Incidents and character names were taken from both novels. Very, very, VERY fun to see . The Towering Inferno was based on two novels - The Tower and The Glass Inferno, 20th and Warners realised they had bought rights to essentially the same story so decided to merge them and the budgets. The Towering Inferno. Directed By: Michael Bay Produced By: Jerry Bruckheimer Executive Producer: Steven Spielberg, George Lucas & Ron Howard Plot Architect Doug Roberts returns to San Francisco for the dedication of the Glass Tower, which he designed for contractor James Duncan. The Towering Inferno (1,912) 7.0 2 h 44 min 1974 Paul Newman and Steve McQueen headline an all-star cast in this blockbuster disaster epic as, 135 floors below the glittering inaugural gala dedicating the world's tallest skyscraper, an electrical fire ignites a conflagration that traps hundreds of party-goers in a Towering Inferno. Synopsis. [21], Although famed for his dancing and singing in musical movies, Fred Astaire received his only Oscar nomination for this film. Roberts reports the fire to Duncan, who is courting Senator Gary Parker for an urban renewal contract and refuses to order an evacuation. Sorry for failing to catch that earlier. The film opens to the apartment of single father Dae-ho and his pre-teen daughter Hana. An explosion near the 110th floor throws Lisolette from the elevator to her death and leaves the elevator hanging by a single cable, but O'Halloran rescues the elevator with a Navy helicopter. So if you haven't seen it yet, go rent it now and add it to your holiday list. The explosion destroys one of the emergency stairwells which they must traverse to reach an exit door leading to a service elevator which can take them to the 134th floor, below the Promenade Room. [17], The total cost for the film was US$14,300,000.[20]. 2023 Hearst UK is the trading name of the National Magazine Company Ltd, 30 Panton Street, Leicester Square, London, SW1Y 4AJ. It was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, winning three; Best Song, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing. Directed by John Guillermin, the film is a co-production between 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros., the first to be a joint venture by two major Hollywood studios. It's a technical achievement more concerned with special effects than with people. Consequently, everything about Towering Inferno means business compared to the goon show undercurrent of Poseidon Adventure. Blah blah blah, is this a remake of The Towering Inferno (1974). The special effects all look realbecause they were real! Lisolette Mueller, a guest being wooed by con man Harlee Claiborne, rushes to the 87th floor to check on a deaf mother. Set in San Francisco, the opening matte shot places the tower just about on the site where the Transamerica Pyramid now stands (five storeys of the doomed building were built on the lost at Foxs Malibu Ranch). During testing, an electrical short starts an undetected fire on the 81st floor just after another such short occurs in the main utility room. ), but also its suspenseful story: the life-risking escape attempt out of the multifunctional glass building on 150 stories height set ablaze by an undetected electrical short. On Christmas Eve, a 100-story apartment building is celebrating the holiday season. It's got more controlled pacing, less iffy toy-boat-in-tank effects, and a classically . Newman took up racing that year to brilliant success. July 2021 (United States) Lead actors Steve McQueen and Paul Newman were each paid $1million. Sam Neill was born in Omagh, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland, to army parents, an English-born mother, Priscilla Beatrice (Ingham), and a New Zealand-born father, Dermot Neill. This Rolex was his, given to him at a pivotal moment in his life by his wife, another movie star. The effects in this disaster movie are as good if not better than many Western blockbusters that cost 10 times more to make. Altanisetta. The SS Poseidon is a fictional transatlantic ocean liner that first appeared in the 1969 novel The Poseidon Adventure by Paul Gallico and later in four films based on the novel. In The Towering Inferno, faulty wiring ignited combustible cleaning materials to start the fireitself somewhat implausible since electrical switching equipment is not likely to be placed in a janitors closet. But both of these films were pre 9/11 and it's interesting to see what a sky scraper disaster movie looks like post 9/11. Director John Guillermin Writers Richard Martin Stern Thomas N. Scortia Frank M. Robinson