The Towering Inferno (Special Edition)

Amazon.com essential video

Disaster movies used to work because there was little certainty as to who would survive. Not so in this film, really an amalgam of two original stories, about a group of well-to-do celebrants at the top floor of a skyscraper. Cheapo electrical wiring and bad construction management cause an enormous blaze at the lower floors, steadily rising to consume the revelers. Newman's an architect, McQueen a firefighter, and Fred Astaire a kind old gentleman, for which he was Oscar-nominated. O.J. Simpson plays a security guard who rescues a cat. Now that's a disaster. --Keith Simanton

Description

A dedication ceremony at the world's tallest skyscraper turns into a high-rise catastrophe when a defective wire in its systems-control panel causes an electrical flare-up. Within minutes the gala event turns into a hellish inferno, as a raging fire traps

Customer Reviews:

IRWIN ALLEN AT HIS BEST!.......2007-08-14

Originally released in 1974, "The Towering Inferno" stands as one of the best of the 70's disaster films. This film like many of Allen's others including "The Poseiden Adventure" is jam-packed with special effects and stars including: Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, William Holden, Faye Dunaway, Fred Astare, Susan Blakley, Jennifer Jones, Robert Vaughn, Robert Wagner and ever O.J. Simpson.

Paul Newman as the architect designs the world's tallest and safest skyscraper. The developer, William Holden, shaves cost by cheating on the electrical system barely staying within the electrical codes.

The Grand Opening party for the new building with guests such as the Mayor, a Senator and many other important locals becomes a disaster. Electrical overloads and short circuits cause a fire half way up the building. Of course the party is on the top floor, approximately 50 stories above the fire. As the fire spreads, Steve McQueen as the Fire Chief comes to the rescue. If you want to know how it ends, you'll have to watch it!

I recommend this film to anyone who loves action and suspense. A 2-disc offering many extras, it is a sure bet for your video collection.

ANOTHER GREAT IRWIN ALLEN DISASTER!.......2007-08-06

Ahhhh the 70's! This was a time of the great disaster films! For those of you not familiar with these star studded gems I will give a quick explaination. Back in the 70's Hollywood produced a bunch of disaster films and they covered just about all of them with Water(Poseidon Adventure)Fire(Towering Inferno)Earth(Earthquake)(in Sensurround!LOL!)Air(Airport)They did more, but these are the ones that were really something to see in the theaters. Each one would have more stars than 10 other first rate films combined! Kind of like the "Love Boat" but these stars were still stars! The Towering Inferno was even better than I remembered. The new special edition has a very good transfer and interesting extras. This is right up there with The Poseidon Adventure.

I want to see the inferno, not underwear.......2007-06-13

This movie is full of technical errors. Now I have checked this out for myself. In California, the fire protection is done by a fire protection engineer. Same thing goes for electrical. When the architect Paul Newman was fiddling with the electrical system, which may or may not have been under warranty, he was tampering with things that he was not statutorily allowed to do. As far as him reviewing the change orders to the electrical, if I was James Duncan or Roger Simmons, I would go to Superior Court and get an injunction that he can't get involved in any engineering because he is not licenced in California. They should have used Judge Mathis or Judge Joe Brown on this because I have a funny feeling this whole thing is going to end up in the Peoples Court with Judge Milian.

fired up.......2007-05-17

you can't add much more flame to the fire. this dvd has seen the light. with all the extras to sweat through you will feel like you were at a hollywood bonfire. the movie speaks for itself. we all know the horror of being in a fire in a skyscraper. now more than ever. and the film doesnt play camp like other disaster films.the acting is as good as you get at the time. but it is a stuntman movie for the most part. it is amazing how well it has held up today. and the film score is one of the best for this kind of film. this a 1970's classic and it is good to have this dvd for the future generations who havent seen it.if you are a film fan you will want the story and the extras this set provides. though not the first in the genre it was the best. and an academy award winning picture to boot.

