23 reviews
Carney at his best, but...
This film is pretty good for emotion and drama. I've been to St. Helens and love the region. It's largely grown back and is green and fertile again, dominated by the stark gray gutted monolith of the mountain. In a way, it's a tombstone of granite and pumice, still steaming and hot despite more than two decades of slumber. Very somber and impressive sight. I liked the movie the first time I saw it probably about 20 years ago on TV. It was cut a bit for commercials so I probably saw about 75 minutes so there were a few plot holes, but nothing to worry about. After all, it's a fictionalized docudrama. The only real characters? Harry Truman (Carney in a real departure from Ed Norton), the crusty old soldier who won't do what he don't want to. He's earned the right to die on his own land. And David Jackson (Huffman) who is based on the late David Johnston who died on the mountain in the eruption. He's portrayed as the antithesis of Truman, a calm dreamer who hates stupidity and bureaucracy (one and the same) in the local businessmen and NGS officials. He and Harry hit it off despite their differences and find common ground in the love of the mountain about to destroy everything. I rather liked Tim Thomerson, the sheriff, who's out of his usual stand-up routine but a 'stand up guy' in the local community, as he tries to keep peace as the drama unfolds. The Huffman/Yates love interest? Probably untrue, and in my opinion, unnecessary in the film. A bit of country-western 'local yokels' in the bar, getting to know one another is a decent way of helping us like the town and the folks, but one wonder something. For instance, why does Cassie Yates and her son, who have a car, get a helicopter ride out of danger? And when the news report of the eruption comes on, the first thing they say is that Harry Truman was at his lodge and David Jackson, the 'Young Geologist' was on the face of the mountain when it erupted. Fast work. The end theme, "Here's to You, Harry Truman," is a pretty good ballad, and catchy, even if old Harry himself would probably have scoffed at the overly maudlin lyrics. "Sounds like pigs being murdered." The film of the eruption and the later destruction are impressive and gut-wrenching. It was a huge disaster which flattened thousands of acres of forest and wilderness. Yet, if you go up to St. Helens, the thing you'll be most surprised by is the roadside attractions. "ST. HELENS: FEEL THE ERUPTION! EXPERIENCE THE DESTRUCTION, THE QUAKE, THE POWER, from the comfort of a chair. All over the place, you can see movies, buy lava chunks and explore houses buried under ash. What a country.
- markcarlson2222
- Aug 1, 2007
- Permalink
Art Carney steals the show
This is a superior made for TV movie about one of the worst natural disasters in the history of North America. The film centers on the crusty old mountain man Harry Truman played by the fine actor Art Carney who gives one of his best performances. Harry was a cracker barrel philosopher of sorts who loved all the attention given him my the media. Determined to stay put come hell or high water or a mountain blowing up in his face, Harry represents the stubborn American type who wants to hang on to cherished memories of his wife and daughter at any cost, choosing to die with his canine companion than to face an uncertain future elsewhere in a world he doesn't know. Art Cartney captures the spirit and essence of this eccentric oddity out of place in the present high-tech world he never made.
The weakest aspect of this film is the awful music. Who ever tried to write the country and western songs had absolutely no feel for the genre. (The Italian rock band Goblin is credited.) The lyrics are cold and lifeless, the melodies hackneyed and bland. Too bad they couldn't have got someone of the caliber of Merle Haggard or Dolly Parton to give the flick some real s**t-kicking hoedowns and barroom crying in your beer songs.
The cast other than Art Carney is adequate. David Huffman and Cassie Yates make a cute couple of opposites attracting, he a professional geologist, she an uneducated waitress with a failed marriage and a son. But they make the relationship believable and the ending probable. Of special note is the appearance of Bill McKinney as one of the loggers Kilpatrick. He is perhaps the most famous villain in screen history because of his work as the Mountain Man in "Deliverance." In "St. Helens" he gets the short end of the stick.
The on-location photography is an added attraction with actual shots of the Mt. St. Helens eruption inserted. The scene toward the end where Harry is fishing as the mountain spews forth its load is harrowing. The attentive viewer will come away from this picture with new questions concerning the meaning of life and its brevity.