Stars Paul Newman Steve McQueen William Holden See production, box office & company info However, trouble ensues when a passing helicopter crashes into it. Kate Beckinsale was born on 26 July 1973 in Hounslow, Middlesex, England, and has resided in London for most of her life. S o The Poseidon Adventure might still offer the same guiltless pleasure that affords a splashy remake, but don't expect a remake of Irwin Allen's 1974 follow-up The Towering Inferno anytime soon. If your looking for a good action pack, dramatic movies that keeps you on the edge of your seat, then this the right movie for you. I must mention the CGI, because generally with Asian films I think the CGI is lacking, but this one actually did quite a good job. Walter Matthau was cast in a cameo role, for which he was credited as Walter Matuschanskayasky. It's got more controlled pacing, less iffy toy-boat-in-tank effects, and a classically . EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Limited Or Anthology Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie. I think the Towering Inferno has aged very well. Bigelow and his girlfriend Lorrie are killed when a separate fire traps them in the Duncan Enterprises offices on the 65th floor. SFFD Chief Michael O'Halloran arrives and forces Duncan to evacuate the guests from the Promenade Room on the 135th floor. At the opening party of a colossal, but poorly constructed, office building, a massive fire breaks out that threatens to destroy the tower and everyone in it. Most of the party-goers survive as water rushes through the ruined building, extinguishing the flames. While The Towering Inferno featured a larger all star cast, Universal was able to land Charlton Heston in the lead role. The genre came to particular prominence during the 1970s with the release of high-profile films such as Airport (1970), followed in quick succession by The Poseidon Adventure (1972), Earthquake (1974) and The Towering Inferno (1974). A snippet of a cue from Williams score to Cinderella Liberty (1973) titled 'Maggie Shoots Pool' is heard in a scene when William Holden's character converses on the phone with Paul Newman's character. The third film featuringBen Affleckand Billy Bob Thornton (Armageddon &Daddy and them(2001) ). The Towering Inferno received generally positive reviews from critics and audiences alike upon its release. New York Times 18 Nov 1973: 157. The film is beautifully shot and directed, and every performance is spot-on. 3 An Off-Roading Star: 1970 Chevrolet K5 Blazer. Major Firms Will Produce Film Jointly The second film to feature Billy Bob Thornton, Michael Chikis and Cameron Boyce (Eagle Eyes (2008) ). One of my favourite big budgeted spectacle of a disaster type movie from the 70s, this Korean version written by Kim Sang-Don settles for similar set action pieces, from the parties, to the incidents, to some of the solutions, while adding some of the inherent melodrama from Korea, coupled with a very stark, and rather there for laughs, portrayal of those with religious faith. No it's all the stuff in between, where it plays out like some big heavy drama every other minute. Avoiding a head-to-head, they decided to pool their resources and the result was The Towering Inferno. Rami Said Malek (born May 12, 1981) is an American actor. An attempt at a helicopter rescue fails when panicky party-goers rush the helipad, causing the helicopter to veer off, crash, and set the roof ablaze. A woman getting insulted and slapped on her behind by her fiance when they are trying to escape the lift isn't much better. The effects are incredible and the suspense nail biting. For that reason, I went ahead, knowing I would have to read the captions. Well I did say I would get back to you when I had watched this movie. "The Towering Inferno" is notable not only for a string of stellar cast or its magnificent production ventures (presented by Warner Bros. and 20th Century Fox - superb! Where did they film The Towering Inferno? In fact, he says, the 1970s disaster films spoke for a lot of fears at the time, a lot of angst. Language When annoying children are intentionally made to act and talk like adults, it's a very clear sign of a poor writing. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. All Rights Reserved. The cast is excellent, the script decent, though heavy-handed, and the set pieces are decently dangerous, with some impressive stunts. Making of The Towering Inferno stonemere 1.61K subscribers 837 138K views 13 years ago A fascinating behind the scenes insight into the making of the epic disaster film - The Towering. Vanessa Anne Hudgens was born in Salinas, California. She has a younger sister, Stella Hudgens, who is also an actress. Or something along those lines. OK I'm a sucker for any movie with big red trucks with ladders and sirens so when I saw this on Netflix I thought I would scroll through if only just to look at the Korean fire appliances. Harry Melling started acting at the age of 10 in the Harry Potter films playing the role of Dudley Dursley.In his mid-teens he joined the National Youth Theatre appearing in a number of shows including "The Master and Margarita".Harry at the age of 18 attended the LAMDA (London Academy Of Music and Will Giddings, Doug's work colleague who is the very first victim of the incident"Payoffs and kickbacks, thats the only way he could have swung it.". George Clooney and Ben Affleck were Both played Batman, Clooney in Batman & Robin (1997), Affleck in Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice. 8.9/10 The Towering Inferno is a 1974 disaster movie about a 138 feet skyscraper at the night, got in a huge trouble and causes a night of blazing suspense, and it very fun! While its heroic, no-nonsense men provided some traditional comfort, The Towering Inferno still might provoke second thoughts about going into a skyscraper. Idea Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. Her family moved to California when she was young, and she grew up there. And when a turkey bores us and insults our intelligence for close to three hours, it shouldn't preen itself on its own morality. Most of whom wind up dying. "[30] Variety praised the film as "one of the greatest disaster pictures made, a personal and professional triumph for producer Irwin Allen. document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a0e412028b4047b104b9fda24eb97bf2" );document.getElementById("facec42938").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Panic amid towering inferno at Beirut's port. Another influence that can't be missed is the similarity of this incident and the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. What building did they use for Towering Inferno? Just as the firemen begin to bring the fire under control, the electrical system fails, deactivating the passenger elevators; OHallorhan must rappel down the elevator shaft to safety. Not CGI like now. There is a different balance of instruments in two spots, and in particular the snare drum is more prominent than the album version which also features additional cymbal work. Your email address will not be published. Security Chief Jernigan rescues the mother, but a ruptured gas line explodes and prevents Doug and the rest of the group from following. He wore this Rolex during many races over the next 15 years. As the impeccably handsome Dr. James Kildare, the slim, butter-haired hunk with the near-perfect Ivy-League charm and smooth, intelligent demeanor, had the distaff fans fawning unwavering over him through the series' run. I expected this to be really good after reading the reviews. Sylvester Stallone, John Travolta, Kurt Russell, Kevin Costner, Bruce Willis, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Laurence Fishburne & Russell Crowe were considered role of Michael O'Hallorhan. By ERIC PACE. The Towering Inferno is a sweet and the greatest disaster movie, and it's not too bad! Law has been nominated for two Academy Awards and continues to build a prolific body of work that spans from early successes such as Gattaca (1997) and The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) to more recent turns as Dr. John Watson in Sherlock Holmes (2009) and Sherlock Holmes: Mike O'Halloran, courageous and risk-taker chief of fire brigade"It's a fire. It's certainly too long, but The Towering Inferno holds up as one of the better 70s disaster films. The Towering Inferno - 1974 - HD Trailer - Steve McQueen - Paul Newman - William Holden. The problem isnt specifically that Skyscraper isnt a very original film; its technically not based on something, but that doesnt make it truly unique. Backdraft Engine 17 and Ladder 49 respond to the Towering Inferno. Holden was refused, his long-term standing as a box office draw having been eclipsed by both McQueen and Newman. The movie was well shot and the special effects were as good or better than the standard Hollywood movies of today. Idea Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. A gala party that's being at the luxurious 108 story high-rise building Tower Sky goes sour when an unexpected fire breaks out. towering inferno (plural towering infernos) (poetic) A tall fire, as of a building. What started the fire in Towering