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The Towering Inferno
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The Towering Inferno (1974) More at IMDbPro »

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The Towering Inferno (1974) -- At the opening party of a collosal, but poorly constructed, office building, a massive fire breaks out that threatens to destroy the tower and everyone in it.
The Towering Inferno (1974) -- Trailerfan.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
6.8/10   13,129 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 149% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Writers:
Richard Martin Stern (novel)
Thomas N. Scortia (novel) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Towering Inferno on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
14 joulukuu 1974 (USA) more
Genre:
Action | Thriller | Drama more
Tagline:
One Tiny Spark Becomes A Night Of Blazing Suspense. more
Plot:
At the opening party of a collosal, but poorly constructed, office building, a massive fire breaks out that threatens to destroy the tower and everyone in it. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Won 3 Oscars. Another 8 wins & 12 nominations more
User Comments:
McQueen and Newman create sparks more (151 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Steve McQueen ... Fire Chief Michael O'Hallorhan

Paul Newman ... Doug Roberts

William Holden ... Jim Duncan

Faye Dunaway ... Susan

Fred Astaire ... Harlee Claiborne

Susan Blakely ... Patty Duncan Simmons

Richard Chamberlain ... Roger Simmons
Jennifer Jones ... Lisolette Muller
O.J. Simpson ... Harry Jernigan

Robert Vaughn ... Senator Gary Parker

Robert Wagner ... Dan Bigelow
Susan Flannery ... Lorrie
Sheila Allen ... Paula Ramsay (as Sheila Mathews)
Norman Burton ... Will Giddings (as Normann Burton)
Jack Collins ... Mayor Robert Ramsay
Don Gordon ... Fireman Kappy
Felton Perry ... Fireman Scott
Gregory Sierra ... Carlos

Ernie F. Orsatti ... Fireman Mark Powers (as Ernie Orsatti)

Dabney Coleman ... Deputy Chief #1
Elizabeth Rogers ... Lady in Buoy
Ann Leicester ... Guest
Norman Grabowski ... Chief Petty Officer Flaker
Ross Elliott ... Deputy Chief #2
Olan Soule ... Johnson (as Olan Soulé)

Carlena Gower ... Angela Allbright
Mike Lookinland ... Phillip Allbright
Carol McEvoy ... Mrs. Allbright
Scott Newman ... Young Fireman
Paul Comi ... Fireman Tim
George Wallace ... Chief Officer
Patrick Culliton ... Technician

William Bassett ... Leasing Agent (as William H. Bassett)
John Crawford ... Callahan

Erik L. Nelson ... Wes (as Erik Nelson)
Art Balinger ... Announcer
Norman Hicks ... Pilot (as LCDR. Norman Hicks)
Thomas Karnahan ... Co-Pilot (as LTJG. Thomas Karnahan)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mike Johnson ... Fire Victim in Elevator (uncredited)
Maureen McGovern ... Herself - Singer at Party (uncredited)
John Moio ... Security Guard (uncredited)
Hank Robinson ... Dinner Guest (uncredited)
William Traylor ... Security Guard in Control Room (uncredited)
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Directed by
John Guillermin 
Irwin Allen (action sequences)
 
Writing credits
Richard Martin Stern (novel "The Tower")

Thomas N. Scortia (novel "The Glass Inferno") and
Frank M. Robinson (novel "The Glass Inferno")

Stirling Silliphant (screenplay)

Produced by
Irwin Allen .... producer
Sidney Marshall .... associate producer
 
Original Music by
John Williams 
 
Cinematography by
Fred J. Koenekamp (director of photography) (as Fred Koenekamp)
 
Film Editing by
Carl Kress 
Harold F. Kress 
 
Casting by
Jack Baur 
 
Production Design by
William J. Creber  (as William Creber)
 
Art Direction by
Ward Preston 
 
Set Decoration by
Raphael Bretton 
 
Costume Design by
Paul Zastupnevich 
 
Makeup Department
Naomi Cavin .... hair stylist
Susan Germaine .... hair stylist
Emile LaVigne .... makeup artist (as Emil La Vigne)
Jean Burt Reilly .... hair stylist
Monty Westmore .... makeup artist (as Monte Westmore)
 
Production Management
Norman A. Cook .... unit production manager
Jere Henshaw .... production supervisor: Twentieth Century-Fox
Hal Herman .... executive production manager
Richard Shepherd .... production supervisor: Warner Bros.
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Newt Arnold .... assistant director (as Newton Arnold)
Phil Ball .... second assistant director
Bob Bender .... second assistant director
Michael Grillo .... trainee assistant director (as Michael F. Grillo)
Malcolm R. Harding .... assistant director: action sequences (as Malcolm Harding)
Wesley J. McAfee .... assistant director (as Wes McAfee)
Donald White .... second assistant director (as Don White)
Don White .... second assistant director
 