The weakest aspect of this film is the awful music. Who ever tried to write the country and western songs had absolutely no feel for the genre. (The Italian rock band Goblin is credited.) The lyrics are cold and lifeless, the melodies hackneyed and bland. Too bad they couldn't have got someone of the caliber of Merle Haggard or Dolly Parton to give the flick some real s**t-kicking hoedowns and barroom crying in your beer songs.
The cast other than Art Carney is adequate. David Huffman and Cassie Yates make a cute couple of opposites attracting, he a professional geologist, she an uneducated waitress with a failed marriage and a son. But they make the relationship believable and the ending probable. Of special note is the appearance of Bill McKinney as one of the loggers Kilpatrick. He is perhaps the most famous villain in screen history because of his work as the Mountain Man in "Deliverance." In "St. Helens" he gets the short end of the stick.
The on-location photography is an added attraction with actual shots of the Mt. St. Helens eruption inserted. The scene toward the end where Harry is fishing as the mountain spews forth its load is harrowing. The attentive viewer will come away from this picture with new questions concerning the meaning of life and its brevity.
The old man and the mountain
Enjoyable
Dramatic re-creation of the events leading up to the eruption of Mt. St. Helens and the unsuccessful efforts to evacuate the area even with so many warning signs. Special effects combined with actual footage give added reality.
- forbesfour
- Nov 20, 2003
- Permalink
The dumbest movie i have ever seen
- EmperorHorde777
- Dec 28, 2005
- Permalink
A first rate semi-documentary
First I must take issue with the reviewer who found this film boring because he classed it as a disaster movie, and felt there was not the suspense necessary for a good disaster movie. Personally I would question whether disaster movies really comprise a distinct category - they are dramas in the thriller category where the more usual dramatic excitement of violent action is replaced by the tension of waiting to see whether or not the impending disaster can be staved off. To maintain this tension, such a movie has to be based on a fictional story. By contrast, films of real events can be full documentaries which were filmed only in advance or concurrently; or semi-documentaries in which some of the essential scenes have had to be fictionally, but as accurately as possible, reconstructed and filmed after the event. St. Helens clearly fits this latter category. Such films should have a sufficiently dramatic story to retain the viewers interest throughout, but they also have a very important role to play in conveying to the general public in dramatic terms the actual impact of the event in question on the lives of the ordinary people who were affected. We judge the success of semi-documentaries from the extent to which they succeed in satisfying these two objectives. In my view St. Helens meets both objectives well, and was artistically a most successful film.
Volcanic eruptions are not rare events, but the eruption in North America of a volcano generally regarded by the public as extinct, attracted enormous public attention as events unfolded day by day. Millions in North America experienced dull skies and falling ash over a period of several days, and those of us who are old enough remember the story very well. Ultimately this eruption cost fifty nine lives, but two of these in particular provided the media with ongoing human interest stories and later provided the core story for this movie. One was the young geologist from the U.S. Geological Survey who allowed his enthusiasm to run away with him to such an extent that he was conducting monitoring in an area very close to the mountain when the eruption took place. He saw it happen, and had time to report it by telephone before he was overwhelmed by the escaping gases or falling rocks. The other was the elderly retired man living alone in a cabin on Spirit Lake very close to the volcano who consistently refused to be evacuated until too late. These are the principal characters in this semi-documentary, and both are portrayed very sympathetically so that their self destructive behaviour becomes quite understandable. I would rate this as a very good film - I also have an 'official' full documentary account of this eruption on videotape, it provides many interesting facts about the scientific impact on the area; but this dramatised semi-documentary with its human interest stories is the one which will bear watching repeatedly, and it is commendably careful not to seriously distort any of the facts in the interests of artistic licence. We may never be near a volcano that is threatening to erupt, but we read about such eruptions each year and this film helps to give us a better understanding of what one is really like.