Inferno? I thought you meant it seemed a remake. Several actors who appeared in small roles, including John Crawford, Erik Nelson, Elizabeth Rogers, Ernie Orsatti, and Sheila Matthews, had previously appeared in The Poseidon Adventure which Allen also produced (Allen and Matthews were husband and wife). Don't get it twisted! The tower, 1,688 feet (515m) tall and 138 stories, is the world's tallest building. The film reunites the two lead actors fromReindeer Games(2000):Ben AffleckandCharlize Theron. She is a music artist and actress, known for Soul Surfer (2011), American Idol (2002) and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010). The 1974 film The Towering Inferno His mother is from the Iban people, an Indigenous group in Sarawak, and Henry completed the bejalai, an Iban Dan Bigelow, the Glass Tower's charming and flirt-expert public relation officer"Nobody's going to die.". High School Musical 3: Senior Year. A modern day Towering Inferno, Korean style. His father is English and his mother is Malaysian. His family moved to the South Island of New Zealand in 1954. Born on June 7, 1972, he is the son of a leather-goods manufacturer (who had hoped that Karl would follow in his footsteps). I completely forgot about The Towering Inferno until you mentioned it! . For this remake could be rewritten as the U.S. United States New Zealand The glass walk scene was also utterly amazing. Annette Bening was born on May 29, 1958 in Topeka, Kansas, the youngest of four children. How old is Paul Newman? Bad weather, but we don't care because the party is more important, check. The soundtrack was recorded May 1-3, 1961 at Reeves Sound Studios in New York City. To provide dual top billing, the credits were arranged diagonally, with McQueen lower left and Newman upper right. Is Skyscraper a remake of Towering Inferno? Trivia (14) Paul Newman was coached in playing the trombone by Billy Byers, while the playing for Newman on the soundtrack was done by Murray McEachern. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! The wealthy female 'villain' is comically bad, but as an act of revenge for her saying something mean, her little dog gets violently kicked by a supposedly good character, and it's supposed to be what, funny? Lisolette Mueller, a guest being wooed by con man Harlee Claiborne, rushes to the 87th floor to check on a deaf mother and her two children. The song's writers collaborated on "The Morning After" from The Poseidon Adventure, an Oscar-winning song which was also recorded by McGovern, although hers was not the vocal used in that film. Stream The Towering Inferno on HBO Max. His father had Irish ancestry and his Doug Roberts, creative architect of the Glass Tower who has high attentions to details"Are you here to take me on, or the fire?". Her mother, Gina Hudgens (ne Guangco), an office worker, is from the Philippines. Casting. ", Actor | "The Tower" (2012) is a big improvement in terms of overall quality. "[31] Vincent Canby of The New York Times wrote that the film is "overwrought and silly in its personal drama, but the visual spectacle is first rate. Like in all disaster films, we're introduced to a large cast. This is easily one of the best disaster films I've seen. towering inferno (plural towering infernos) (poetic) A tall fire, as of a building. "The Towering Inferno" Paul Newman and Steve McQueen headline an all star cast in this blockbuster epic as, 135 floors below the world's tallest skyscraper , an electrical fire ignites a conflagration that traps hundreds of partygoers in a towering inferno! Roberts rigs a gravity brake on the scenic elevator, allowing one trip down for twelve people, including Roberts' fiance Susan Franklin, Lisolette, and the children saved earlier by her and Roberts' efforts in the stairwell. For me it isn't, it's not because a disaster is taking place in a building that it is a remake of an old classic. Sorry for failing to catch that earlier. As firemen begin to bring the fire under control on floor 65, the electrical system fails, deactivating the passenger elevators; O'Halloran must rappel down the elevator shaft to safety. Actor Joanne Woodward gifted this Rolex to her husband, Paul Newman, in 1969. Very, very, VERY fun to see. Crisis King Casts Another Peril: Movies King of the Crises Casts Another Peril Warga, Wayne. AFTER "GODSPELL" SELECTED SHORTS I DISMEMBER MAMA? The man was an avid proponent of the capsule wardrobe, never going far without his versatile blue denim jeans, Harrington jacket and iconic Persol sunglasses. In The Towering Inferno, faulty wiring ignited combustible cleaning materials