You know what a disaster film is don't you? A disaster film is a movie in which a lot of disasters (i.e. explosions, earthquakes, fires, etc.) occur and many people die. These films also have a number of big-name actors and actresses. The era of disaster movies began with the success of The Poseidon Adventure in 1972 and peaked when The Towering Inferno was released in 1974. Here is a summary of each film with the cast of each movie.

The Poseidon Adventure

On New Years Eve, a series of earthquakes create a 90 foot tidal wave which knocks and completely flips over an ocean liner. A reverend leads nine survivors to the top (actually the bottom).

Gene Hackman as Rev. Frank Scott
Ernest Borgnine as Det. Lt. Mike Rogo
Red Buttons as James Martin
Carol Lynley as Nonie Parry
Roddy McDowall as Acres
Stella Stevens as Linda Rogo
Shelley Winters as Belle Rosen
Jack Albertson as Manny Rosen
Pamela Sue Martin as Susan Shelby
Arthur O'Connell as Chaplain John
Eric Shea as Robin Shelby
Leslie Nielson as Captain Harrison

The Towering Inferno

The world's tallest skyscraper at 138 feet is completed. However, architect Doug Roberts finds that cheap wiring has been put in and that the building is developing a lot of short circuits. One of them breaks out in the middle of the building. Meanwhile a party of over 300 people takes place on the top floor. The flames soon get out of hand and before you know it, the party is trapped with no way to get down. Roberts and the Fire Chief Michael O'Hallorann team up to try to save them.

Steve McQueen as Chief Michael O'Hallorhan
Paul Newman as Doug Roberts
William Holden as Jim Duncan
Faye Dunaway as Susan Franklin
Fred Astaire as Harlee Claiborne
Susan Blakely as Patty Simmons
Richard Chamberlain as Roger Simmons
Jennifer Jones as Lisolette Mueller
O.J. Simpson as Jernigan
Robert Vaughn as Senator Gary Parker
Robert Wagner as Dan Bigelow
Susan Flannery as Lorrie.


The Swarm .

A huge deadly swarm of African Bees spreads terror over Texas by killing thousands of people.

Michael Caine as Brad Crane
Katharine Ross as Helena Anderson
Richard Widmark as General Slater
Richard Chamberlain as Dr. Hubbard
Olivia De Havilland as Maureen Schuster
Ben Johnson as Felix
Lee Grant as Anne McGregor
Jose Ferrer as Dr. Andrews
Patty Duke Astin as Rita
Slim Pickens as Jud Hawkins
Bradford Dillman as Major Baker
Fred MacMurray as Clarence
Henry Fonda as Dr. Krim

Beyond the Poseidon Adventure

Adventurers return to the overturned ship seeking a fortune.

Michael Caine as Captain Mike Turner
Sally Field as Celeste Whitman
Telly Savalas as Captain Stefan Svevo
Peter Boyle as Frank Mazzetti
Jack Warden as Harold Meredith
Shirley Knight as Hannah Meredith
Shirley Jones as Gina Rowe
Karl Malden as Wilbur Hubbard
Slim Pickens as Tex
Veronica Hamel as Suzanne Constantine
Angela Cartright as Theresa Mazzetti
Mark Harmon as Larry Simpson

hm... dante's peake... & twister :D

The Poseidon Adventure. :D

The 80's TV movie "The Day After" about a nuclear disaster was very good too!:)

Oh I forgot about The Peacemaker.. love that one too!! :D

The Towering Inferno is pretty good.

Of those four, The Towering Inferno is my favorite. My second favorite is The Poseidon Adventure. TTI has a great cast and is suspenseful during almost the entire film (after the fire starts, of course). The cast is better in TTI than in TPA. One thing I like better about TPA than TTI is that the film doesn't spend a majority of its time devising ways for people to die. TTI puts the d in disaster film. Dozens of people die in that film. I wouldn't recommend it to those who do not like to see people die in movies.

The Towering Inferno

Originally posted by Penny Lane
The 80's TV movie "The Day After" about a nuclear disaster was very good too!:)

That movie scarred me for years!

Of those four, The Towering Inferno is my favorite. My second favorite is The Poseidon Adventure. TTI has a great cast and is suspenseful during almost the entire film (after the fire starts, of course). The cast is better in TTI than in TPA. One thing I like better about TPA than TTI is that the film doesn't spend a majority of its time devising ways for people to die. TTI puts the d in disaster film. Dozens of people die in that film. I wouldn't recommend it to those who do not like to see people die in movies.
I know...including

*SPOILERS*












































Gregory Sierra. :(

Nature gone wild movies are.....


Day Of The Animals.... I think 1976,
Animals gone wild killing and injuring people in a small town while a group of people trying to get out of the moutain on a hike when the ozone layer has gone haywire.... Leslie Nelson as the bad guy.

The Poseidon Adventure is my pick. Another pretty good disaster movie was "The Day After Tommorrow" with Dennis Quaid.

Earth Qauke In New York.
Independence Day.
Kind of a disaster film sci fi(old) The Day The Earth Stood Still.

Threads, a harrowing BBC drama about a nuclear war in Great Britain. Positively terrifying... Here's a clip of the scariest part:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RN8-VP810aA

The Towering Inferno since it's such a classic now. I loved those disaster movies by Lost In Space Creator, Irwin Allen. I also enjoyed Earthquake which he also did. I also enjoyed The Day After Tomorrow.

The Towering Inferno since it's such a classic now. I loved those disaster movies by Lost In Space Creator, Irwin Allen. I also enjoyed Earthquake which he also did. I also enjoyed The Day After Tomorrow.
Yes, Irwin Allen was a true "master of disaster", and held his own in the sci-fi arena. Did you ever watch The Night the Bridge Fell Down, another Allen flick?

Irwin Allen actually was not involved with Earthquake - Jennings Lang was the brain trust behind that movie. I always thought Irwin Allen was for the longest time.

I have the Night The Bridge Fell Down, haven't seen it yet. I never knew that about Earthquake, LOL.

I have the Night The Bridge Fell Down, haven't seen it yet. I never knew that about Earthquake, LOL.
Well, you HAVE to watch it!! :D I have to admit I only picked it up because Gregory Sierra (:eyes:) is in it, but I truly enjoyed the whole thing.

The Poseidon Adventure

The Poseidon Adventure.