On T List of Movie Reviews
(For optimum viewing, adjust the zoom level of your browser to 125%.)
The Towering Inferno (1974)
Rate:
9
Viewed:
4/06, 8/23
4/06:
What I don't like about The Towering Inferno is the lack of character depth.
All I see is a bunch of people who happen to be stuck in a skyscraper that's on fire and they're trying to survive.
Eventually, the high amount of blandness gets to me despite the all-star cast with some of their characters dead. That's why
I appreciate The Poseidon Adventure more.
Steve McQueen and Paul Newman work well together although it's obvious the former looks out of shape.
On the other hand, there are many scenes that don't mesh well together, so it's been a bad editing job.
The most haunting prediction is when Steve McQueen's character made a remark about skyscrapers leading to thousands
of deaths if disaster struck. He turned out to be correct twenty-seven years later when the terrorists took down
the Twin Towers of World Trade Center.
All in all, The Towering Inferno is disappointing as compared to
The Poseidon Adventure.
8/23:
My opinion of The Towering Inferno is better now.
The introduction is tough to stomach because of the soap opera crap. As soon as the fire breaks out, that's when the movie
begins. Sometimes, it's easy to make comparisons with Die Hard as both involve a skyscraper.
Believe it or not, Roderick Thorp saw The Towering Inferno and was inspired to write a book called
Nothing Lasts Forever which was filmed under a different title: Die Hard. What helps a lot is the all-star cast.
Oddly, Faye Dunaway was the love interest for three leading men who appear at the same time: Paul Newman
(The Towering Inferno), William Holden (Network), and Steve McQueen
(The Thomas Crown Affair).
People die when disaster strikes, and it's a fact of life. At least this time, there aren't any annoying characters like
The Poseidon Adventure except for the mayor's wife. Who the hell cares about her?
On the other hand, the scenes look realistic which can be dramatic. I like it when the architect wouldn't listen to anything by
James Duncan who's trying to save face. Steve McQueen's character was prescient when he warned, "One of these days, they'll kill
10,000 in one of these firetraps." Then, 9/11 happened.
As for the cast, all are good. Of course, it's a battle between Paul Newman and Steve McQueen. So, who won? I'll say Steve
McQueen came out ahead by having better lines and a couple instances of exciting heroism. I'm surprised to see Jennifer
Jones looking so old; it's the final film of her career anyway. Fred Astaire received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor in a
Supporting Role, but he didn't deserve it.
All in all, if you can't get enough of Airport and
The Poseidon Adventure, then by all means, go for The Towering Inferno.