to start the fireitself somewhat implausible since electrical switching equipment is not likely to be placed in a janitors closet. Was Paul Newmans son in The Towering Inferno? PG-13 (for extended and intense disaster action/violence, some strong language and brief drug use) "The Towering Inferno" is notable not only for a string of stellar cast or its magnificent production ventures (presented by Warner Bros. and 20th Century Fox - superb! It's three hours long, it cost something like $13 million to make which was a lot at the time and it's an example of Hollywood commercial moviemaking at its finest. In the cast list rolling from top to bottom at the film's end, however, McQueen and Newman's names were arranged diagonally as at the beginning; as a consequence, Newman's name is fully visible first there. I just wish it had been done a little better. It is set for dedication in San Francisco, and a lavish ceremony . Bigelow and his mistress Lorrie are killed when fire traps them in the Duncan Enterprises offices on the 65th floor. The site's consensus states: "Although it is not consistently engaging enough to fully justify its towering runtime, The Towering Inferno is a blustery spectacle that executes its disaster premise with flair. His first acting role was when he was 8 -- he had a line on a television series. is intrinsically good while pain is intrinsically bad, so anything that brings pleasure has intrinsic value. You may not come out of the theater with any important ideas about American architecture or enterprise, but you will have had a vivid, completely safe nightmare. Bodies in Towering Inferno are, as Paul Newman and Premieres Bad Movies We Love say, hamburgers, consumed for the protein of Allens alleged civic altruism. the second film of Intolerable Cruelty (2003) with George Clooney & Billy Bob Thornton. I wasn't wrong and it also appeared to have some Backdraft and Ladder 49 influences as well. During the dedication ceremony, chief of public relations Dan Bigelow turns on all the tower's lights, but Roberts orders them shut off to reduce the load on the electrical system. Though the scenic elevator is still working, the stairways from the Promenade Room are blocked one by fire, the other by mishandled cement. Only on rare ocassions has the remake been just as good . Rating Roberts suspects that Roger Simmons, the electrical subcontractor and Duncan's son-in-law, cut corners. Director Ji-hoon Kim, who also co-wrote the tight and compelling script with Sang-don Kim, relates the gripping story at a brisk pace, takes time to carefully develop the characters so the viewer has a genuine emotional investment in their harrowing plight, vividly captures a strong sense of mounting fear, dismay, panic, and hysteria, builds plenty of gut-wrenching suspense (a sequence where several people have to cross a precarious glass bridge rates as a definite nail-biting highlight), and stages the fiercely rousing action with considerable skill, scope, and brio. It's one of the film's inspirations, that's for. A few disaster scenes are impressive. The helicopter crash scene was awesome! The script by Hrant Barsegyan, Arsen Danielyan, Aleksey Gravitskiy and Sergey Yudakov reportedly reflects true stories of rescue and survival culled from documentation and the accounts of eyewitnesses. If youd like to join in, please sign in or register. The Towering Inferno was released theatrically on December 16, 1974. If you enjoy disaster movies and found enjoyment in "Backdraft" then you should most definitely sit down and watch the South Korean movie "The Tower" (aka "Ta-weo"), because it far outshines "Backdraft". She developed a love for acting very early on, attending several youth theatre groups and taking part in a wide range of productions at Lorrie, Dan Bigelow's secretary and love interest"I always did want to die in bed. By A. H. WEILER. Titled "The Promenade Room" on the conductor's cue sheet, the track features a ragged ending as Duncan asks the house band to stop playing. An excellent and exciting Korean disaster winner, Bad writing. DIGITAL SPY, PART OF THE HEARST UK ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK. One of Hollywoods most enduring marriages begins on January 29, 1958, when Paul Newman weds Joanne Woodward in Las Vegas, Nevada. Technically brilliant, solid remake of 1974's The Towering Inferno. She has been married to Mike Fisher since July 10, 2010. 