Disaster Movie Delight.......2007-05-12

In this age we live in, one of ultra-serious tragedy abounding in daily news, the genre/medium of the American Disaster-Thriller Flick is a wonderful diversion from reality and sometimes a downright *HOOT* ... Disaster movie-as-vehicle for questionable performances by aging famous stars can, in a way, be a touching reminder of their theatrical days gone by... but let's just laugh, shed a tear, sweat it out, and have fun with this film, the Airport-movies series, Poseidon Adventure, and more~!
My only regret is that Fred Astaire doesn't dance enough in this one, like in the olde days with Ginger Rogers :P

Average customer rating:

IRWIN ALLEN AT HIS BEST!
ANOTHER GREAT IRWIN ALLEN DISASTER!
I want to see the inferno, not underwear
fired up
Disaster Movie Delight

The Towering Inferno
Starring: Steve McQueen , Paul Newman , William Holden , Faye Dunaway , and Fred Astaire
Director: Irwin Allen , and John Guillermin
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Disaster Films | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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ASIN: 6305280762
Release Date: 2003-04-15

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

IRWIN ALLEN AT HIS BEST!.......2007-08-14

ANOTHER GREAT IRWIN ALLEN DISASTER!.......2007-08-06

I want to see the inferno, not underwear.......2007-06-13

fired up.......2007-05-17

Disaster Movie Delight.......2007-05-12

Average customer rating:

Classic action and modern adventure
Good Value Package

The Towering Inferno / Volcano
Starring: Tommy Lee Jones , Anne Heche , Gaby Hoffmann , Don Cheadle , and Jacqueline Kim
Director: Mick Jackson , John Guillermin , and Irwin Allen
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( T ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000KGGIZU
Release Date: 2006-12-05

Amazon.com

Towering Inferno: Disaster movies used to work because there was little certainty as to who would survive. Not so in this film, really an amalgam of two original stories, about a group of well-to-do celebrants at the top floor of a skyscraper. Cheapo electrical wiring and bad construction management cause an enormous blaze at the lower floors, steadily rising to consume the revelers. Newman's an architect, McQueen a firefighter, and Fred Astaire a kind old gentleman, for which he was Oscar-nominated. O.J. Simpson plays a security guard who rescues a cat. Now that's a disaster. --Keith Simanton

Volcano: Get mindless for awhile with this 1997 disaster flick, starring the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles as a funky place for lava to spew, plus Tommy Lee Jones and Anne Heche as the brave souls who know how to shut off the spout. Director Mick Jackson (The Bodyguard) wastes no time getting to the good stuff--it's happening even before opening credits are over--and neither should anyone in the mood for technical efficiency without the burden of art. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Classic action and modern adventure.......2007-02-17

Foe those that enjoy the classic disaster movies the towering inferno needs to be on the list. Volcano is a newer movie in the same genre. The critics of such movies will disclaim all the flaws they see- but the picture as a whole is a fast paced action/ drama showing epic proportions. The older movies of this type were NOT using computer graghics but many other resourceful means to make the shots look as good as they could. Enjoy and follow the action.

Good Value Package.......2006-12-10

Under normal circumstances these "extra free" versions of these movies would be good value at under $9.00. However, the version I purchased seems to include DISC 1 of the TOWERING INFERNO "special edition" and the not one advertised.

Average customer rating:

Disaster 1970's! - A Video Scrapbook

Manufacturer: RetroFLICKS
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000JYJCLU

Product Description

The 1970's: the decade of the disaster film! Hollywood churned out one tale of cataclysmic doom after another, and audiences seemingly could not get enough. Here now is a collection of rare behind-the-scenes looks from several memorable films of that era. You'll watch the preparation and filming of exciting action sequences. You'll hear the stars - Gene Hackman, George Kennedy, Sophia Loren, Shelly Winters, Michael Caine, Henry Fonda and many more - talk about their roles. You'll see the directors and special effects experts at work, as they create cinema magic. The movies profiled: Airport '79; Capricorn One; The Cassandra Crossing; Futureworld; The Poseidon Adventure; The Swarm; The Towering Inferno. If you are a fan of 70's sci-fi, action/adventure or disaster movies, you'll want Disaster 1970's! in your collection.

Average customer rating:

IRWIN ALLEN AT HIS BEST!
ANOTHER GREAT IRWIN ALLEN DISASTER!
I want to see the inferno, not underwear
fired up
Disaster Movie Delight

The Towering Inferno [Region 2]
Starring: Steve McQueen , Paul Newman , William Holden , Faye Dunaway , and Fred Astaire
Director: John Guillermin , and Irwin Allen
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

( T ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B00004U8NK

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

IRWIN ALLEN AT HIS BEST!.......2007-08-14

ANOTHER GREAT IRWIN ALLEN DISASTER!.......2007-08-06

I want to see the inferno, not underwear.......2007-06-13

fired up.......2007-05-17

Disaster Movie Delight.......2007-05-12

Average customer rating:

The Towering Inferno [Region 2]
Starring: Steve McQueen , Paul Newman , William Holden , Faye Dunaway , and Fred Astaire
Director: John Guillermin , Irwin Allen , and Peter Yates
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

( T ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B0000AGVO2

DVD:

DVD

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