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Friday, February 10, 2017

The Best of 1970s Disaster Movies! 

The 1970s were in a decline economically, fuel shortages, inflation, with a background anxiety about the Cold War and serial killers - the new hobby of a different culture.  It is no surprise the movies reflected this ongoing anxiety.  In fact, many of us developed phobias from movies like "Airport" and "Jaws."  These movies touted lots of well-known actors and actresses, sometimes large line-ups to impress.  Add to that the new technology of "sensurround" for movies like "Earthquake" and theaters had the public hooked.  Let's have a look at some of the memorable ones and the situations that created new anxieties about coping with catastrophe and the phobias that developed for the general public - *Descriptions from IMDB-Enjoy the trailers - those narrators were awesome - very memorable trailers back then!  Poseidon Adventure (1972) A group of passengers struggle to survive and escape when their ocean liner completely capsizes at sea.  Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Shelley Winters, Red Buttons, Roddy McDowall, Jack Albertson, Stella Stevens, Carol Lynley, Pamela Sue Martin.  -FEAR OF CRUISE SHIPSRollercoaster (1977) A blackmailer threatens to sabotage roller-coasters at various American amusement parks if he isn't paid a huge ransom.  Richard Widmark, George Segal, Timothy Bottoms, Henry Fonda.  FEAR OF ROLLERCOASTERSAirport (1970) A bomber on board an airplane, an airport almost closed by snow, and various personal problems of the people involved.  Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, Jacqueline Bisset, George Kennedy, Helen Hayes, Maureen Stapleton.  FEAR OF FLYINGThe Towering Inferno (1974) At the opening party of a colossal, but poorly constructed, office building, a massive fire breaks out that threatens to destroy the tower and everyone in it.  Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, William Holden, Faye Dunaway, Fred Astaire, Richard Chamberlain, OJ Simpson, Robert Vaughn.  FEAR OF HIGH RISES/FIRES.Earthquake (1974) Various interconnected people struggle to survive when an earthquake of unimaginable magnitude hits Los Angeles.  Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, George Kennedy, Lorne Greene, Victorian Principal, Walter Matthau.  FEAR OF EARTHQUAKES/CALIFORNIA

Flood! ( 1976) After several weeks of heavy rainfall, the dam above Brownsville is short from running over.  However the mayor refuses to open it's gates, because he fears for the fishes in the lake... and paves the way for disaster.  Barbara Hershey, Robert Culp, Roddy McDowall, Carol Lynley.  FEAR OF FLOODS/DAMS.Avalanche (1978) The vacationers at a winter wonderland struggle to survive after an avalanche of snow crashes into their ski resort.  Their holiday then turns into a game of survival.  Rock Hudson, Mia Farrow.  FEAR OF SKI RSEORTS/AVALANCHES.The Swarm (1978) A huge swarm of deadly African bees spreads terror over American cities by killing thousands of people.  Michael Caine, Katherine Ross, Richard Widmark, Richard Chamberlain, Olivia de Havilland, Lee Grant, Patty Duke, Jose Ferrer, Slim Pickens.  FEAR OF BEES.  Day of the Animals (1977) A battle for survival as hikers encounter a chemically imbalanced forest.  Christopher George, Leslie Nielsen, Lynda Day George.  FEAR OF OZONE DEPLETION/CAMPING.Food of the Gods (1976) A group of friends travel to a remote Canadian island to hunt, only to be attacked by giant killer animals which have populated the place.  Marjoe Gortner, Pamela Franklin, Ida Lupino.  FEAR OF CONTAMINANTS IN THE WATER/ISLAND ISOLATION.Fire! ( 1977) A convict starts a fire in a forest to cover his escape, but the fire goes out of control and threatens to destroy a small mountain community.  Ernest Borgnine, Vera Miles, Patty Duke, Donna Mills.  FEAR OF FIRECave-in (1983) A group of strangers become entrapped in a cave after it collapses.  A fugitive among them claims a hostage as leverage for means of escape.  Susan Sullivan, Leslie Nielsen.  FEAR OF CAVES

The master of disaster was Irwin Allen, a writer, producer and director.  He was known for writing and producing some classics like "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" and "Five Weeks in a Balloon." 

What made Irwin Allen so notable was his over-the-top contributions to the 1970s disaster films, earning him the loving title of "Master of Disaster. "Here's a tiny portion of his contribution to disaster film (not taking into account loads of tv - like "Lost in Space," fantasy films and documentaries) -"The Poseidon Adventure""The Towering Inferno""Flood!""The Swarm" "Fire!""Cave-In" It isn't surprising that the eco-conscious 1970s gave us disaster films as if warning us we had gone too developed/too synthetic too quickly.  We had made going to the moon seen mundane and produced fake foods like Tang and Pringles for the American diet.  We struggled with pollution and clean air and water acts and considered that perhaps nature would eventually fight back.  And in 1970s films, it did - big time!**Tomorrow's post "The World We Do Not See"**

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