Volcanic eruptions are not rare events, but the eruption in North America of a volcano generally regarded by the public as extinct, attracted enormous public attention as events unfolded day by day. Millions in North America experienced dull skies and falling ash over a period of several days, and those of us who are old enough remember the story very well. Ultimately this eruption cost fifty nine lives, but two of these in particular provided the media with ongoing human interest stories and later provided the core story for this movie. One was the young geologist from the U.S. Geological Survey who allowed his enthusiasm to run away with him to such an extent that he was conducting monitoring in an area very close to the mountain when the eruption took place. He saw it happen, and had time to report it by telephone before he was overwhelmed by the escaping gases or falling rocks. The other was the elderly retired man living alone in a cabin on Spirit Lake very close to the volcano who consistently refused to be evacuated until too late. These are the principal characters in this semi-documentary, and both are portrayed very sympathetically so that their self destructive behaviour becomes quite understandable. I would rate this as a very good film - I also have an 'official' full documentary account of this eruption on videotape, it provides many interesting facts about the scientific impact on the area; but this dramatised semi-documentary with its human interest stories is the one which will bear watching repeatedly, and it is commendably careful not to seriously distort any of the facts in the interests of artistic licence. We may never be near a volcano that is threatening to erupt, but we read about such eruptions each year and this film helps to give us a better understanding of what one is really like.
Awful!
This movie purports to be a true story, but other than some geographic references, it is true only in that Mount St. Helens erupted violently and two of the fatalities. While the differing perspectives of innkeeper Harry Truman and geologist David Johnston on the peril posed by the volcano could have made for a compelling human interest drama; but while the acting is generally acceptable, this isn't it.
The special effects are laughably cheesy, even given the state of the art in 1981, and the music is screwy. Much of the geologic phenomena that the movie associates with the eruptions are pure fantasy, and the sequence of the eruptive events before the final blast is entirely wrong. The actions of the local logging industry as conditions became more dangerous are misrepresented, as is the response in towns affected by ashfall. The climactic line of the movie is yelled without any context to indicate what the actor is talking about.
As someone who has studied the events at Mt. St. Helens, the only way I would recommend this fiasco is to fans of Art Carney, who valiantly tries to carry the film. The stock footage of the St. Helens eruption is better seen in a context that rightly explains the eruption, rather than exploiting it in such absurd terms.
The special effects are laughably cheesy, even given the state of the art in 1981, and the music is screwy. Much of the geologic phenomena that the movie associates with the eruptions are pure fantasy, and the sequence of the eruptive events before the final blast is entirely wrong. The actions of the local logging industry as conditions became more dangerous are misrepresented, as is the response in towns affected by ashfall. The climactic line of the movie is yelled without any context to indicate what the actor is talking about.
As someone who has studied the events at Mt. St. Helens, the only way I would recommend this fiasco is to fans of Art Carney, who valiantly tries to carry the film. The stock footage of the St. Helens eruption is better seen in a context that rightly explains the eruption, rather than exploiting it in such absurd terms.
- tdberry-33-366271
- Jun 3, 2011
- Permalink
The cataclysmic eruption of Mount Saint Helens.
"St.Helens" centers around the events leading up to the eruption of Mount Saint Helens in Washington with the story beginning on the day volcanic activity started on March 20,1980 and ending on the day of the cataclysmic May 18,1980 eruption.David Huffman plays David Jackson,a vulcanologist who is sent by US Geological Survey to investigate the activity.His character is based on David Johnson,a real life vulcanologist who died during the eruption.Art Carney plays Mount St. Helens Lodge owner Harry Randall Truman.He refuses to leave his place of living during the volcanic activity.Jackson falls in love with a single mother named Linda Steele.On 18th May the volcano explodes..."St.Helens" is very loosely based on facts.It's an entertaining disaster drama with lovely score by Italian band Goblin.The entire movie was shot on location in Bend,Oregon and at Mount Bachelor in Central Oregon's Cascades,but there are some real-life images of Mount Saint Helens taken during an eruption.8 out of 10.
