1906 earthquake sequence from San Francisco, 1936
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2017
- 1906 earthquake sequence from the film San Francisco (1936) with Clark Gable, Jeanette MacDonald and Spencer Tracy. Directed by W. S. Van Dyke, D. W. Griffith. Edited by Tom Held. MGM production.
I noticed that UA-cam sadly lacks the groundbreaking (pun intended) earthquake sequence from this great film in good quality. To this day, the earthquake montage is considered one of the standards that all disaster films are compared with. In fact, Assistant Director Newman won a special Academy Awards for his work.
The earthquake montage sequence was created by 2nd unit director and montage expert John Hoffman (according to other sources, Slavko Vorkapich). The Barbary Coast barroom set was built on a special platform that rocked and shook to simulate the historical temblor. Yet another source tells us that James Basevi, at that time the head of M-G-M's special effects department, was responsible for the creation and direction of the "Earthquake" montage.
It’s so amazing how a movie nearly 90 years old still holds up so well in terms of special effects, cinematography, and acting. This gave me goosebumps.
Very good because we’ve long ago employed the technology to restore the oldest of movies like this one here .
The video is so scary I turned into a gossebump and was nearly scared to death
My grandmother was 8 years old when she survived the quake with her family. Years later, when this was released in theaters my grandmother took my mother who was supposed to be home sick from school, 2 the movie. During the sequence two ladies sitting behind them were saying to each other that "it couldn't have been like that". My mom said my grandmother turned to them and said, " it was like that- I was there, it was just like that". She also said that was the first time she ever saw her mother cry. I believe that the special effects Oscar was created because of this scene.
That most have such am emotional moment for her. Thank you for sharing. I always wondered if it was really like this.
Ruth Presti literally no one cares
Oh my gosh, that must've been emotional! Heck, this was great CGI for 1936!
@@m.o.bspazzin6699 Your typical, shady, heartless, leftist response to Ruth Presti's recollection says more about you than you'll ever know. Say, don't you have an Antifa protest or Black LIES Matter meeting to attend? For the record, I identify as Black, so don't even play your anti-Latino race card based upon my last name in your reply, you idiot.
Show some respect you careless bastard
This still has the power to shock today. The chaos, the panic, the effect upon people. So much more affecting than stone-cold CGI. A marvellous piece of cinema.
What’s scary is, the earthquake was EXACTLY like this
i wish it would happen again====and destroy the pedofile capitol of the USA=======
@@edwardmartis4591 Dear Edgy Edgy Edgelord: The "pedofile" capitol of the USA was moved to Mar-a-Lago on January 6th, 2021.
@@ScreamingScallop , virtually NO foundation for that statement, NONE.
Yah I'd think so dumbass. What's up with these "it still holds up today" comments?
Honestly, this sequence is better than the one in the 1974 film, Earthquake. Very well done!
The special effects for the earthquake is amazing. And this was made in 1936!? Astounding.
Emmanuel Williams i agree. Better than nowadays
The editing is great!
The visual effects were accomplished by Russell Cully, James Basevi and Arnold Gillespie. They were credited as "associates" under Cedric Gibbons who was credited as production designer. This movie would have cinched an Oscar for Best Visual Effects had the category been around at the time.
Out standing
With Color
Holy shit! This is insane for 1936. Better than anything I've seen. So detailed and so many different things the people are doing. I'm truly impressed.
Totally agree. The attitude of Clark Gable towards the singer was the most rude and unfair that has been in a long time.
Corey M I know !
They had people who are actually there working on the film
I know right
good editing... movies haven't changed all that much in that area
2:52 that shot alone is incredibly made for 1936
i mean shit, that's better than some effects today!
It seems so realistic the building falling apart not over exaggerated for thrills
It's what, 80 yrs old? And it _still_ plays! MGM had the means and they didn't spare expense on realism. Outstanding FX!!
Thank you for posting this. I can confirm it was the work of John I. Hoffman. They had shot it, but weren't happy with the outcome, so took it to my dad who rewrote and shot some of the scenes, and edited the earthquake scene. - Irene Hoffman (daughter)
For its time,one of the best earthquake scenes in a movie,they did a good job on the effects.
1234lavallee1
most impressive effects from 81 years ago
1234lavallee1 Well said.