Art Department
Tom Cranham .... production illustrator
Dan Goozee .... production illustrator
Nikita Knatz .... production illustrator
Jerry Kobold .... property master: action sequences
Robert McLaughlin .... property master
Joseph Musso .... production illustrator
Steven P. Sardanis .... assistant art director (as Steve Sardanis)
William Cruse .... set designer (uncredited)
Ron Greenwood .... assistant property master (uncredited)
Edward T. McAvoy .... scenic artist (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
John A. Bonner .... sound supervisor (as John Bonner)
Don Hall .... supervising sound editor
Herman Lewis .... production sound mixer
Theodore Soderberg .... sound re-recording mixer
John Speak .... sound mixer: second unit (uncredited)
 
Special Effects by
A.D. Flowers .... mechanical effects
Logan Frazee .... mechanical effects
Gerald Endler .... mechanical effects (uncredited)
Jay King .... special effects technician (uncredited)
 
Visual Effects by
L.B. Abbott .... special photographic effects
Frank Van der Veer .... optical cinematography (uncredited)
Matthew Yuricich .... matte painter (uncredited)
 
Stunts
Paul Stader .... stunt coordinator
Bruce Paul Barbour .... stunts (uncredited)
Lightning Bear .... stunts (uncredited)
Buff Brady .... stunts (uncredited)
Tony Brubaker .... stunts (uncredited)
Steven Burnett .... stunts (uncredited)
Richard E. Butler .... stunts (uncredited)
Mickey Caruso .... stunts (uncredited)
Roydon Clark .... stunts (uncredited)
Erik Cord .... stunts (uncredited)
Everett Creach .... stunts (uncredited)
Roger Creed .... stunts (uncredited)
Paula Crist .... stunts (uncredited)
Dick Crockett .... stunts (uncredited)
Howard Curtis .... stunts (uncredited)
Paula Dell .... stunts (uncredited)
Dick Dial .... stunts (uncredited)
Nick Dimitri .... stunts (uncredited)
Bennie E. Dobbins .... stunts (uncredited)
Larry Duran .... stunts (uncredited)
Bud Ekins .... stunts (uncredited)
Gary Epper .... stunts (uncredited)
Jeannie Epper .... stunts (uncredited)
Stephanie Epper .... stunts (uncredited)
Tony Epper .... stunts (uncredited)
Lila Finn .... stunts (uncredited)
James W. Gavin .... stunts (uncredited)
Mickey Gilbert .... stunts (uncredited)
Orwin C. Harvey .... stunts (uncredited)
Eddie Hice .... stunts (uncredited)
Larry Holt .... stunts (uncredited)
Loren Janes .... stunts (uncredited)
Mike Johnson .... stunt double: Robert Wagner (uncredited)
Mike Johnson .... stunts (uncredited)
Kevin N. Johnston .... stunts (uncredited)
Gene LeBell .... stunts (uncredited)
Julius LeFlore .... stunts (uncredited)
Fred Lerner .... stunts (uncredited)
Lars Lundgren .... stunts (uncredited)
Denver Mattson .... stunts (uncredited)
Troy Melton .... stunts (uncredited)
John Moio .... stunts (uncredited)
Minor Mustain .... stunt performer (uncredited)
John Nowak .... stunts (uncredited)
Doug O'Dell .... stunts (uncredited)
Frank Orsatti .... stunts (uncredited)
Regina Parton .... stunts (uncredited)
Regis Parton .... stunts (uncredited)
Victor Paul .... stunts (uncredited)
Gil Perkins .... stunts (uncredited)
Peter Peterson .... stunts (uncredited)
Bobby Porter .... stunts (uncredited)
Glenn Randall Jr. .... stunts (uncredited)
Dar Robinson .... stunts (uncredited)
Walter Robles .... stunts (uncredited)
George Robotham .... stunts (uncredited)
Thomas Rosales Jr. .... stunts (uncredited)
Wally Rose .... stunts (uncredited)
Glynn Rubin .... stunt performer (uncredited)
Russell Saunders .... stunts (uncredited)
Fred Scheiwiller .... stunts (uncredited)
Felix Silla .... stunts (uncredited)
Dean Smith .... stunts (uncredited)
Marilyn Stader .... stunts (uncredited)
Paul Stader .... stunts (uncredited)
Peter Stader .... stunts (uncredited)
Tom Steele .... stunts (uncredited)
Bob Terhune .... stunts (uncredited)
Jack Verbois .... stunts (uncredited)
Richard Washington .... stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Waters .... stunts (uncredited)
Fred M. Waugh .... stunts (uncredited)
George P. Wilbur .... stunts (uncredited)
James Winburn .... stunts (uncredited)
Bob Yerkes .... stunts (uncredited)
Fred Zendar .... stunts (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Joseph F. Biroc .... director of photography: action sequences (as Joseph Biroc)
Kathy Fields .... still photographer
Orville Hallberg .... camera operator: action sequences
Bill Hannah .... gaffer: action sequences
Thomas Laughridge .... camera operator
John Murray .... key grip
Lou Pazelli .... key grip: action sequences
Frank Redmond .... assistant camera
Gene Stout .... gaffer
Orlando Suero .... still photographer
Ron Anderson .... electrician (uncredited)
Curtis Foster .... rigging gaffer: second unit (uncredited)
Jim Freeman .... cinematographer: San Francisco (uncredited)
Owen Marsh .... camera operator: "b" camera (uncredited)
 
