him. On the other, he has his mistress, Denise Marshall, played by which actress?

Answer: Genevieve Bujold

Stewart falls for Denise before the main action in the movie begins. It is explained that Stewart feels guilty for the death of Denise's husband, and has been trying to comfort her. That, and the stressful situation with Remy, spurs Stewart's unfaithfulness.

4. Motorcycle stuntman Miles Quade (Richard Roundtree) and his manager, Sal Amici (Gabriel Dell), prepare to impress a variety-show promoter from what city?

Answer: Las Vegas

Miles and Sal spend a lot of money to get their act together, but instead of going on the road of fortune, they end up just trying to survive after the earthquake.

5. Lorne Greene, who played Stewart Graff's father-in-law, Sam Royce, was actually seven years older than Ava Gardner, who played his daughter.

Answer: True

If Ava Gardner looked a bit too old to play Lorne Greene's daughter, then it's not just your imagination. Critics of "Earthquake" generally agree that this casting was a bit odd, though everyone seems to make the best of it. Graff, by the way, works for Royce's engineering firm.

6. Which Los Angeles landmark can be seen shaking and shedding pieces of itself during the main earthquake scene midway through the picture?

Answer: Capitol Records Building

Completed in 1956, the 13-story Capitol Records Building was the world's first cylindrical skyscraper. The building's facings make it appear as though it is a giant stack of records. In "Earthquake", the building's facade begins to crumble as Bill Cameron, a high-powered client of Royce Engineering (played by Lloyd Gough) watches in horror. (Thanks to skyscrapers.com for additional information on the Capitol Records Building.)

7. After the main earthquake, people begin flocking to a mixed-use complex for medical attention and food. What was the name of that complex?

Answer: Wilson Plaza

The 11-story Wilshire Colonnade, a real office complex, was used as the exterior of the fictional Wilson Plaza, while the lobby of Macy's Plaza was used for some of the interior scenes. (Thanks to EarthquakeMovie.com for additional information.)

8. To be able to show "Earthquake" over two nights, NBC added footage involving a couple, played by Sam Chew and Debralee Scott, flying to Los Angeles on their honeymoon. What profession was Chew's character involved in?

Answer: Engineering

After surviving a harrowing landing attempt at LAX during the quake, Chew's character vows to go back to Los Angeles to lend a hand to the rescue effort.

9. Charlton Heston asked the producers of "Earthquake" to allow the character of Stewart Graff to live, instead of being killed at the end.

Answer: False

Typically, the good guys survive in a disaster movie. After all, people pay good money to see the stars triumph in the end. But Heston specifically requested that Stewart get washed away during the climatic dam burst and flood. To see him on that ladder, having to decide between saving Remy or being with Denise, is both gut-wrenching and heart-warming.

10. A very famous actor did a very famous cameo in "Earthquake", as a drunk. Which actor?

Answer: Walter Matthau

Walter Matthau wanted to do the part of the drunk after executive producer Jennings Lang showed it to him, and he did it for free. The only condition he had was that he be billed using a fictious last name he had cooked up years before--Matuschanskayasky. His real last name was Matthow. (Thanks to snopes.com for additional information.)

Source: Author cag1970

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor spanishliz before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

"Earthquake": The Movie Trivia Quiz

Another classic from the disaster-movie craze of the 1970s, "Earthquake" is the subject of this quiz.

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>