American Experience (TV Series) The Great San Francisco Earthquake (1988) User Reviews

Strangely quite and lacking in energy.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 21 April 2012]

This show is about one of the biggest disasters in recent world history--the enormous earthquake that destroyed San Francisco in 1906. It consists of narration, lots of photos, a few pieces of film and interviews with folks who lived through it that were still alive back in 1988 when it debuted. In addition to discussing the quake, the history of the city in subsequent years are shown--including some really cool footage of the 1915 world's fair held in the newly rebuilt city.

"The Great San Francisco Earthquake" is an episode of "The American Experience" that is at a HUGE disadvantage. Because it was the very first episode, it was a groundbreaker--and many of the later developments in the shows are lacking. As a result, it's not one of the better shows but it's really hard to blame the folks who made this show. That's because a lot of the later polish is missing--with very little music which created a creepy and rather quiet show. Also, while F. Murray Abraham is a fine actor, his delivery lacks some of the energy of later narrators such as David McCullough and David Ogden Stiers. Again, since he was first, he was embarking in new territory and it's not right to blame him. And, overall, despite the show being about a HUGE disaster, it's a bit low in energy and flat compared to the latter shows. Still, it's well made and interesting--and worth your time. Just remember to cut it a bit of slack.

Scenes from 1900s showing before and after the famous San Francisco quake...

[Doylenf · 6/10 · 9 June 2008]

The great, bustling city by the bay is shown in actual newsreel footage, a thriving metropolis of streetcars, horse and carriage, crowded neighborhoods of poor wooden houses, the Chinatown area, the opera house, the capitol, the railroad station, etc., all while people go about their daily business on the streets of San Francisco.

Interesting to note how the cars or buggies wove right around and across tracks carrying moving streetcars, as though there was no real traffic system to stop the ever moving flow of traffic. Also interesting to note the rather stiff fashions of 1906 which look far too overdressed and uptight for today's viewers.

Then, after twenty minutes or so of pleasant everyday scenes, the tone changes to show the city immediately after and during the quake, with crumbling buildings making it look like a war zone and fires beginning to rage within the city which had no way to douse the flames since all the water mains were broken. Helplessly, firemen and policemen and citizens stood by and watched while the whole city was reduced to a pile of rubble.

Fascinating to see how plucky the citizens were and in a short time were bent on rebuilding the entire city. At the finale, we see the preparations for the 1915 World's Fair which managed to be, as one old timer said, "The only thing I can say--magnificent". Scenes from the fair show it at night, all lit up and indeed looking magical after all that devastation.

Good segment in the "American Experience" tradition.

The First of the Series

[Michael_Elliott · 26 April 2012]

The American Experience: The Great San Francisco Earthquake (1988)

*** (out of 4)

This was the very first episode in the still-running "The American Experience" series. It takes a look at the 1906 earthquake that pretty much leveled San Francisco and forced the city to rebuild everything. I don't think it would be unfair to say that the series would certainly get much better as it went along as the programs got to be a lot better made. It's important to remember that this was the first film in the series so this subject could probably be due for an updated version but until then this here is at least watchable. I think, for the most part, the documentary at least does a good job at giving you an idea of how damaging the earthquake was. The first fifteen-minutes talks about what all was going on in the city and then we get to the earthquake stuff before finishing off with the 1915 fair. I thought the documentary also did a good job using footage from movies that were shot in the aftermath of the quake. Most people don't realize that quite a few movie studios started filming soon after the quake hit to exploit the situation and these movies are still out there and are very much worth watching. The biggest problem with the film is that it's a tad bit too dry and there's really not much energy in it.

Before, After & Beyond The San Francisco Quake

[strong-122-478885 · 6/10 · 7 June 2016]

Professionally presented through the "American Experience" Series - The Great San Francisco Quake is unanimously considered by all to be the worst natural disaster in U.S. history.

Taking place in 1906 (on Wed., April 15 @ 5:12 am), this devastating quake (which certainly caught everyone off guard) literally toppled thousands of buildings (leaving a contortion of stone everywhere) and left half the city's 400,000 citizens homeless.

Through stills, and vintage "before & after" footage, along with interviews with quake survivors (recalling the event as children) - This historical documentary (with its 56-minute running time) takes a look at San Francisco then (as well as beyond the effects of this natural catastrophe) as it proudly boasts of man's triumph over the forces of nature.