We watch five minutes of a helicopter flight, and thanks to the genius of John Williams there is no second of boredom.

@Kamandi1971

2 жыл бұрын

the ariel cinematography is fukin legit no bullshit cgi

@jawoody9745

3 ай бұрын

I think it's one his best and it holds nostalgic memories. I saw this film 14 times when it came out.

@ImVee10

15 күн бұрын

@@jawoody9745I did, too. 10 years later, I was on the 110th floor of the Sears Tower shitting my pants.

It can not be overstated enough the contribution of John Williams to this genre. The Poseidon Adventure, The Towering Inferno and Earthquake.

@stephenhuntsucker3766

Жыл бұрын

One of the great composers in the same breath as Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, take your pick!

@ELPaso1990TX

Жыл бұрын

Not forgetting Indiana Jones, ET and Superman.

@TheLAGopher

9 ай бұрын

It is funny how before "Jaws" and "Star Wars" created the modern epic movie based on SCI-FI,horror, and fantasy,the "genre movie" of the 70's was a disaster film or a war film where the stars,even if most of them were aging, sold the movie with visual effects being secondary.

@richardryan1846

9 ай бұрын

Respect to Irwin for giving him early breaks when he was Johnny Williams...lost in space, time tunnel and land of the giants...

@gretchennelson7056

8 ай бұрын

An absolute master

Masterful opening sequence: John Williams's rousing score, breathtaking landscapes, exciting 70s vibes... but despite all this I can't help by getting most of the chills from the very last moment, Newman & Holden's handshake: it really tells you how BIG this movie was. It screams GOLD in every single aspect, from legendary cast to superlative crew: in two words, TIMELESS CLASSIC.

@MrParkFan

2 жыл бұрын

The Towering Inferno and Earthquake was in 1974 in the same year and John Williams was the composer for earthquake as well 😊

@Lol-ll2ue

2 жыл бұрын

I remember people cheering in the theater the first time seeing Newman's face in the copter. Everyone was amped! Good times.👍

@edpoe4591

2 жыл бұрын

🥇🥇🥇

@excitedartists5994

2 жыл бұрын

Totally agree. A great opening

@chrispnw2547

Жыл бұрын

Great screenwriters understand you have to set the tone for a movie by using these longer sequences to establish a connection with the audience and lock-in the event the audience are about to experience. These scenes are major investments in the storyline of an action movie. Star Trek, The Motion Picture with the four minute Jerry Goldsmith 'Enterprise' sequence accomplished the same feat for the movie. Not only were the visuals amazing but the score was one of the best piece in the entire movie. The scene with very little dialogue, provided a sense of scale of the Enterprise (that is difficult to grasp). Thank god for these amazing classics.

That opening score sets the tone, John Williams mastery

This film is 46 years old, and the effects still hold up quite well!

@jediknight38

3 жыл бұрын

True enough. Even by today's standards it still is the Star Wars of disaster movies.

@nickdaskalakis9289

3 жыл бұрын

Totally agree

@herondelatorre4023

3 жыл бұрын

Benjamin Kurilla : The film was 46 yrs old last year however, in this year 2021 the film will be 47 yrs old.

@Kamandi1971

2 жыл бұрын

fukin A

@jean-jacquescortes9500

Жыл бұрын

@@herondelatorre4023 and at a couple of hours from 2023 🎉, it has two years more 😂

This film was a masterpiece, Irwin Allen knew how to put together an all-star cast, McQueen, Newman, Dunaway, Holden, Vaughn, Astaire, Jones, Chamberlain.... you will never again see a cast the like again. The cinematography and special affects were great, it really made you feel like you were 135 floors up. a true classic and one of my favorite films.

To Those Who Give Their Lives So That Others Might Live... To The Firefighters Of The World... This Motion Picture Is Gratefully Dedicated. Couldn't have said that any better. Be it A Hit or Miss of Irwin Allen's archival material, I'm giving him credit where it's totally due. Great Disaster Classic. But my heart cried for Jennifer Jones' character of her untimely demise.

@gabrielmillines6908

Жыл бұрын

Wasn't it awful? I think it may have hit me more than Shelley Winters' in "The Poseidon Adventure". The authors of those respective novels knew how to hit you in the "vulnerabilities".

@milocassadine223

11 ай бұрын

Her character (Lisolette) does not die in the novel ("The Glass Inferno") Why did they have to kill her in the movie...?

Iconic! One of the best credits in movie history! Also thanks to maestro John Williams masterpiece score!

From the opening shot, this movie is perfection in every single way. A four star affair. Newman and McQueen really light it up!

@small_ed

8 жыл бұрын

Perfection in terms of getting a solid Saturday afternoon nap!

