EARTHQUAKE, a film that back in it’s day, 1974 totally blew my impressionable teenaged mind, especially when exhibited on first release in 70mm six track stereo on the huge curved screen at the now sadly deceased Cinerama theatre in Auckland – and in the new multi-sensation shattering Sensurround. It really was “an event”, just as the posters proclaimed.
EARTHQUAKE was the film for me (after KING KONG and maybe JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS) back around the mid seventies, and one of the first that drew me into the netherworld that is (or at least used to be) matte paintings. I was transfixed by this film – the reliable and square jawed Charlton Heston (whom I was lucky enough to meet in person some years later), cool mo-fo Richard Roundtree – ‘Shaft’ himself, ample bosomed Victoria Principal before she drove us all crazy doing these damned informercials and everybody’s favourite Irish cop, George Kennedy…the dream cast. Hell, even Walter Matthau fronted up unbilled as a drunk survivor. I was hooked on Matthau, as the fantastic (original) TAKING OF PELHAM 123 was out around the same time – one of my all time favourites. I was not disappointed – EARTHQUAKE was BIG. I saw it on opening day and the queue went around the block…
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A Tribute to Golden Era Special FX
Please Note: Now, I am going further back into the archives of Matte Shot – A Tribute to Golden Era Special FX to feature even more articles from this great site.
This blog is intended primarily as a tribute to the inventiveness and ingenuity of the craft of the matte painter during Hollywoods’ Golden Era. Some of the shots will amaze in their grandeur and epic quality while others will surprise in their ‘invisibility’ to even the sophisticated viewer. I hope this collection will serve as an appreciation of the artform and both casual visitors and those with a specialist interest may benefit, enjoy and be amazed at skills largely unknown today.