You people are a bunch of suckers
@@joeconrad9147 You know nothing.
@@SymphonyBrahms I know a boob when I see one
Still one of the best action scenes ever produced: huge sets (built on hydraulics) and props plus rapid editing makes this very realistic.
As somebody who experienced some real ones, I'm glad this movie got the ground movement right. I'm so tired of "earthquake" movies that jiggle the camera up and down to simulate "shaking". This came from the same era as the Wizard of Oz. Great special effects!
San Andreas does that, but that’s a very inaccurate movie, while this movie is one of the most accurate movies out there
Right? Like, as silly as the plot was, that was something I loved about the movie 2012. During the earthquake scene, the camera was smooth, and everything else was moving. It's a totally different effect when you have a stable shot of cars and trees rocking back and forth.
Despite what the other commenter here said, I thought San Andreas did a good job of it too.
The tornado in Oz was also well done in the pre-CGI era.
This must have been a very big budget film, and the fast cuts and effects are way ahead of it's time. The street splitting apart during the aftershock, and the facade tumbling off of the apartments with the actress running out to the front afterward are particularly impressive.
Earthquake (1974) did not have effects of this caliber despite that movie coming out almost 40 years later.
plateshutoverlock Agreed. The only good thing about Earthquake 1974 is the ending with the dam collaspe. And John Williams score.
They make a great double feature on the big screen though!
Odd, they cut out the moment where the woman running out to the front of the collapsed apartment wall (4:40)actually falls out of the building holding her child.
I agree with you about the special FX, but the fast cuts are simply good camera/editing. This movie probably influenced other directors, editors, etc. Another great film they may or may not have been the first to use transitions as part of the storytelling is Highlander, as in this film the camera would lower towards the ground and would transition to another point in time, also they would zoom into someone's eye and transition by pulling out of that person's eye by it would be a different point in time. After Highlander, we began to see more examples of these techniques. So, regardless if folks like or dislike the film, it has some great camera/editing transitions. Another great old film in Black & White is Things to Come, some of the technology it predicts are wrongly attributed to Star Trek and other Science Fiction Films and TV shows that followed.
The Towering Inferno also the same year
Totally impressive for 1936.
you mean 1906?
The film is from 1936. The earthquake it's based on happened in 1906.
Blew my mind when the ground opened up and swallowed people, along with details such as broken pipes, gushing out water. Also how the facade crumbles at 4:38 and a woman comes walking to the edge, EVEN though you can tell how she was overlaid with the scene, because she is overlapping with the wall she appears behind. STILL mighty impressive work. Funny enough, it all looks more real than the CGI and compositing junk these days.
Totally impressive for 2018!
No wonder it looks more real. Practical effects are real, so they look more realistic.
For 1936, this is impressive! You can tell they put a lot into it. You can accomplish anything with practical affects in my opinion.
For some reason the piano going through the window sends shivers up and down my spine and makes me cry.
I am so impressed by this movie. Look at the last scene where the road split apart, there is a water pipe underneath it. Wow just a marvellous piece of movie produced 82 years ago!
This scene terrified my grandmother more than the rest. She was 8 years old at the time of the quake, and she and her mother and two younger siblings were standing in the road after they were forced to evacuate the house. They were talking to a policeman, and at that moment the ground opened up underneath my grandmother's feet , and only the quick response of the policeman grabbing her skirt saved her from falling in.
@@sodoffbaldrick3038 nice job by the cop but scary
2:26 Blackie Norton: Mary!
Mary Blake: Ahh! Blackie!
I hate to even ask this question, but what happened to the people that fell into the crevice? Were they...squashed flat like bugs down in there when the ground shifted again? I can't help but wonder if that became their permanent grave/tomb.
Im from L.A. and have been in earthquakes. This is as realistic as it gets. Better in fact than more modern movies
1936: San Francisco
1974: Earthquake
This was amazing, the earthquake movie back in 1974 with Charlton Heston was absolutely brutally fantastic film for its time. The new earthquake movies are fun to see in the theater for one time maybe when you’re bored on UA-cam but they don’t stick with you not like the good old days.
Not just Charlton Heston, another all star casting in Earthquake is Ava Gardner, Genevieve Bujold, George Kennedy, Lorne Greene, Richard Roundtree & Victoria Principal.