@jesseburleson432

7 жыл бұрын

Ed, this movie kicks fucking ass!

@a.barnard3205

6 жыл бұрын

You mean after you look in the mirror?

@klaseronen7535

3 жыл бұрын

What the film lacked was both Newman and McQueen shown racing against each other in racing cars.

@williamgreer1824

2 жыл бұрын

Totally agree. The true gem of the disaster genre.

One of the finest epic disaster films ever made...with many of the great screen legends!

@brendagilson934

Жыл бұрын

Fred Astaire looking in the mirror......then a shrug of the shoulders!!!!!

The opening chords are so full of menace, what a terrific way to open a disaster film.

One of the movies I saw on big screen, as a kid, along with Poseidon Adventure. Two of my childhood favorites. On the big screen, this opening scene was mind blowing, that too with stereophonic sound.

@capitaobravo805

6 жыл бұрын

Ratnakar Sadasyula I agree with you.

@youjuda

6 жыл бұрын

Wish I was there

@malcolmlochrie5648

6 жыл бұрын

Couldn't agree more.two great disaster moves that dragged you into the whole situation. I rode the embarcadero lifts that are in the film when I was in San Francisco because of this film.

@alaskanactressp30

5 жыл бұрын

During this time Charleston Heston in Earthquake 👍😮🌹

@SAVETHEKIDS-bn5zo

4 жыл бұрын

YES the movies when I was a kid we're mesmerizing.... Towering inferno Jaws Rocky West Side Story Saturday Night Fever ALL MASTERPIECES

Even 45 years later, it remains quite impressive. One could consider it a 5 minute commercial for the Bell/Textron 206 helicopter and the Northern California Board of Tourism.

To this day I still remember going to the theater and watching this movie. The opening was spectacular. The movie still holds up to this day in terms of action, drama, and special effects. Real special effects, not CGI. Irwin Allen really knew how to make a movie big. Big name stars, big special effects, and big budget.

@DBarns7

5 жыл бұрын

I totally agree, Tim. This movie was epic on every level. Many other films at the time had a big cast, but lacked substance to back them up. The Towering Inferno however, made full use of the cast's talents. The visuals were off the hook, and still are considering the age of the film. John Williams's music pulled everything together to make this a real nail biter. The stuff classics are made of. I'm just sorry I never got to see this on the big screen when it released (I was only 5 at the time).

@stevewood9992

5 жыл бұрын

completely agree. this film still holds up 40 plus years later. wish I had seen it on the big screen but sadly was born 2 years after the release

@williamtoad8040

4 жыл бұрын

The fact they made a nonexistent building as convincing as they did when they did given the technology at the time is mind blowing 🤯🤯🤯

@terrywatson7307

4 жыл бұрын

@@williamtoad8040 I agree

@Drknnja

4 жыл бұрын

Most expensive movie made $14M, so much that 2 studios financed it. It made 10x the cost at the box office.

One of my all-time favorite opening sequences. Bell JetRanger N20DB, flying from a rural idyll, across mountains and beachfront and then landing in the heart of a throbbing metropolis! Great stuff! 🚁

@chrispnw2547

Жыл бұрын

As someone living in the S.F Bay Area, it is shocking to reflect on how much architecturally has not changed. When the helicopter breaks though the clouds is so spectacular and such a powerful statement.

@keithmartin1328

Жыл бұрын

That type of helicopter seems to appear quite often in a lot of 1970s and 1980s films and TV shows.

One of the greatest opening titles ever

It’s definitely time for a brand new 4K remastered version of The Towering Inferno. Way overdue 🎥🔥🚒

Hard to believe 46 years ago when I watched this twice in the cinema absolute corker of a film

Great movie. I remember watching this with my mom when I was ten.

@billhosko7723

Жыл бұрын

Was 12 here! Watched it alone in theater... mom dropped me off 'in town' at multi-plex theatre.

I love this film and the music. I saw it in the theatre when it first came out. Yes, I am that old.

@gretchennelson7056

8 ай бұрын

I am too🙃

I saw this film in the theater in 1975. When it started, I got so excited.

One of the great disaster movie's ever made,THE BEST

That shot of Newman's character in the helicopter looking at his gigantic creation in satisfaction followed by one of the best special effects scenes of all time-the building inserted into downtown San Francisco- is to me what movies were and are all about.

Top composer Mr Williams

Great Movie, great score and as others have said this opening sequence really sets it all up. the shot where the tower is revealed is excellent. It is totally convincing and you believe it is a real skyscraper - the tallest in the world - in San Fransisco. The nearby Peerless building is also added. Superb.

@buserk

6 ай бұрын

Yes you do, they fooled me, I used to thing it was the Sears Tower, but fake is fake. I guess it was necessary to make it work to fake it.

