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The Towering Inferno (1974)

Facts

Directed byIrwin Allen and John Guillermin
CastPaul Newman, Steve McQueen, William Holden, Faye Dunaway and Fred Astaire
Theatrical ReleaseDecember 14, 1974
Video ReleaseJanuary 1, 1998
Running Time165 minutes
MPAA RatingPG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
UPC Code086162019135
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About The Towering Inferno

Disaster movies used to work because there was little certainty as to who would survive. Not so in this film, really an amalgam of two original stories, about a group of well-to-do celebrants at the top floor of a skyscraper. Cheapo electrical wiring and bad construction management cause an enormous blaze at the lower floors, steadily rising to consume the revelers. Newman's an architect, McQueen a firefighter, and Fred Astaire a kind old gentleman, for which he was Oscar-nominated. O.J. Simpson plays a security guard who rescues a cat. Now that's a disaster. --Keith Simanton Amazon.com essential video

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User Reviews

Average user review: 4.0 (133 reviews)

rating: 5 QuoteGreat Disaster Flick!Quote
Irwin Allen's follow-up to "The Poseidon Adventure" was a star studded spectacle with wonderful special effects and lots of suspense. Starring Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, Faye Dunaway and William Holden. Music by John Williams. Look for Maureen McGovern singing "We May Never Love Like This Again". November 25, 2008

rating: 4 QuoteAh...memoriesQuote
Arguably the king of the 70's disasters flicks, The Towering Inferno takes a couple of crazy ideas like build a tower 135 floors in San Francisco and let's do it on the cheap. What's the worse that can happen? Blessed with an all star cast and armed with some state of the art (at the time) pyrotechnics, The Towering Inferno, despite the cheese, doesn't fail to thrill you. It's fun to guess who's going to live and who's going to die. Never mind why it takes so long for the fire department to arrive and why didn't everyone just go to the roof and have an arm of helicopters pick them up. Or better yet-blow the tanks earlier. Still, it's good entertainment.


August 10, 2008

rating: 5 QuoteTowering Entertainment!!Quote
Somehow this movie features both camp fun and a genuine story, thrills and chills.The opening sequence is incredible. And for the most part, the movie gets better as it goes along. Sure the story bogs down a little here and there, but whats amazing is that a movie that is so FX heavy has a story at all, let alone a fairly engaging one. The sub-plots are well done, effects are fantastic, AND you get to see Newman and McQueen work together.Among the best of the disaster films , Towering Inferno has something for everyone. And what a great title! May 8, 2008

rating: 4 QuoteThe Towering InfernoQuote
This product arrived quickly and in great condition. It was just what I had wanted and expected. Great Job!!
April 12, 2008

rating: 5 QuoteExcellant !Quote
One of the BEST disaster movies ever made.
Music is fantastic and the Star Studded affair for 1974 is awesome !
See it ! It's an enjoyable ride thru movie magic 1974 style. March 24, 2008

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