This movie was released only 30 years after the real earthquake. Many, many people could still remember the event, many survivors were still living. I wonder if any of the people in the movie had been in the '06 earthquake. I wouldn't be surprised if some of them had been in San Francisco when the real event occurred.
Wow..great effects for a film in the 1930's. Take that San Andreas!
Holy cow, I've never seen this movie before. Considering that this was made in 1936 (!!!) the earthquake effects are sensational!
Good for any time.
Good scene BUT the quake took place at 5am. My great aunt lived through it and said it was much worse than most people imagined. Her father who was a jeweler in SF was unable to get into his business safe for over a week due to the heat of the fire. Completely destroyed him but his building was one of the few to remain standing in SF
@Nazar A night time earthquake would've been more terrifying. You're in the middle of your sleep, don't know what's going on, and you can't move.
The destruction scene was stupendous work for this era of filmmaking! I am SO impressed and I love this film. It preceded all of the subsequent earthquake movies with such style and acting. THUMBS UP!
I was thinking "just go as far from the facades of the building. That'll be safe." The ground splits in half.
It's actually better than anything you would see today!
The earthquake montage sequence was created by 2nd unit director and montage expert John Hoffman. The Barbary Coast barroom set was built on a special platform that rocked and shook to simulate the historical temblor. (Similar sets were built for the 1974 disaster film Earthquake.)
How did you know that about John Hoffman? He won an award for it. He was a really talented artist but no one really knows about him - I thought.
Before release in the same year this movie The Towering Inferno.
I agree with everyone. This special effects are better than any CGI I have ever seen today.
Not even a single CGI.
Just how it should be
LitnessFourthWall Epic I know
Very impressive special effects for a 1936 movie! Way ahead of its time!
Very impressive for a movie from 1936!
Absolutely astonishing effects for 1936. Amazing stuff!
For 1936, this is an amazing sequence. Brilliantly edited. The movie itself, from what I can remember, having last seen it years ago, was OK-to-pretty-good but it's worth it to get to this sequence.
Unbelievable! It's a 1936 movie that is so much better than so many films on that type released much later! It's so realistic & well-observed! Excellent job!
I've been in earthquakes,but nothing like this ,it was frightening!
The scene where Clark looks to the woman who’s building wall collapses, she walks to the edge and falls. It was edited out on this posting. I recommend seeing the full film classic.
I really like the special effects they did for the damage inflicted on city hall.
This movie deserved a honorific Oscar for Best Visual Effects.
Wow! I wasn't expecting that. For only one-take scenes it was pretty well thought out.
Saw this movie today on TCM. Movie's images of 1906 San Francisco earthquake appear accurate from old photos I've seen. Special effects in this 1936 movie are amazing. Growing up in SF, I've experienced earthquakes in my family's home, downtown BofA skyscraper and in my parked car in the 1989 Loma Prieta quake. At end of movie, it shows view of 1906 earthquake/fire aftermath of SF, then merges into re-built SF in 1936 with modern buildings and skyscrapers. I thought that last seen was pretty cool.
In memory for Trio Legendary Hollywood Golden Age Stars in 1936 movie San Francisco, Clark Gable, Jeanette MacDonald & Spencer Tracy R.I.P
The rapid editing works so well on this, it really adds to the panic and chaos, especially the horse 'v' statute part and like everyone else has said a lot of the effects still beat some films made today - I've never seen this before and I'm literally amazed given how old it is
The special effects in this are better than "Earthquake".
Incredible effects. Still has the power to shock. In my youth, the granny of our neighbors would come down from San Francisco and recommend we watch this movie when it was on Channel 9 movie of the week (every night at 9 for a week,) She had survived this, and said it was exactly correct. It has effected me to this day.
Greatest editing job of all time during the earthquake.
Wow I'm so impressed with the special effect.
In some ways this reminds me of the famous "Odessa steps" sequence from the 1925 silent Russian classic "Battleship Potemkin" by director Sergei Eisenstein. I wonder if the Hollywood film was, in fact, influenced by it. I remember seeing "Frisco" as a child, many, many decades ago now. The scene that always has stuck with me is when the sidewalk splits-apart, swallowing-up some people into the depths below, to certain death, one man being saved in the nick of time by another. Very gripping & chilling scene. I'd completely forgotten there were 2 separate shockwaves---just when you think it's over, another comes along. The impact of this happening in a major metropolitan city today is truly frightening.
