Review of The Towering Inferno (1974) by Joe H — 03 Jul 2011

"One day 10,000 people are going to die in one of those fire traps.". (A chilling premonition, and an actual line from Steve McQueen's character in 1974.).

An early 70's disaster epic. Hands down, one of the best disaster movies to ever be filmed. The Towering Inferno is an Award-Winning, heart-pounding, action-packed and scalding hot edge of your seat spectacle. Capable of dishing out a third degree burn of thrilling suspense, nonstop peril and pure raging excitement. Another beast of a film that won multiple Academy Awards for it's elite special effects and visuals at the time. They just don't make them like this anymore. An unbelieveably exhilaratingly entertaining disaster film that was an inspiration for future fire disaster films such as "Backdraft" and "Ladder 49 among many others. A tribute and a salute to fire fighters all over the globe, one of the most epic films to ever be made up until it's time in cinematic history. This is high-flying insanity at it's very best, an early 70's gem that has stood the test of time, and rivals some of the best films of today. The Towering Inferno packs some of the best action sequences and high altitude insanity ever filmed. An ultra-charges and stunningly visual film from the minute the fire starts to the credit roll, it's 2 hours and 45 minutes of pure pulse-pounding and thrilling suspense.

One of the rare films where two early Hollywood legends, in Steve McQueen and Paul Newman, got to work together. Both did a fantastic job as they usually do in every film they were involved in. Faye Dunaway gave an excellent supporting role as well. Acting without flaw, an epic cast for an epic film. A true classic.