And really, it's riveting in the way few movies are, because it works on so many levels. You have the inter personal stories involving love, greed and corruption. You have impending doom, certain death and explosions. All this is combined with dialogue served with so much fromage, it's like the Atkins platter of movies.
James Duncan: Senator Parker is flying in from Washington tonight for the dedication ceremony. He's almost guaranteed to sign the Urban Renewal Contract. Do you know what that means? Skyscrapers like this all over the country. You design 'em and I'll build 'em.Doug Roberts: Don't you think you're suffering from an edifice complex?
I rest my case. How can you not be a sucker for a line like that? Especially when it's spoken by Paul Newman.
A-list actors. Bad dialogue. Unbelievable script. You know, this is nothing different than George Lucas is doing these days, and people stand in line for months to see his movies. At least Inferno didn't pretend to be more important than it was.
If you have never seen this movie, I dare you to watch it and not be riveted. Look past the cliche script and you'll see great cinematography in action, a few good acting turns and a story line that makes the 2 ½ hour viewing time go by in a snap.
Don't listen to Lileks and other naysayers. Earthquakes, tornados and global warming be damned. Astaire, McQueen and Newman make Inferno the greatest disaster movie ever.
Here's your proof:
The Towering Inferno received Academy Awards nominations for Best Picture, Supporting Actor (Astaire), Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound, Editing, Song ("We May Never Love This Way Again"), and Score. It won three of the awards, for Cinematography, Editing and Song.
What other disaster movie can claim such pedigree?
Stay tuned for my statement in support of Earthquake.
Article comments
1 - uao
I was a kid when disaster movies were big, and Towering Inferno was my favorite (I was 9; my cheese detector had not yet developed), with Poseidon Adventure #2.
My biggest quarrel with the film (even at that time) was how could there be enough water in the rooftop water tower to extinguish a fire that was burning on 50 floors? It would've reuired a water tower as tall as the 138-story building itself.
You're right on about the dialogue; they don't quite write 'em like that anymore.
I look forward to future entries in your series. Hope you include Airports '75, '77, and '79.
2 - Jak Castro
Interesting perspective Michele. However Poseidon Adventure was definetly the more prominent of the early 70's disaster flicks and certainly has the longer "sea legs". Poseidon has spawned a regretable sequel, and has been remade as a four hour TV miniseries. Warner Bros is also undertaking a big screen remake as well, starring Clive Owen. Poseidon also received nine Oscar nominations including Best Supporting Actress for Shelley Winters (who won the Golden Globe for the same performance), and won two of it's Oscars including Best Special Effects. Poseidon has spawned an International fan club with a huge database of fans, numerous stage re-enactments, and more than a few documentaries on the fan base. Towering Inferno, as great as it was, just didn't live on....
Also want to clarify that neither Poseidon nor Inferno were directed by Irwin Allen. Allen produced both films but each had their own director of note.
Looking forward to your statement in support of Poseidon.
Keep on capsizing....
3 - DrPat
I'll put in my vote for Volcano - no Fred Astaire, but Tommy Lee Jones, and I just have to cheer when the lava crosses Selpuveda two blocks from where I used to work.
Make some popcorn, hon, we're watching LA burn tonight (in a good way, of course.)
4 - Clay Coey
While a great argument is made in defense of The Towering Inferno...I must chime in to say that it doesn't even hold a candle to The Poseidon Adventure OR Cameron's Titanic. The Towering Inferno (while still one of Irwin Allen's Crown Jewels) is INFINITELY inferior to Poseidon.
---While the above writer seems in awe of Fred Astaire (who had about 15 total lines of dialogue in the whole film), she seems to forget that his "nomination" (or rather "abom-inomination") was probably Oscar's way of throwing old Fred a bone for over-looking all his greatness 25 years prior in perhaps the greatest5 musicals of all time.
---Add to that, the fact that OJ Simpson, Robert Vaughan, Robert Wagner, Susan Blakely, AND Dabney Coleman AND Mike Lookinland are in this film...and it seems more like a gathering of the All-Time Worst Actor's to Carry a SAG Card Convention." THANK GOD McQueen took heart in his role, because Newman phoned his in, and Bill Holden goes from dopey dialogue to punching Richard Chaimberlain in the gut all in one minute.
---Towering Inferno plays more like "The Days of Our Lives On Fire" and less like a true disaster film. While I personally LOVE the film (as I am, a HUGE Irwin Allen fan)...I honestly cannot say that I think it is really that much better than say...Airport '75.
---However, to add some fuel to the debate...HERE are the 5 greatest "disaster films" in my opinion.
1) THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE
2) TITANIC
3) AIRPORT '77
4) TWISTER
5) ARMAGEDDON
5 - terry
I think all of seventies childeren were damaged by these movies. But...... my favourite is earthquake especially when the bell tower collapes. Love the seventies design of towering inferno, used to hate the colors but actually the sets are gorgeous. U guys ever think a remake could be made or is it not a good subject these days. The elevator collapse still scares the bejebubs out of me.