I have watched this movie probably a good couple dozen times or more. And, it never fails to entertain. And, the earthquake sequence is considered THE BEST earthquake ever filmed in movie history. To think that it was filmed in 1935, using special effects created specially for this movie. Try to recreate a scene as thrilling as this could never be achieved today.
A lot of the special effects created for 1936's "San Francisco" would be used again in 1974's "Earthquake" starring Charlton Heston, George Kennedy, and an all star cast.
My favorite line? A man pulls Gable from the wreckage and says, "It shows we don't do things halfway in San Francisco."
the editing stands out. great film.
Slavko Vorkapich must also be given recognition for his editing contribution. His Russian influenced quick cutting was also used on other montages on '30s Hollywood. I believe his name is on credits but not as editor per se.
Sorry to be so harsh. I truely apologize. The worst FX to me was the fake blood falling elevator splatter in 1974’s Earthquake scene. But I would not edit it. It was the sign of the times, kept original (as really REAlly BAD) and should not be judgementally error corrected.
Thanks for your work.
It is awesome.
When first saw Earthquake as a kid in the theaters, the blood special effects were kind of gory to me but I saw the movie in sensurrand and it was shocking to me. But now Every time I see the blood scene I try not to laugh.
Wow I'm very impressed!! Thank you for sharing. I have to see this now
So much better than any film with CGI! It bring the sudden terror to life, especially considering many of the people who experienced the real thing probably knew very little about earthquakes back in 1906. Truly impressed.
Wow, incredible special effects!
I got so engrossed in this so quickly that I forgot it was just a clip.
Amazing even by today's standard, let alone 1936....Wonder how they did it in those days without CGI.....
This is way better than San Andreas CGI EARTHQUAKE! GOSHHH
Absolutely amazing effects, especially given the time it was made. The crumbling domed building, the ground opening up were enhanced by the quick cuts-something else new for its time
Wow - weird to think that when this was made, the 1906 earthquake was within recent memory
This looks amazing!
Pretty darned spectacular for 85 years ago!!! Heck, it would be spectacular today!
What’s scary is, the earthquake was exactly like this
Gotta love those practical effects... feels like 2036 (in a perfect world)
I had a friend who was an English teacher and her class was reading a book that took place during the 1906 earthquake. I had this movie on VHS tape (recorded off of Turner Classic Movies) and I cued it up to right before the start of the earthquake sequence and she showed it to her class as a visual aid. It really brought it home to them just how terrifying it was to go through.
This special effects was truly ahead of its' time!!! 👍👍👍
Wow, this is impressive.Great work
The building at 2:55 with the dome and walls falling down was a recreation for the film of the city hall. It was almost completely destroyed and had to be torn down later. It stood close to where the current city hall was later built.
It was also considered "earthquake proof"!
Aside from the fact that the quake hit in the early morning when it was still dark they did a remarkable job, good effects even by today's standards.
The people who released the 1936 classic San Francisco would be forever grateful to you
i love the fact some drunk ill mannered guy came up with it
Wow! Impressive effects!
Better special effects and much more realistic than the movie Earthquake made 4 decades later!
3 movies about epic action disasters movies in 1974
First Earthquake director by Mark Robson & Brian De Palma with Robson also producer with co producer Jennings Lang starring Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, George Kennedy, Genevieve Bujold, Lorne Greene, Richard Roundtree, Lloyd Nolan, Barry Sullivan, Marjoe Gortner & Victoria Principal.
Then The Towering Inferno director & producer by Irwin Allen with John Guillermin, Steven Spielberg, Robert Altman & co-director & starring Paul Newman with Steve McQueen, William Holden, Fred Astaire, OJ Simpson, Richard Chamberlain, Robert Vaughn, Robert Wagner, Don Gordon, Faye Dunaway, Susan Blakely & Jennifer Jones.
& Airport 75 director by Jack Smight, producer by William Frye & executive producer by Jennings Lang starring Charlton Heston, Elfrem Zimbalist Jr, Dana Andrews, Karen Black, George Kennedy, Sid Caesar, Susan Clark, Gloria Swanson, Nancy Olson, Myrna Loy, Ed Nelson, Roy Thinnes, Helen Reddy, Augusta Summerland, Kip Niven, Austin Stoker & Linda Blair
Superb editing.