- HumanoidOfFlesh
- Sep 12, 2010
- Permalink
FULL of CURSING AND SWEARING
It would be a good movie, if not for the pretty much non-stop bad language, all thru the movie. It's constantly Hell, GodD, and more. I never thought a movie about Mt St. Helens would contain such a string of vulgarities.
Sadly, it does. Hence, it is not worth watching, and my copy goes in
the trash can, rather than rewatch, or give it to anyone else to become
calloused to all the trashy language that was totally unneccessary to
the movie.
- raymondw63-400-384219
- Jun 22, 2020
- Permalink
The best kind of history: involvement with the people who lived through it.
With its low-key acting, and real, believable characters, this film was a superb re-enactment of what became a nightmare for those closest to it. At first, no one is able to believe what is predicted to be coming. Gradually, the reality becomes inescapable. Art Carney, as Harry S. Truman, is completely believable, and understandable, as a man set in his ways and content with his life, unwilling to run away and perhaps unable to comprehend the totality of the disaster that is looming. How very human! We would all like terrible realities to go away, but often they are worse even than the forecasts. In light of 9/11, the poignancy of the human relationships in this film is even greater. We are so vulnerable in the face of many of the events of life, and the most important things we have to cling to are each other, and our relationships to the people we love, and to life itself. A haunting, under-rated film.
VIEWS ON FILM review of St. Helens
- burlesonjesse5
- Sep 8, 2023
- Permalink
Engrossing drama
- Woodyanders
- Sep 8, 2010
- Permalink
Censored
The first time I saw this movie I had rented the VHS cassette. The next time I rented it it was no longer the same movie. It had been obviously edited. Over the years I've purchased many copies, but have never found the original un-edited version. The music at the beginning is garbled and words spoken during the movie are not the same as the original. I'm sure there are reason's the movie was censored, but it is a great disappointment having seen the movie once in its original form. I have tried over gthe years to find a copy of the original version but have been unsuccessful. If anyone know how I can obtain the original please contact me.
Not all accurate
When I saw this movie I was only about 11 years old. I did like it. Other people find it boring but for the time era it was made this is a good movie.
- towermaster
- Dec 31, 2020
- Permalink
Volcano
- BandSAboutMovies
- Feb 1, 2024
- Permalink
The best kind of history: involvement with the people who lived through it.
With its low-key acting, and real, believable characters, this film was a superb re-enactment of what became a nightmare for those closest to it. At first, no one is able to believe what is predicted to be coming. Gradually, the reality becomes inescapable. Art Carney, as Harry S. Truman, is completely believable, and understandable, as a man set in his ways and content with his life, unwilling to run away and perhaps unable to comprehend the totality of the disaster that is looming. How very human! We would all like terribly realities to go away, but often they are worse even than the forecasts. In light of 9/11, the poignancy of the human relationships in this film is even greater. We are so vulnerable in the face of many of the events of life, and the most important things we have to cling to are each other, and our relationships to the people we love, and to life itself. A haunting, under-rated film.
Funny
Pretty decent Rom Com involving a volcano. Prequel to Jo versus the Volcano. Great special effects.
- bevo-13678
- Mar 31, 2020
- Permalink
I was there
I was in a commercial airline flying from LA to Spokane when Mt. St. Helens erupted. Upon arrival in Spokane we drove to Moscow, Idaho through a storm of dust. The next morning 3 feet of ash covered the ground around our house. This movie reminded me of hat tragic day.
Well above average TV movie
- steeleronaldr
- Jan 31, 2022
- Permalink
Artie Versus the Volcano!
"St. Helens" is based on the factual series of volcanic explosions and the eventual eruption as they occurred between end of march and 18th of May 1980. Real people died and real human tragedies happened here, so in case you wonder, this is the reason why the film is much less sensational and much more serene than other, contemporary disaster movies... *cough* Irwin Allen's movies *cough*.
Still, though, and with all do respect for the casualties, our titular volcano couldn't have picked out a better era to erupt! Throughout the entire 70s and during the early 80s, large-scaled disaster movies were extremely popular, especially when natural disasters were involved. "St. Helens" - not a small or minor TV-production, mind you - was released in theaters 15 months after the date of the eruption. Now, that's what I call commitment and grabbing the opportunity when it occurs.
