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The towering inferno

Threat advisory: Elevated - Significant risk of entertaining activities

Movie propaganda

One tiny spark becomes a night of blazing suspense.

Completely dominating the San Francisco skyline as its golden mass reaches 138 stories into the air, the Glass Tower, the world's tallest skyscraper, proudly awaits its dedication ceremonies. Leaders of politics, society and industry are on hand to witness the unveiling of the monolith that features 50 floors of residential offices over 80 stories of offices, all topped by a glittering penthouse restaurant-nightclub and a rooftop heliport.

On the eve of the skyscraper's debut, Doug Roberts (Paul Newman), the architect who designed the wondrous high rise, appears less enthusiastic than the builder-developer, James Duncan (William Holden), over the accomplishment. Roberts, weary of the thrust of urban development, wants to break away to build communities more compatible to the contours of nature in areas far removed from the cities. He is not the only one looking cynically at skyscraper fever. Michael O'Hallorhan (Steve McQueen), a San Francisco fire chief, knows the terrifying dangers that lurk in buildings too towering to be reached by the resources of today's firefighters.

As the dedication begins under the expert guidance of the building's public relations chief Dan Bigelow (Robert Wagner), a defective wire in a basement systems control panel causes an electrical flare-up. Behind the wall panel sparks surge upward along a main terminal. In an 81st floor storage room fuses crackle and a tongue of flame licks at an electrical cable. Fragments of burning insulation ignite cotton moving pads and the flames reach toward shelves of paint, detergent and cleaning solvents. The fire has begun!

By the time O'Hallorhan and his firemen respond to the fire's call, the holocaust in the world's tallest building rages out of control. Floor by floor, corridor by corridor, the rampant blaze begins to desecrate the architectural triupmph and to threaten a top floor thronged with guests of varying degrees of social and financial importance. among these are: Susan Franklin (Faye Dunaway), an editor of a woman's magazine and fiancée of architect Doug Roberts; Harlee Claiborne (Fred Astaire), a resident of the building and a most charming con artist; Lisolette Mueller (Jennifer Jones), a widowed art dealer who also resides in the glass tower; Roger Simmons (Richard Chamberlain), Duncan's profligate son-in-law; his wife, Patty (Susan Blakely); Gary Parker (Robert Vaughn), a USA Senator; San Francisco mayor Robert Ramsay (Jack Collins) and his wife, Paula (Shelia Mathews); Jernigan (OJ Simpson), the tower's security chief; and many others.

All through the terrifying night the battle is fought as elevators are turned into crematoria, rooms explode into a living hell and, one by one, avenues of escape disappear. Before the last flame is snuffed and the battered obelisk emerges into dawn, all who participated in its ill-fated première - the famous and the infamous - have been affected by the calamity, some blessed by the miracle of survival, many others unfortunately not so lucky.

Persons of interest

Steve McQueen .... Chief Michael O'Hallorhan
Paul Newman .... Doug Roberts
William Holden .... James Duncan
Faye Dunaway .... Susan Franklin
Fred Astaire .... Harlee Claiborne
Susan Blakely .... Patty Simmons
Richard Chamberlain .... Roger Simmons
Jennifer Jones .... Lisolette Mueller
OJ Simpson .... Harry Jernigan
Robert Vaughn .... Sen. Gary Parker
Robert Wagner .... Dan Bigelow
Susan Flannery .... Lorrie
Sheila Allen .... Mrs Paula Ramsay
Norman Burton .... Will Giddings
Jack Collins .... Mayor Robert Ramsey
Stirling Silliphant .... Screenwriter
Richard Martin Stern .... Author: The tower
Thomas N Scortia .... Author: The glass inferno
Frank M Robinson .... Author: The glass inferno
Irwin Allen .... Director
John Guillermin .... Director

Cinematic intelligence sources

Studios and distributors:

Warner Bros * Roadshow Films

Intelligence analyst

Special Agent Matti

Theatrical report

I saw nothing. This DVD was stolen from my office but I won't name names because that won't get them back or bring the two scum-sucking culprits to justice.

Meanwhile, when I first saw The towering inferno all those years ago, I took great delight in watching the body count rise and rise and rise. You might even call it a high rise. Hehehe. Pay no attention to the way the fire starts as it's so contrived that you'll laugh out loud, but it does give cause for a whole lot of mayhem.

If you build it, they will fry.