Editorial Department
William DeNicholas .... assistant editor
Jack Hooper .... negative cutter
George E. Swink .... post-production coordinator
 
Music Department
Leonard A. Engel .... supervising music editor (as Len Engel)
Ted Keep .... score mixer
Herbert W. Spencer .... orchestrator (as Herbert Spencer)
 
Transportation Department
Chris Haynes .... driver (uncredited)
Jim Martell .... transportation coordinator (uncredited)
 
Other crew
Elizabeth Atkinson .... production assistant
Jack Cavallero .... technical advisor: battalion chief S.F.F.D.
Albert Gail .... executive assistant to producer
Marie Kenney .... script supervisor
George Leslie .... production controller
Pete Lucarelli .... technical advisor: battalion chief L.A.F.D.
Steven Marlo .... dialogue coach
Don Morgan .... unit publicist
Esther Stephenson .... script supervisor: action sequences
Art Volpert .... production coordinator
William Welch .... executive assistant to producer
Lewis Wolff .... real estate consultant
Ed Conlon .... technical advisor (uncredited)
Tony Habeeb .... unit publicist (uncredited)
Edward Summer .... marketing consultant (uncredited)
Sharon Thurgood .... studio teacher (uncredited)
 
Thanks
Keith P. Calden .... the producers gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of: chief of The San Francisco Fire Department
Raymond M. Hill .... the producers gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of: chief of The Los Angeles Fire Department
 
Crew verified as complete


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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
165 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
2.20 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
4-Track Stereo (35 mm magnetic prints) | Mono (35 mm optical prints) | 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) (Westrex Recording System)
Certification:
France:U | Hungary:16 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (1975) | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PG | West Germany:16 (w) | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:PG | UK:A
Filming Locations:
20th Century Fox Ranch, Malibu Creek State Park - 1925 Las Virgenes Road, Calabasas, California, USA more
Company:
Irwin Allen Productions more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
For years, during the 80's and 90's, this is the movie Swedish TV used to show on New Years Eve, just after midnight. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: After the helicopter has crashed on the top of the tower during an aborted rescue, the second of the two ladies who caused the crash by running into the path of the helicopter gets up from the ground, revealing a knee pad she was wearing to protect her knees under her dress. more
Quotes:
Doug Roberts: Hey Dunc, if that fire was caused by fluky wiring in this building, we could get fires breaking out everywhere! more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Super Secret Movie Rules: Disaster Movies (2004) (TV) more
Soundtrack:
We May Never Love Like This Again more

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
23 out of 30 people found the following comment useful.
McQueen and Newman create sparks, 13 joulukuu 2003
Author: Brian W. Fairbanks (brianwfairbanks@yahoo.com) from Cleveland, Ohio

Your typical dumb disaster flick, produced by the king of the genre, Irwin Allen, made notable by the presence of Steve McQueen and Paul Newman who finally agreed to share the screen as equals, something they almost did in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid." The ever competitive McQueen made his film debut with a bit part in "Somebody Up There Likes Me" in which Newman starred, and one of his ambitions was to finally get top billing over his number one rival. Even with the so-called "diagonal billing" employed in the film and its advertising (with Newman's name elevated slightly above McQueen's), those of us who read from left to right can see that McQueen got his wish. He also got the best role. He's the firefighter, a tight jawed man of action, while Newman is saddled with the less sympathetic role of the architect. But the real star is the burning building. It burns, and impressively at that, but there's something very claustrophobic about this situation which results in less action than Allen's previous smash, "The Posiedon Adventure."

But the acting is better. In addition to McQueen and Newman, the cast includes Richard Chamberlain (particularly good), William Holden, Faye Dunaway, and Fred Astaire. That's an improvement over Carol Lynley and Eric Shea, both of whom Gene Hackman had the misfortune of emoting with two years earlier. Whatever one thinks of this particular genre, "The Towering Inferno" is probably the best of the bunch.

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