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The Towering Inferno (1974),
Director: John Guillermin, rated PG
One Tiny Spark
Becomes a Night of Blazing Suspense
  Starring: Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, William Holden, Faye
Dunaway, Fred Astaire, Susan Blakely, Richard Chamberlain,
Jennifer Jones, O. J. Simpson, Robert Vaughn, Robert Wagner
DML Rating:
★★★★★★★☆☆☆
- good
"Now you know there's no
sure way for us to fight a fire in anything over the 7th floor.
But you guys just keep building them as high as you can." -
Chief O'Hallorhan
Why watch this?
This is a harrowing flick, chock full of both terrible and heroic
moments.
Plot Summary:
Set in San Francisco, the film depicts a catastrophic fire
erupting in the world's tallest skyscraper during its grand
opening celebration. The architect and a fire chief lead efforts
to rescue the trapped partygoers, facing immense challenges as
the blaze intensifies. The disaster is ultimately attributed to
cost-cutting measures by the building's contractor, highlighting
themes of corporate greed and heroism in the face of peril.
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Dad's Preview:
70's disaster films usually featured current hot actors. This
film is no exception, built on three megastars in Paul Newman,
Faye Dunaway and Steve McQueen. Then you backfill the large supporting cast
with aging
stars (many of whom will courageously succumb one at a time
for dramatic effect). Here a skyscraper is burning. As
the flames grow and move upward, the situation gets more and
more grim.
There are some thrilling sequences as firemen battle the blaze,
and a daring rescue takes place. The ever cool Steve McQueen
steals the film as the stern, determined Fire Chief O'Hallorhan. |
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Warner Bros.,
Irwin Allen Productions; 20th Century Fox |
