10 Dumbest Decisions In Disaster Movies
8. Earthquake (1974) - Getting In An Elevator
When disaster strikes, never, ever get into a lift - it just isn't a good idea!
This is perhaps best demonstrated in Earthquake, in which major tremors hit Los Angeles. The audience follows a handful of characters, including the occupants of an office building which is severely affected by the earthquakes.
The office workers panic, shoving each other out of the way and fleeing for the nearest lift. Shortly after the doors close, the lift judders and an aftershock disables both the electricity supply and the brakes, sending it plunging down the shaft. Although it is a bit shaky by today's standards, the infamous animated spray of blood that follows, showing us that the occupants are no more, is still quite disturbing.
This was a notoriously difficult scene to film, with two attempts involving fake blood filmed several weeks apart having failed. Ultimately, director Mark Robson decided to use an animated sequence to get over the problem.