In spite of being less loud and spectacular than the others, it simply must be emphasized that "St. Helens" still features a lot of genuine disaster-movie trademarks. It has a strong cast (Art Carney, Albert Salmi, Ron O'Neal...) and ditto director (Ernest Pintoff of "Jaguar Lives!"), and a screenplay chock-full of delightful clichés. As usual, the cast is divided into two camps; - the smart people who realize the volcano is going to erupt and cause a lot of damage, and the dumb bunch who deny everything and stubbornly refuse to evacuate. In good "Jaws" tradition, the ignorant local politician and entrepreneur Clyde Whittaker even claims all the media fuzz is bad for tourism, and forces his employees to sign forms to continue working.
Last but certainly not least, and truly surprising, "St. Helens" is quite a comical film despite its fateful content. This is mainly due/thanks to the character played by Art Carney. His Harry Truman is an elderly and deeply cynical owner of a lodge on the outskirts of the volcano. He also refuses to leave the area, but not so much because he doesn't believe in an eruption, but just because he's old and stubborn. Also some of the situations with noisy tourists are hilarious. Some of the best quotes include: "shut up, or I'll rip your tongue out and mail it to your mother" (says a husband to his wife) and "I'm not coming off this mountain. I don't care what anyone says; - the governor, the President of the United States or the King of England". To which an English journalist responds the UK has queen nowadays. Harry's response: "That's your problem!"
Still, though, and with all do respect for the casualties, our titular volcano couldn't have picked out a better era to erupt! Throughout the entire 70s and during the early 80s, large-scaled disaster movies were extremely popular, especially when natural disasters were involved. "St. Helens" - not a small or minor TV-production, mind you - was released in theaters 15 months after the date of the eruption. Now, that's what I call commitment and grabbing the opportunity when it occurs.
In spite of being less loud and spectacular than the others, it simply must be emphasized that "St. Helens" still features a lot of genuine disaster-movie trademarks. It has a strong cast (Art Carney, Albert Salmi, Ron O'Neal...) and ditto director (Ernest Pintoff of "Jaguar Lives!"), and a screenplay chock-full of delightful clichés. As usual, the cast is divided into two camps; - the smart people who realize the volcano is going to erupt and cause a lot of damage, and the dumb bunch who deny everything and stubbornly refuse to evacuate. In good "Jaws" tradition, the ignorant local politician and entrepreneur Clyde Whittaker even claims all the media fuzz is bad for tourism, and forces his employees to sign forms to continue working.
Last but certainly not least, and truly surprising, "St. Helens" is quite a comical film despite its fateful content. This is mainly due/thanks to the character played by Art Carney. His Harry Truman is an elderly and deeply cynical owner of a lodge on the outskirts of the volcano. He also refuses to leave the area, but not so much because he doesn't believe in an eruption, but just because he's old and stubborn. Also some of the situations with noisy tourists are hilarious. Some of the best quotes include: "shut up, or I'll rip your tongue out and mail it to your mother" (says a husband to his wife) and "I'm not coming off this mountain. I don't care what anyone says; - the governor, the President of the United States or the King of England". To which an English journalist responds the UK has queen nowadays. Harry's response: "That's your problem!"
A Whimpy Little Disaster Flick
Like most docu-drama disaster flicks, this film is pretty boring and has little to note. About all it has going for it is the fact that you know how the film is going to end... in disaster. The only reason you keep watching this is the morbid curiosity of which characters are going to die.
Somewhat a slow movie but predictable.
The movie St. Helens was a bit slow, especially how the film was drawing up the timelines. Simply I knew what I was waiting for during the whole time was May 18, 1980 at 8:32 a.m. for the "big explosion." Needless to say, the film was a bit dull but that is almost an unfair comparison when its compared to witnessing Mt. St. Helens unleash her fury in real life. What mountain is next?