Avalanche * (1978, Rock Hudson, Mia Farrow, Robert Forster) – Classic Movie Review 9748

Director Corey Allen’s 1978 action drama Avalanche is a minor, just passable disaster movie, unexpectedly from producer Roger Corman, made and distributed by New World Pictures, with a six million-ton avalanche spelling doom for trippers at a new winter ski resort.

A post-McMillan & Wife Rock Hudson and a pre-Woody Allen Mia Farrow star, Hudson trying to be heroic as a tycoon called David Shelby, Farrow trying to be sluttish as his former wife Caroline Brace, both without conspicuous success.

The rest of the modest cast make little headway either. The authentic Corman cheapie touch comes with the feeble special effects and cost-saving library newsreel footage. On the other hand, some its new avalanche visual effects footage is reused in the 1979 disaster movie Meteor.

Rock Hudson (1925–1985).

Also in the cast are Robert Forster, Jeanette Nolan, Rick Moses, Steve Franken, Barry Primus, Cathey Paine, Jerry Douglas, Antony Carbone and Peggy Browne.

Avalanche is directed by Corey Allen, runs 92 minutes, is made by Avalanche Productions and New World Pictures, is distributed by New World Pictures (1978) (US), is written by Claude Pola and Corey Allen, based on Frances Doel’s story, is shot by Pierre-William Glenn, is produced by Roger Corman and is scored by William Kraft.

Corey Allen started as an actor in 1954, most notably in Rebel Without a Cause (1955) as Buzz, the driver trapped in the car during the chicken race with James Dean and went over the cliff. He later he directed three movies and created a dozen pilots for TV series. His father was Las Vegas casino boss Carl Cohen (1913-86), remembered for punching a belligerent Frank Sinatra in the face at The Sands in 1967.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9748

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