The Towering Inferno
BBB.5
(out of 5)
An enormous skyscraper made entirely of glass and featuring every possible modern convenience is built in San Francisco (prime earthquake territory, by the way) and its owner (William Holden) and architect (Paul Newman) are preparing for its grand opening gala. Holden left the building’s electrical wiring to his snotty son-in-law (Richard Chamberlain in full-tilt sniveling villain mode), so the fire that breaks out on one floor quickly turns the entire building into a giant roman candle that threatens the lives of hundreds of residents and the many partygoers on the top floor (which include the mayor, his wife and a gorgeous Faye Dunaway). Irwin Allen’s near three-hour disaster extravaganza is his most successful and admired of all the films of the type he treated blockbuster audiences to in the seventies, featuring two megastars in the leads (Steve McQueen plays the chief of the fire brigade) and suffering no expense to be spared on visuals (excellent special effects, stunt work and gorgeous production design). It is a ridiculous indulgence, pure soap opera with a physical crisis at its core, and incredibly entertaining despite how insipid the writing is. Jennifer Jones appears in a rare late-life role as one of the residents with one of the most memorable scenes of the film.
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Warner Bros., Irwin Allen Productions
USA, 1974
Directed by John Guillermin
Screenplay by Stirling Silliphant, based on the novels The Glass Inferno by Thomas N. Scortia, Frank M. Robinson, and The Tower by Richard Martin Stern
Cinematography by Fred J. Koenekamp
Produced by Irwin Allen
Music by John Williams
Production Design by William J. Creber
Costume Design by Paul Zastupnevich
Film Editing by Carl Kress, Harold F. Kress
Cast Tags: Ann Leicester, Art Balinger, Carlena Gower, Carol McEvoy,Dabney Coleman, Don Gordon, Elizabeth Rogers, Erik L. Nelson, Ernie F. Orsatti, Faye Dunaway, Felton Perry, Fred Astaire, George Wallace, Gregory Sierra, Jack Collins, Jennifer Jones, John Crawford, Mike Lookinland, Norman Burton, Norman Grabowski, Norman Hicks,O.J. Simpson, Olan Soule, Patrick Culliton, Paul Comi, Paul Newman, Richard Chamberlain, Robert Vaughn, Robert Wagner, Ross Elliott, Scott Newman, Sheila Allen, Steve McQueen, Susan Blakely, Susan Flannery, Thomas Karnahan, William Bassett, William Holden
Academy Awards
Best Cinematography (Fred Koenekamp, Joseph Biroc)
Best Film Editing (Harold F. Kress, Carl Kress)
Best Music (Song) (“We May Never Love Like This Again”, music and lyrics by Al Kasha, Joel Hirschhorn)
Nominations
Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Fred Astaire as “Harlee Claiborne”)
Best Art Direction (art direction: William Creber, Ward Preston; set decoration: Raphael Bretton)
Best Music (Original Dramatic Score) (John Williams)
Best Picture (Irwin Allen, producer)
Best Sound (Theodore Soderbergh, Herman Lewis)
Golden Globe Awards
Best Supporting Actor (Fred Astaire)
Most Promising Newcomer-Female (Susan Flannery)
Nominations
Best Supporting Actress (Jennifer Jones)
Best Screenplay
Best Original Song (“We May Never Love Like This Again”)
BAFTA Awards
Best Supporting Actor (Fred Astaire)
Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music
Nominations
Best Art Direction
Best Cinematography
National Board of Review Award
Outstanding Special Effects
