Deluge (1933)

One of the earliest examples of the disaster movie genre, and the norm with these films often having impressive visuals but a disappointing story seems to have been there from the start.

A combination of a massive earthquake and huge storm strikes the USA at the same time, destroying basically everything. We see the skyscrapers of New York collapse with the population fleeing in terror. As usual the massive disaster is personalised through the lives and struggles of a few ordinary people. Those being Martin Webster (Sidney Blackmer) and his wife (Lois Webster) and children. Martin is separated from them after the main disaster strikes. 

Martin spends time alone, not knowing if anyone else survived. Then he discovers Claire (Peggy Shannon) who has escaped from a rough gang led by Jepson (Fred Kohler)...

This isn't that great a film, the acting is rather stilted and the film takes a long time to get going. The effects are good though especially for their day. The film also includes an interesting surprise for Martin and a rather awkward situation. An interesting watch but not much more.

Fate is the Hunter (1964)

A film with surprising depth and heart.

An airliner crashes shortly after take-off with a near complete loss of life. With no technical reason for the crash detected, suspicion falls on the pilot Jack Savage (Rod Taylor) who had a bit of a reputation and was spotted in bars the night before. 

His old war buddy Sam (Glenn Ford) is investigating the crash and doesn't believe Jack was to blame, as he unravels Jack's complicated life, he discovers more and more surprising facts about his friend.

This is a film that surprises you, it starts with a tense air crash and then develops in unexpected ways, with wartime flashbacks helping to reveal more and more about Jack's life. A very well constructed story with superb performances and multi-dimensional characters.

The Poseidon Adventure (1972)

The 1970s saw many disaster movies and this is one of the best of them.

The Poseidon is an elderly ocean liner on it's last trip across the Mediterranean when it is hit by a massive tidal wave. The ship is literally turned upside down. Preacher man Scott (Gene Hackman) takes charge of a group of survivors trapped in the ball room. He says that the only way out of the ship will be via the bowels of the ship, which are now above them!

With a motley collection of survivors including arrogant policeman Rogo (Ernest Borgnine), elderly couple Belle (Shelley Winters) and Manny (Jack Albertson) and teenager Susan (Pamela Sue Martin) and her annoying little brother Robin (Eric Shea), Scott leads his team through many dangers, not all of them surviving...

A well paced drama with just the right amount of human conflict to add to the series of dangers our heroes face. The set designs of the upside down ship are superb. An excellent film, any 1970s corniness cannot compete with the sheer adventure.

Avalanche (1978)

A standard 1970s disaster movie, a motley collection of stereotypes (reckless businessman, ex wife, sporty big head, annoying man who will be proved right, drunk old dame) is at Shelby's (Rock Hudson) new ski resort. Shelby promises the resort will be the best ever, but local photographer and environmentalist Thorne (Robert Forster) thinks an avalanche could happen any time, of course Shelby laughs this off.

Shelby is also obsessed with trying to get back in with his ex-wife Caroline (Mia Farrow) though she shows more interest in Thorne and shacks up at his remote lodge, which is kind of lucky for her as she was out of harms way when the avalanche finally happens - thanks to a plane crash. 

After about an hour of largely aimless and somewhat mediocre melodrama the actual disaster is almost a relief, however it is also pretty brutal with many extras slaughtered in various horrible ways including buried in snow, electrocuted, stomped by a stampede and even blown up in a gas explosion! The effects are hilariously cheesy but effective.

The film is nonsense but entertaining enough if approached the right way. The film is full of disaster movie cliches and stock characters. Total tosh but fun with it.