Wuchak
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+
MartinHafer
Growing up, I was often subjected to Irwin Allen films because my father loved them. So, I was one of MANY people back in 1974 who saw this film in the theater. I didn't remember it all too well today (I was only 10 when I first saw it) but found it in a 4 pack of movies someone bought me....so I thought, what the heck...why not? However, I must tell you that most of the Irwin Allen films I've seen recently I didn't like...and I was expecting the same for "The Towering Inferno". Why do I say I am not a huge Irwin Allen film fan? Well, a few things he was known for I don't care for in movies....explosions and mayhem as well as many, many 'guest starring roles'...you know, when the film's budget seems to mostly be on getting as many big stars and has-beens to appear in it. This is why I am not a huge fan of "Airport" and its sequels as well as "Midway"...too many guests and not enough money spent on writing. "The Towering Inferno" has all of this...so it's definitely going to be a tough sell for me.The plot to the film is pretty simple. The world's tallest building is being dedicated but what the chief architect (Paul Newman) does not realize is that the boss' pusillanimous son-in-law (Richard Chamberlain) is a weasel but substituted the wiring in the specs with much cheaper wiring that makes the place a giant tinderbox. Only after a big gala party begins on the rooftop do they realize that the place is ablaze and a lotta folks are gonna die.For what it was, this film actually surprised me. Sure, there are some of the usual one-dimensional Irwin Allen characters but a few were pretty interesting and the film seemed to make the most out of the disaster genre. I especially appreciate its take on human nature, as many of the folks are simply selfish idiots! My only complaint is that MOST of the women in the film are simply there to scream and cry! Now I am NOT saying it's a great film...but if you have to watch a disaster flick, this is much better than most.
Hitchcoc
At this point in time Hollywood would come up with an idea and then beat it to death. The Towering Inferno is the story of a fire in a skyscraper and all the implications of it. We have the obligatory ensemble cast. We have good guys and bad guys. If we use "Airport" as a benchmark, there is the person who, despite warnings to the contrary, does things that endanger everyone. There is the old couple who must stay together because they have always loved each other. There is the heroic fellow who was a coward before. There is the guy everyone respected who now is a coward. There is the suspense element with the rescue forces doing their best but realizing they had never anticipated this. The biggest positive is that it keeps one on the edge of his/her seat. It is non-stop action and really long.
Leofwine_draca
This is by far my favourite disaster movie of all time, a film that transcends its somewhat cheesy genre origins to become one of the greatest movies ever made – full stop! It helps that it was the first film I ever saw, at the age of four, and even re-watching it today I can remember many of the classic moments. I was so young back then that I couldn't even pronounce the title – I used to call it 'The Fire in the Flats'! Although it's a lengthy movie, the running time is justified, because there's never a second wasted. The skyscraper setting is perfectly utilised, transforming from a posh, technologically advanced masterpiece of design into a raging death trap spelling destruction for many of those trapped inside. I get shivers just thinking about it. Director John Guillerman does a splendid job of building suspense and terror in equal measure and the result is a taut masterpiece. The script is also unusually good, a combination of two popular 'burning skyscraper' novels in one satisfying whole.What else is there to say? Great choreography – the fire itself is almost a living creation, more terrifying than many a movie monster. The action scenes are hair-raising, especially the bit on the broken stairwell. John Williams' score is music at its melodramatic best. And the cast – what a cast! McQueen and Newman butting heads and Newman coming off tops as the heroic architect (although that's not to deny McQueen's presence as the fire chief); Faye Dunaway and Jennifer Jones lending Hollywood glamour; Fred Astaire as a lovely old man; Richard Chamberlain as one of film's most loathsome villains; plus minor roles from familiar faces like Robert Vaughn, O.J. Simpson, and Robert Wagner. Add in effects that still stand the test of time even today and you have one fantastic movie.
AD