Great effects for 1936..a masterpiece..💝🎁🎈🎈
Thank you for this, I had no idea it existed, read all about it but seeing it is better.
In my opinion, that’s way more realistic than San Andreas
But in real life, the April 18th 1906 M7.8 earthquake struck at 5:12 am local time! 😯✌🏻
@XD张景荣 Actually, both times would be about the same, and better than during the day; when folks are one the go and often closer to tall buildings that can come crumbling down. They said, due to people either going home early or catching the World Series at work or at a near by sports bar; the death toll of the 1989 Earthquake was far lower. The Freeways back then would be bumper to bumper when the earthquake struck, so the Cypress Structure Collapse would have taken thousands of lives rather then the 42 who perished when a 14 block long section of this freeway collapsed.
@@ernestmac13 In the 1906 earthquake and fire 3000 people lost their lives.
It did in the movie as well. The Chicken Ball was an all night party and Clark Gable's character had until 6am to try to get money for bail for his employees or something like that.
4:50 I feel like they didn't anticipate the set from hitting the camera, but decided to keep it in as it adds to the chaos
4:39 giant finger!
Better than most special effects today.
Incredible practical FX - a lot of them still hold up! So disappointing that even today's CG done right can't match this!
The original King Kong was done in1933. This film was done 3 yrs later, and the special effects advanced greatly in their quality, in just 3 short yrs.
Also with CGI
Seeing this video is my personal mnemonic for a lifelong lesson I tried to tell my hardheaded family and neighbors that I hope and pray that they NEVER need to learn the hard way:
As we try to help our families and neighbors to do better in and live longer in life, we must always be extremely careful of how we say things to and how we assist our families and neighbors on the road to improved relationships and better health; for the weakest of all addressees can create deeply intense ordeals against their offenders when they feel disheartened!!
Jesus, this actually made me cry! I feel it really captured the terror and confusion those poor people experienced! Awful/wonderful to watch. Very impressive.
If you look at the top right hand corner of the screen when the façade of the building collapses..just as the woman jumps from the apartment, you will a man behind the mockup building hitting part of it with a hammer, making more of it crumble and fall. It looks like some sort of polystyrene or something similar. Quite incredible..and beautiful work on the façade miniature. this is at 4.39-4.40.
This is the best movie in 1936 for me so far!
This film, the 1933 King Kong, Gojira, and the Original Star Wars Trilogy have some of the greatest practical effects I’ve ever seen
Yeah, Gojira was a great movie(japanese ver is better)
KaijufanAllen073 oh definitely, I don’t like the American version
Directed by W S Van Dyke the genius who directed the classic Thin man movies starring the classic actor and actress William Powell and Myrna Loy
Another W.S Van Dyke movie including Manhattan Melodrama, Tarzan The Ape Man, Journey On Margaret & Marie Antoinette
uno de los mejores efectos logrados de todos los tiempos
The power of practical effects.
love your vids this video is a masterpiece keep up the good work this is a very shocking big earthquake great destruction scene you really made me have a better day hope you can improve your subcribers you are the very best whole entire youtuber in the whole entire universe we can definetly make you have 1m subs before you even know it we will always help you
Better than today’s “cinematography”.
What you don't think is cinematography is still cinematography. Prove me wrong.
Great effects for the time. Back when they relied on talent and creativity.
These effects are incredible considering they had no tools like today to make them happen.
Amazing special effects for a movie made in 1936
Well done!
Very very realistic. And it’s a movie from 1936?
Is 2:53 a rear projection shot of the miniatures filmed at high speed? It looks so seamlessly integrated.
I haven't seen this movie, I know nothing about any of the characters, but wow! I've found myself anxiously caring for each and every one of them. Remarkable scene!!!
you should its a real masterpiece just prepare for the feels
Esther Shocker , That quake is massive , Even though I wasn’t even born neither living as an adult during the time that earthquake struck the city back in 1905 but this movie’s pretty good I mean great for its time with the special effects and all but during these scenes here , people are running for their lives to escape the crumbling buildings and all because at 3:18 , a frightened child can be seen in this film because , Look at her facial expression & that innocent look because someone heads to get her before the crumbling structures bury her and all , This quake was a massive one .