The Towering Inferno

Considered as one of the great disaster films from a decade when the genre really took flight, 1974's The Towering Inferno's influence can still be seen in many films today. Alongside The Poseidon Adventure from the same decade, we'd see a group of strangers facing a life-threatening disaster and have to find solution that will save them all. Roland Emmerich has made a career out of these types of films in the last 30 years so would his and other directors' work that has come since render the original as a rough blueprint or a iconic classic?

Paul Newman stars as the architect of a new San Francisco skyscraper getting ready for the opening night event but discovers at the eleventh hour shortcuts were made with the building's electrics which causes a fire below where the party is taking place endangering all of the guests. Director John Guillermin leads a starry cast that includes Faye Dunaway, William Holden, O. J. Simpson, Robert Vaughn and an older Fred Astaire. Competing with top billing against Newman is also a rugged Steve McQueen as the lead firefighter sent into the world's tallest building as it goes ablaze.

With a 165 minute running time, The Towering Inferno ticks many boxes expected from a disaster film; the greedy antagonist who refuses cancelling the event when the warning signs appear, an adulterous couple make for early victims, certain characters destined to survive/die etc. However, the film is generally well paced so long as when the story focuses on its leads. Newman and McQueen make for compelling leading men (who the real lead is depends on which actor you asked) even through the real star is the burning building that is thrilling to watch and earned the film three Oscars (cinematography, editing and also original song).

Of course this being the 1970s, CGI wasn't an option making the danger feel real through thanks to the use of clever special effects with pyrotechnics and set design which gives way to some impressive stunt work from its leads. While I was watching a film where I knew fairly well how it would end, it's the 'old-school' qualities of how the film is made where it truly shines and made the overall experience feel rewarding, There are moments where it shows its age but when compared against the awful 2018 flick Skyscraper, I'd take this any day!

The Towering Inferno is a very enjoyable film that stands strong today thanks to its two leads and impressive visuals. There are some elements such as Fred Astaire's plot line which didn't quite fit for me which is where the story starts to feel it's extensive running time but it was nice to see a great range of Hollywood's older stars together onscreen. If you don't minder the older film, there's lot of fun to be had and it gets my recommendation.