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Scope Note:

Fictional work depicting a large-scale natural or man-made calamity, such as an airplane crash or a wreck at sea, that isolates a group of people in imminent danger. They must devise at least part of their method of escape (sometimes outside assistance awaits) with only minimal materials at hand. Principle source of tension is in the question of how the extraordinary measures necessary for a rescue will be implemented and which of the varied and often self-destructive characters will have the inner resources to endure the ordeal. Feature examples: AIRPORT (with Aviation); ABANDON SHIP!; EARTHQUAKE; THE HURRICANE; KRAKATOA--EAST OF JAVA (with Historical); A NIGHT TO REMEMBER (with Historical); THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE; SAN FRANCISCO (with Historical); THE TOWERING INFERNO. TV examples: THE BIG ONE: THE GREAT LOS ANGELES EARTHQUAKE; FIRE! TRAPPED ON THE 37TH FLOOR

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