Flood

source: Flood

Flood!

Irwin Allen's back as producer for another expansive disaster movie of the 1970s, but the difference this time is that he'd left 20th Century Fox and was now working with a TV budget. That means a big, big drop in the kind of SFX we're used to in the likes of EARTHQUAKE and THE TOWERING INFERNO; the disaster scenes are limited to the last third and are generally handled in a rushed and mildly disappointing way. Overall the film isn't so bad, although there's not as much viewer involvement in the proceedings as in Allen's Hollywood classics. Robert Culp is a helicopter pilot who gets involved when a local dam threatens to break and flood a township, and an exemplary supporting cast includes the likes of Cameron Mitchell, Barbara Hershey and Roddy McDowall. It's enjoyable enough and decent for a TV movie, just don't go expecting a screen classic like Allen's earlier '70s films.

Irwin Allen was the king of disaster movies. It's not a surprise that he would base one around a flood. The film was OK, but the disaster wasn't the main thrust of the film. From the beginning, the story line revolves around Paul Blake (Martin Milner) trying to convince the mayor that the town dam was unsafe. Richard Basehart as the mayor did a good job in the mayor's role. Probably the best performance was given by Robert Culp as helicopter pilot Steve Branagan. My main criticism is that for a film built around the disaster, the disaster itself seemed underplayed. Stock footage of floods (it was a TV movie, so probably not big FX budget), and a brief time for its depiction. Watch for 70's teen idol Leif Garrett to have a small part in this. I'm a fan of the genre, so I gave it a 6. Your mileage may vary.

Better than average made-for-TV disaster film by the master himself, Irwin Allen. Plot in a nutshell: Milner and Culp are believable as the owners/operators of a helicopter company in a small Oregon town. Mayor Richard "Adm. Nelson" Basehart tries to hide the fact that the earthen dam protecting the town of Brownsville is on the verge of collapsing. Milner takes him to task for being concerned only with town commerce and not protecting the lives of his constituents. In the end Milner and Culp use their copter to assist in the rescue of a number of townspeople when the dam finally bursts. Stars Martin Milner, Eric Olsen and Cameron Mitchell were all holdovers from Irwin Allen's short-lived TV series, "Swiss Family Robinson" which went off the air earlier in the year. Look for Irwin Allen 'stock players' like Francine York, Elizabeth Rogers and Whit Bissell in the hospital scenes.

Irwin Allen did great on The Towering Inferno, The Poseidon Adventure, Beyond The Poseidon Adventure, and The Swarm but this one was not one of his best. The special effects could have been much better. The acting was alright. I would recommend this movie to people who like disaster movies. Or people who have nothing else to do for the next 98 minutes

Earl Bellamy directed this TV movie produced by Irwin Allen that stars Robert Culp as a helicopter pilot who becomes involved in the plight of the town of Brownsville, which is in a state of alarm because heavy rains have caused the nearby dam to overflow, and threaten to destroy it all together. Martin Milner plays the man trying to warn the stubborn mayor(played by Richard Basehart) about the threat, but he doesn't want to hear it, which will lead to disaster for all... Cameron Mitchel, Carol Lynley, Barbara Hershey and Teresa Wright costar. Disappointing film is a big build-up to very little, and contains a talky story that generates little interest, though the good cast tries.