One of John Williams best but unheralded works.

@MCP2012

8 жыл бұрын

+John Petit Exactly. Two words: *_Splendid_* & *_Magnificent_*. ;-)

@MrWrestlingRoadie

8 жыл бұрын

+MCP2012 I got the Cd soundtrack of the towering inferno you wanna copy of it email at carolinakid73@yahoo.com price is $5.00 s/h is free

@carminum

7 жыл бұрын

Agree. Typically one of those movies that make you wonder what they would have been without their score. Also this must be the longest opening sequence in film history and I think because they stretched it to match the music! At least it looks that way ( I recall reading somewhere Hitchcock once rerecorded a whole scene to fit it to Herrmann's score). Saw TI in 1974, aged 12, during a school vacation, when cinemas just had one big 30-40ft wide screen and the audience still used to applaud after the show. On the way back my friends kept talking about what they had seen. I walked alongside in silence, speechless, as I couldn't get the glorious sound of those French horns out of my head. And I still can't!

@a.barnard3205

6 жыл бұрын

Originally, Irwin Allen did NOT want any music for the opening titles. Good thing that John WIlliams talked him out of it! And NO, the sequence was NOT "stretched" to match the music. John Williams wrote the music to the locked picture, as it appears to this day.

@a.barnard3205

6 жыл бұрын

THE TOWERING INFERNO presented an up and coming composer ( age 41 ) as HE would compose, using "leitmotif" later on in STAR WARS. To THIS day, I don't know WHAT the "big deal" was made about JAWS, besides that two note ostinato. You know the "Bum, Bum, Bum ,Bum" part? Really, go to the scene near the end of the movie, when Steve McQueen looks upon the bodies of his lost firefighters and you could TOTALLY run THE FORCE cue over that scene, and have it fit perfectly!

The best of the Irwin Allen disaster movies

When this movie premiered in 1974 I saw it in a movie theater on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. It was preceded by an on-screen announcement, accompanied by narration, that that this picture depicts events in a foreign country (which remained unnamed), where building codes are not as strict as they are in France. The viewing public was advised not to be afraid to enter tall buildings in France, because France has superior building codes, and nothing like what the audience was about to see could happen here in Paris.

@MTknitter22

Жыл бұрын

Oh brother @karlakor. That is unreal! Lol

I went to see this in the theater as a second grader and it scared the HELL out of me. I was 7.

@ilttpvvm

3 жыл бұрын

It scared the hell out of me, too.

@clevlandblock

3 жыл бұрын

I saw this on Showtime cable back in 78. I was a 27 year old dentist and just finished a day of work when I got home and this started. I sat glued to the tv for the whole thing. It scared the hell out of me also, especially the Robert Wagner death scene.

@gina7288

2 жыл бұрын

@@clevlandblock Yes he was a hottie I had to look away, Lorrie diving out of the window to end her misery scared me as a teenager and to this day.

One of my favorite opening credits sequences. Great music, spectacular views. Beautiful! It strikes me how modern it all looks, despite being 48 years old as I write this.

It is an outstanding theme. It is a beautiful composition. Right off the bat, it gets your pulse pounding. I think this is John Williams' best score. He has done some amazing things before and after, but this one really gets to me.

@a.barnard3205

6 жыл бұрын

SECOND best score!

@jawoody9745

6 жыл бұрын

What is the 1st?

This is my favorite opening sequence of any film. I was blessed to be able to see the filming of a sequence one night at the Bank of America headquarters in 1974. I will never forget it!

No matter how many times I have watched It. I Love This movie! It makes me to goosebumps My respect for firefighters!

How about a 4K version? Still, 4 decades later, the best disaster movie ever. Every one of its 8 Oscar nominations was deserved. Including Best Picture.

This is why The Towering Inferno, gives birth to the Die Hard series.

This movie should be re-mastered and re-released into theaters.

@jacobjaime9143

7 жыл бұрын

don't forget restoration

@chatteyj

7 жыл бұрын

Other disaster classics from the 70's? The poseidon adventure and the cassandra crossing are the two I remember.

@bbenjoe

7 жыл бұрын

Earthquake (1974) , with actors like Charlton Heston and George Kennedy.

@a.barnard3205

6 жыл бұрын

You didn't buy the 2007 ( or thereabouts) Re Mastered 2 DVD Set? THIS clip is from that set, as far as I can tell.

@manoelpacheco6041

6 жыл бұрын

I agree, so much , about this!

I’ve been a big fan of Irwin Allen since I was a kid watching Lost in Space in the 1960’s. The Towering Inferno was Irwin’s “Citizen Kane”. It had all the elements that Mr. Allen had been developing all through his career and formed a perfect storm on film! This opening sequence With John Williams score is a thrilling set up to a thrilling movie! That’s my 2 cents.

