stars off the soundstage, telling them  to stay calm and walk slowly. The "earthquake footage" of Fields was  played in newsreels across the country in the weeks following the  1933 quake. Nearly forty years later, however, director Eddie  Sutherland admitted that the "earthquake footage" was a hoax  concocted by Fields and himself. It was done by rigging wires on the  lamp and chandelier, and shaking the camera to simulate an  earthquake. Sutherland claimed that he and Fields were amazed when  the "earthquake footage" was accepted as genuine by newsreel  distributors. "We shared a big laugh and an even bigger drink," the  director recalled. To this day, the fake "earthquake footage" is  occasionally broadcast and accepted as genuine by entertainment TV  shows such as "Access Hollywood."