20th Century Fox
Warner Bros. Pictures
Not part of a collection.
The Towering Inferno
One tiny spark becomes a night of blazing suspense.
At the opening party of a colossal—but poorly constructed—skyscraper, a massive fire breaks out, threatening to destroy the tower and everyone in it.
- Original title
- The Towering Inferno
- Language
- EN
- Country
- US
- Budget
- $14,000,000
- Revenue
- $116,000,000
John Chard
Jun 4, 2019 · via TMDB
The crowning glory of a much maligned genre. A newly built state of the art high-rise is hosting a big society gathering when a fire starts up on the 81st floor... Warner Brothers & 20th Century Fox were both keen to cash in on the success of 1972s The Poseidon Adventure, Warner's buying the rights to The Tower, and Fox buying the rights to The Glass Inferno, both novels about burning skyscrapers and seemingly ripe for a big screen adaptation. Enter producer Irwin Allen who smartly suggested that both studios should come together and produce one blockbusting genre defining film. Splitting the cost down the middle, The Towering Inferno was born and went on to make over $100 million across the globe, a very impressive take for its time, and certainly a shot in the arm for disaster genre enthusiasts. The Towering Inferno is far from flawless, it contains some cheese sodden dialogue, and the film's running time doesn't quite do the film any favours. However, the film's strengths far outweigh the handful of negatives that are often used to beat it up with. The sets are fabulous (Academy Award Nominated) and all to perish in the fire, the cinematography from Fred J Koenekamp (Academy Award Winner) is lush and puts the fire in the eyes, while the score from John Williams (Academy Award Nominated) is suitably poignant and edgy. What about the action sequences? The set pieces? With many of the illustrious cast doing their own stunts! All impacting sharp on the ears thanks to the brilliant sound from Soderberg & Lewis (Academy Award Nominated), with the cast itself a reminder of a wonderful time when only the big names were considered for the big projects, McQueen, Newman, Holden, Astaire (Academy Award Nominated) & Dunaway rolling off the tongue like a who's who of entertainment heavyweights. Some say that The Towering Inferno finally killed off the ailing disaster genre, no it didn't, it crowned it, and all the others that followed were merely trailing in its wake. The Towering Inferno is a spectacular production that positively booms with high entertainment values, no expense is spared in the pursuit of entertaining the masses, it's thoughtful in texture and it teaches as it plays and it remains to me a wonderful archaic gem. 9/10
Wuchak
Aug 9, 2018 · via TMDB
Successful 70’s disaster flick isn’t anywhere near as entertaining as “The Poseidon Adventure” RELEASED IN 1974 and directed by John Guillermin, "The Towering Inferno" details events in San Francisco when the world's tallest building, The Glass Tower (138 stories), catches aflame due to an electrical short and threatens hundreds of lives during the grand dedication ceremony. Paul Newman plays the architect, Steve McQueen the fire chief, William Holden the wealthy contractor and Richard Chamberlain his arrogant cost-cutting son-in-law. This overblown disaster flick has a great all-star cast and was a huge success at the box office, but it pales in comparison to “The Poseidon Adventure,” released two years earlier. It lacks the compelling story, the great human interest and iconic score (even though John Williams composed both), plus it’s 48 minutes longer than “Poseidon,” which gives it a tedious vibe; that is, until the engrossing last half hour. On the female front there’s the striking Faye Dunaway, the architect’s babe; Susan Blakely, who looks great in tight slacks; and Susan Flannery, who’s smokin’ in a shirt & panties. Unfortunately, whereas “Poseidon” knocked it out of the ballpark with its women, “Towering” fails to capitalize on its resources. The film’s has its attractions and is still worth seeing if you favor the cast and 70’s disaster flicks. It’s just a letdown considering its streamlined predecessor and potential. THE MOVIE RUNS 2 hours, 45 minutes and was shot in San Francisco and Los Angeles. WRITERS: Stirling Silliphant wrote the script based on the books “The Tower” by Richard Martin Stern and “The Glass Inferno” by Thomas N. Scortia & Frank M. Robinson. ADDITIONAL CAST NOTABLES: Fred Astaire, Jennifer Jones, O.J. Simpson, Robert Vaughn, Robert Wagner and Mike Lookinland (aka Bobby Brady). GRADE: B-/C+
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Philo
Steve McQueen
Chief O'Hallorhan
Paul Newman
Doug Roberts
William Holden
Jim Duncan
Faye Dunaway
Susan
Fred Astaire
Harlee Claiborne
Susan Blakely
Patty
Richard Chamberlain
Simmons
Jennifer Jones
Lisolette
O. J. Simpson
Jernigan
Robert Vaughn
Senator Parker
Robert Wagner
Bigelow
Susan Flannery
Lorrie
Sheila Allen
Paula Ramsay
Norman Burton
Giddings
Jack Collins
Mayor Ramsay
Don Gordon
Kappy
Felton Perry
Scott
Gregory Sierra
Carlos
Ernie F. Orsatti
Mark Powers
Dabney Coleman
Deputy Chief #1
Elizabeth Rogers
Lady in Buoy
Norman Grabowski
Flaker
Ross Elliott
Deputy Chief #2
Olan Soule
Johnson
Carlena Gower
Angela Allbright
Mike Lookinland
Phillip Allbright
Carol McEvoy
Mrs. Allbright
Scott Newman
Young Fireman
Paul Comi
Tim
George D. Wallace
Chief Officer
Patrick Culliton
Technician
William Bassett
Leading Agent
John Crawford
Callahan
Erik L. Nelson
Wes
Leoda Richards
Party Guest (uncredited)
Ruth Foster
Party Guest (uncredited)
Maureen McGovern
Singer at Party (uncredited)
Steven Marlo
Fireman (uncredited)
Nikita Knatz
Production Illustrator
Joseph F. Biroc
Additional Photography
Thomas Laughridge
Camera Operator
Fred J. Koenekamp
Director of Photography
Jean Burt Reilly
Hairstylist
Bob Yerkes
Stunts
Bruce Paul Barbour
Stunts
Chuck Waters
Stunts
Dar Robinson
Stunts
David Sharpe
Stunts
Dean Smith
Stunts
Eddie Hice
Stunts
Erik Cord
Stunts
Ernie F. Orsatti
Stunts
Felix Silla
Stunts
Fred Lerner
Stunts
Gary Epper
Stunts
Gene LeBell
Stunts
George Fisher
Stunts
George P. Wilbur
Stunts
Gil Perkins
Stunts
Jack Verbois
Stunts
James Winburn
Stunts
Jeannie Epper
Stunts
Julius LeFlore
Stunts
Lightning Bear
Stunts
Loren Janes
Stunts
Paul Newman
Stunts
Regis Parton
Stunts
Sandra Lee Gimpel
Stunts
Steve McQueen
Stunts
Thomas Rosales Jr.
Stunts
Tony Brubaker
Stunts
Tony Epper
Stunts
Troy Melton
Stunts
Walter Robles
Stunts
Irwin Allen
Action Director
Newt Arnold
Assistant Director
John Guillermin
Director
Irwin Allen
Producer
John Williams
Original Music Composer
Al Kasha
Songs
Frank M. Robinson
Novel
Stirling Silliphant
Screenplay
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The 355
Dec 14, 1974
