Earthquake (1974)

This blockbuster disaster film had a dumb script and lacklustre acting, but great visual and aural effects. 

There are disasters galore as a massive earthquake strikes Los Angeles, all in glorious Sensurround - which gave the audiences a headache almost as bad as the one inflicted by the script.

The first half of the film moves at a steady pace as we discover (in between minor tremors) that Charlton Heston is having marital problems with Ava Gardner, and that his father-in-law Lorne Greene, is also his boss.

George Kennedy is a cop in trouble for driving into Zsa Zsa Gabor's hedge during an exciting car chase, and Genevieve Bujold is a hopeful young actress with a fancy for Mr Heston. Meanwhile, stuntman Richard Roundtree (Yo Shaft!) is performing a couple of spectacular rides along a loop-de-loop track.

When the earthquake comes all hell really does break loose. Lorne Greene and his staff find themselves trapped at the top of a skyscraper with the lifts out of order and the stairways destroyed. Meanwhile, Ms Bujold and her young son are threatened by electrocution as damaged live power cables dance on the ground around their feet while rushing water approaches rapidly.

The disaster culminates in a devastating flood when a dam breaks while Heston and George Kennedy drill through thick walls in an attempt to save a load of people trapped in an underground car park in danger of being completely engulfed by the flood. And you think you're having a bad day!