Earthquake is a 1974 American disaster film directed and produced by Mark Robson, from a screenplay by George Fox and Mario Puzo. The plot concerns the struggle for survival after a catastrophic earthquake destroys most of Los Angeles. It stars an ensemble cast of well-known actors, including Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, George Kennedy, Lorne Greene, Geneviève Bujold, Richard Roundtree, Marjoe Gortner, Barry Sullivan, Lloyd Nolan, Victoria Principal, Pedro Armendáriz Jr., and (under an alias) Walter Matthau. The film was notable for the use of an innovative sound effect called Sensurround, which created the sense of actually experiencing an earthquake in theaters.