The 1974 film "Earthquake" is one of the 1970's "disaster" films, this time a large earthquake strikes the city of Los Angeles and causes massive destruction. Various people try to survive among the ruins of the city. At one point a young woman sees some donuts in a damaged store and takes two. She spots an open cash register but does not take anything from it. A cash register tray is shown with then current United States coins, nickels, dimes, and quarters.

A massive earthquake strikes Los Angeles resulting in buildings collapsing or burning, dams bursting, and general chaos. At one point Califonia National Guard units are called up and sent into the area to prevent looting. One Guard sergeant, Jody Joad (Marjoe Gortner), sees a woman he knows, Rosa Amici (Victoria Principal) enter a store.

She takes two donuts and then spots an open cash register.

The cash register is full of then current United States coins, nickels, dimes, and quarters. No cents or half dollars appear. The dimes and quarters are mostly clad coins which were minted starting in 1965 to replace the silver coins. Rosa leaves the cash register alone and starts to leave.

Rosa offers Sergeant Jody a donut but he sees the open cash register which gives him an idea. He tells her that he is going to arrest her for "looting" and to follow him to a deserted room.

Jody makes his intentions clear. Rosa runs outside as Stewart Graff (Charlton Heston) drives by in a utility vehicle accompanied by Los Angeles Police Sergeant Lew Slade (George Kennedy). Rosa screams and Jody points his rifle at the policeman who shoots him. Sergeant Slade takes Rosa to the vehicle and gives her a puppy that he found earlier.

Charlton Heston as Stewart Graff
George Kennedy as Police Sergeant Lew Slade
Victoria Principal as Rosa Amici
Marjoe Gortner as National Guard Sergeant Jody Joad
Director: Mark Robson
Writers: George Fox, Mario Puzo