10 Best Paul Newman Movies, According To Rotten Tomatoes. The Glass Inferno was purchased by Warner Brothers for $390,000, and The Tower was bought by 20 th Century Fox just eight weeks later. Was there a remake of The Towering Inferno? Interior shots of the building were of San Franciscos Hyatt Regency. The last quarter of the film is surprisingly decent, but I can't say it makes up for the rest of it. A blast from start to finish with some all-timer performances by Gene Hackman, Shelley Winters (an Oscar nominated role), and Ernest Borgnine, it's a riveting film about a capsized cruise ship and the survivors' journey to escape the sinking, upside-down ocean liner. Offsite Link by Anonymous reply 331 April 13, 2023 6:10 PM And it's not just the kid who seems to be crying from start to finish well almost. Designed to be a spectacle, the movie . Read the transcript Trailer transcripts Credits Home media Soundtrack Production Trivia Gallery This is the second film featuringBilly Bob Thornton andGeorge Clooney(Intolerable Cruetly ). BS-2840). Registered in England. The film received generally positive reviews from critics, and earned around $203.3 million, taking place as the highest-grossing film of 1974. Drive Carefully Me is the inscription Woodward had engraved on the watchs back. John Guillermin, the veteran British director best known for star-laden, special effects-driven action epics most notably "The Towering Inferno" and the 1976 remake of "King Kong . 1974 - The Towering Inferno - John Guillermin & Irwin Allen. [38] When combined with the rentals from the United States and Canada, the worldwide rental is $104,838,000. Harlee Claiborne Running time Originally from Wellington, New Zealand, Karl Urban now lives in Auckland. In honor of the late great Paul Newman and the King of Cool Steve McQueen, here is a modernized trailer for the 1974 film that brought both of them together.. It's a site that collects all the most frequently asked questions and answers, so you don't have to spend hours on searching anywhere else. What would you say if they did a remake of Towering Inferno? In the opening scene, Doug Roberts (Paul Newman) travels by helicopter to San Francisco where he is chief architect for Duncan Enterprises, an architectural firm specializing in skyscrapers. Smoke is seen on the 81st floor, and the San Francisco Fire Department is summoned. The first real disaster movies originated in the 30s. Liam Neeson Tom Hanks Andrew Garfield Matt Damon Judah Lewis Dylan Minnette Elle Fanning Owen Wilson Anna Popplewell Benedict Cumberbatch Gal Gadot John David Washington Tom Hardy Gerald Butler Jeremy Renner Duncan consoles his grieving daughter and promises that such a disaster will never happen again. And then theres the World Trade Center, which actually played a prominent role in one of the two adapted books as the shorter skyscraper down the block where the breach-buoy rescue line establishes its receiving station to rescue the poor rich society figureheads trapped on the promenade deck of the burning building. She graduated from San Francisco State University and began her acting career with the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, Lisolette, the widowed woman of taste whom Harlee Claiborne falls in love with"How can you cheat people effectively if you don't really enjoy cheating?". Its even more phallic than Titanic, appropriately stiff (in every which way) as a result of the then-engorged rush of spermy box-office dollars pumping new life into a Hollywood desperate for a new genre trick. The Towering Inferno is a remake of the 1974 film. Walter Matthau was cast in a cameo role, for which he was credited as Walter Matuschanskayasky. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Report Content | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. There are lots of people trapped inside the building and rescuers doing their best to save them. So I come up with the casting concept first: it will feature mainly senior actors (while also maintaining the currently popular ones), both theatrical and TV, whose acting performances, in my opinion, are potentially helpful to make the film as reputable as the original one at the box office roundup. Roberts reports the fire to Duncan, who is courting Senator Gary Parker for an urban renewal contract and refuses to order an evacuation. Actress, producer and longtime spouse of Paul Newman, Woodward is perhaps best known for her Academy Award-winning role in The Three Faces of Eve in 1957. Christmas Eve. The Sixth Collaboration of Michael Bay & Jerry Bruckheimer. Exactly what you expect in a big-budget disaster movie taut suspense, thrilling sequences, and overwrought emotions to leave you on an adrenaline high, Korean version of The Towering Inferno, and nearly as fun.
