A huge glass tower block, touted as the tallest building in the world, bursts into flame on its opening night. An all-star cast includes Steve McQueen as Michael O'Hallorhan, the fire chief determined to get the blaze under control, while Paul Newman stars as embarrassed architect Doug Roberts, trapped inside with fellow guests Fred Astaire, Richard Chamberlain and Robert Wagner. 'The Towering Inferno' became the biggest of the Seventies cycle of disaster movies, which … mehrbegan four years earlier with 'Airport'.
Includes:
- A 6-page liner notes leaflet with an essay and chapter listing.
- 8 reproduction lobby cards in a "Cinema Classics Collection: 20th Century Fox Lobby Cards" cream envelope.
- An embossed card outer slipcase.
Extras:
DISC ONE
* The Film
Audio commentary by Film Historian F.X. Feeney (2006)
Scene specific 2006 audio commentary by special effects director Mike Venzina (Play All - 12:44):
- Explosion on 81 (0:42)
- Fire Chief Arrives on 81 (0:54)
- "I Used to Run the 100 in 10 Flat" (3:00)
- Explosion in Stairwell (1:05)
- Roger Tries to Escape (0:49)
- Elevator Explosion (1:29)
- Breeches Buoy (1:13)
- Water Explosion (3:33)
Scene specific 2006 audio commentary by Stunt Coordinator Branko Racki (Play All - 21:33):
- Will Giddings Catches Fire (1:36)
- Battling Fire (1:24)
- Man on Fire (0:50)
- "I Used to Run the 100 in 10 Flat" (3:16)
- Fallen Stairwell (3:11)
- Scenic Elevator Brought to Safety (2:43)
- Fight Over Breeches Buoy (1:39)
- Prepping the Water Tanks (2:36)
- Water Tank Explosion (4:19)
DISC TWO
"AMC Backstory: The Towering Inferno" 2002 TV episode (22:08)
2006 featurettes:
- "Inside the Tower: We Remember" (8:16)
- "Innovating Tower: The SPFX of an Inferno" (6:55)
- "The Art of Towering" (5:18)
- "Irwin Allen: The Great Producer" (6:26)
- "Directing the Inferno" (4:29)
- "Putting Out Fire" (4:59)
- "Running on Fire" (5:52)
- "Still the World's Tallest Building" (8:24)
- "The Writer: Stirling Silliphant" (9:17)
Vintage Promotional Material:
- NATO Presentation Reel (11:07)
- Original 1974 Featurette #1 (8:16)
- Original 1974 Featurette #2 (7:21)
- Irwin Allen 1977 Interview (Play All - 12:26):
-- What was Irwin's first contact with this project? (1:52)
-- How did Irwin design and put together the project? (1:27)
-- What was the next step? (1:50)
-- What are some of the problems working with fire? (0:44)
-- Was there any danger to the actors? (0:26)
-- What was the hardest thing to film? (1:03)
-- What was the biggest draw? (2:00)
-- What was the reward for doing this? (1:41)
-- How did Irwin start off a project? (1:23)
- Teaser Trailer (1:35)
- Theatrical Trailer (2:13)
- "The Poseidon Adventure" Trailer (3:17)
Extended and Deleted Scenes (Play All - 44:40):
- Alternate Opening Sequence (0:56)
- Harlee Meets Up with Lisolette and the Kids (1:38)
- Air Ducts (0:44)
- Close Up of Harry on the Phone (1:10)
- Extended Scene with Doug and Susan (2:05)
- The Jeweler Delivers the Golden Scissors as Dan Bigelow Argues with His Staff (2:46)
- James and Dan Discuss the Party (1:09)
- Harlee and Lisolette (0:52)
- James and Susan Discuss San Francisco (2:26)
- The Mayor Addresses the Crowd (1:40)
- James Discusses the Elevators with the Mayor and Senator Gary Parker (1:49)
- James and Senator Parker in the Elevator (1:03)
- The Party's Entertainer (1:03)
- Firemen (0:59)
- Susan and Patty Discuss Their Significant Others (1:52)
- The Electrical System (0:50)
- Emergency Vehicles on the Scene (1:12)
- Waiting for the Elevator (0:50)
- Four Alarm Fire (2:55)
- Trapped in Her Room (1:09)
- Fire (1:18)
- The Stairwell (1:03)
- Lisolette in the Stairwell (1:03)
- In the Promenade (1:49)
- Still Waiting for the Elevator (0:40)
- Attempting to Revive the Unconscious Man (1:51)
- Shadow-Puppets on the Wall (1:09)
- Roger Returns to the Promenade (1:30)
- Window Warning (0:58)
- Adjusting the Elevator Controls (1:00)
- Connecting the Cable (1:08)
- Rescue Buoy (1:04)
- Hosing Down Flames (1:01)
American Cinematographer Articles:
- "The Towering Inferno and How it Was Filmed" by Charles Loring (23 text pages)
- "Photographing the Dramatic Sequences for The Towering Inferno" by Bob Fisher (26 text pages)
- "Action Unit Lives Up to is Name While Shooting The Towering Inferno" by David Hammond (34 text pages)
Galleries:
- Shot Compositions (28 images)
- Publicity Material (41 images)
- Behind the Scenes (71 images)
- Conceptual Sketches (58 images)
- Costumes (22 images)
Storyboard Comparisons:
- Fallen Stairwell (2:35)
- Helicopter Crash (1:11)
- Elevator Shaft (2:20)
- Scenic Elevator (1:59)
- Buoy Chair (1:54)
- Water Tank Explosion (3:08) weniger