ROGER CORMAN and CHEESE, part XIV: "Avalanche" and DiGiorno Rising Crust Ultimate Pepperoni

We're all aware of the Disaster Movie boom of the 1970s, but I think we forget or don't realize just how much this formulaic sub genre dominated the decade. Beyond cruise ships and airplanes and skyscrapers, there were hurricanes and fires and floods and earthquakes and blimps and bees - a shit ton of bees. The academy often recognized these movies with technical awards (sometimes they even earned Acting and Picture nominations) but ultimately they were received just as hokey and predictable as they are today. 

Roger Corman had previously purchased a Japanese movie called Submersion of Japan, cut it down, shot new scenes with American actors, and released it as Tidal Wave. Proving mildly successful, Roger poured a ton of money (between 4-6 million) into a Disaster Movie he could build from the ground up: 1978's Avalanche, starring Mia Farrow and Rock Hudson. The first half (actually the first two thirds) plays out as a cross between Poseidon Adventure and Jaws, with party people all having their own plots at a ski lodge, and Robert Forster warning everyone that they've got to get off the mountain or else. But that's what you do with Disaster Movies (and also Roger Corman movies): you compare them to their influences and contemporaries, and so it's definitely notable that not only does Avalanche hold its own against the dozens of dumb movies it copies, but it's actually kinda better. There are obviously a few FX shots that are slightly less than believable, but all the practical effects and stunts and locations are top drawer - it's not an Irwin Allen production but you can see where the money went. But unlike most Disaster Pictures, the avalanche happens way late in the movie, and so the true miracle here is that the writing and performances keep it interesting for that first 60 of its 90 minute runtime. Back then it may've seemed like Robert Forster was like a poor man's Gene Hackman or Paul Newman, but as he proves here (much as he always did, right up until the end of his career) that he was never the poor man's anything. 

"It's not delivery, it's DiGiorno!" If you're not familiar with the ad campaign, the slogan is meant to suggest that this frozen store-bought pizza is just as good as frozen delivery pizza. As if! But seriously, DiGiorno can make that claim probably because of their uncommonly thick crust. Basically it's a loaf of bread. With toppings, Ultimately that makes it a bitch to cook evenly, but at any rate it makes a hearty meal. So, the low budget pie with lotsa padding masquerading as its bigger budget competition. The parallels aren't subtle, but sometimes cheaper is better, less is more, and phony matte paintings pair well with bioengineered food ingredients. 

The Movie: B

The Pizza: B+