@JmadiRN

3 жыл бұрын

Loved the John Williams score. And the actors. My favorites, Paul Newman (of course) Steve McQueen(of course), Faye Dunaway, Jennifer Jones ( beautiful), The great Fred Astaire, William Holden, Rober Wagner, Richard Chamberlain, OJ Simpson, Susan Blakeley, Robert Vaughn, so so many great stars. One hell of a good disaster film. RIP Irwin Allen.

one of my favorite movies my older sister and her best friend friend friend friend took me to see this great movie when I was 12 yrs old alot of my favorite actors & actresses were in this movie and it had lots of action thats why I loved this movie

Forget JAWS! THIS is John Williams greatest achievement BEFORE "Star Wars"! :)

I was 12 when I first saw this movie 50 years ago. And it would be my introduction to the energetic music of John Williams. But I was also fascinated by modern day architecture and development of skyscrapers. I couldn’t wait for this thriller to get underway.

The story goes that Irwin Allen hated the opening music until Williams added the cymbal crash when Allen's name appears.

@kthx1138

3 жыл бұрын

Typical egotistical producer. Williams aims to please!

@cbi1991

3 жыл бұрын

I noted that there were 2 cymbal crashes because Irwin Allen's name appears twice. LOL

@kthx1138

3 жыл бұрын

@@cbi1991 Yep. There's actually a third Irwin Allen credit, the "Action Sequences Directed By" credit, but as director, Irwin Allen apparently didn't feel he deserved a cymbal clash, only as producer.

@faads

3 жыл бұрын

yes, and every time when Irwin Allen walked on the studio Mr. Williams played a cymbal crash.

@chloekopsho9049

2 жыл бұрын

This, and, "Earthquake", were produced in the same year, and both were scored by the maestro himself, John Williams. He also composed the the themes and pilot scores for Irwin Allen's, "Lost in Space", "The Time Tunnel", and, "Land of the Giants". You can hear a little bit of his TV music in his movie scores. ❤️👍😊🍪🇺🇸💥🏅🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️⚧️

Irwin Allen didn't like the sound of the opening credits music. John Williams just recorded a loud cymbal crash when his name appeared. Allen said the music was perfect and asked "what did you do?". True story. Listen to it. Irwin Allen's ego is right there.

I remember this movie from the 1970's. It was good.

Fantastic opening with visuals and music. I love the shots of the low flying helicopter and especially when it breaks out of the clouds and you see the bridge. Then there's the cutaway to the dedication-- then the camera tracks to the helicopter in the sky on the far right-- just brilliant and memorable. One of the best openings. I read where Irwin Allen intended that there was not going to be music in the opening. Music composer John Williams was horrified. So he wrote the opening score and played it for Allen against the film of the opening scene. Allen didn't need further convincing.

This opening amazed me as a kid when i first saw it in 1979,... til now it still does

One of John Williams' best scores. I enjoyed watching this movie as a 10 year old kid in the mid 80's, and recently re-watched it. It's still a great movie, and holds up as a very well made disaster film.

@a.barnard3205

6 жыл бұрын

This score was a prelude to what Williams would eventually do for STAR WARS. A strong and unforgettable opening theme and leitmotifs abounding for most of the movie. JAWS is only known for it's opening ostinato. THE TOWERING INFERNO is known for the ENTIRE work!

As a ten-year-old watching this on the big screen, I fell in love with helicopters! I can only wonder how much Bell paid for those opening scenes! I don't think the Jetranger has ever been filmed so wonderfully since that time! Saw the movie so many times, still impressive even today. That cast list....just...wow.

@Hal09i

Жыл бұрын

Was it a Jetranger used in the classic "Dawn of the Dead" from 1978? that deserves an honorable mention...

The "Music composed by..." credit alone explains the unbeatable soundtrack to this movie! Who else but??

I heard on LandumC Goes There that Irwin Allen didn't like this sequence until a cymbal crash was added when his name rolls up.

@billhosko7723

2 жыл бұрын

:-) funnie...

My favorite movie. All star cast. Loved it

This opening sequence only really works in the movie theater. I remember it when it came out. Movies took their time. After one or two short films and commercials, the curtains opened to reveal the full widescreen image. Now the top players are on.

This opening sequence was so dynamic !! It was a prelude to the action that followed :)Thanks for posting this it was awesome !

@small_ed

8 жыл бұрын

Yes, and about the only case I can think of where the prelude was far more interesting than the "action" (which wasn't remotely believable).

@dinomate01

8 жыл бұрын

I know the storyline was unbelievable but that's what makes movies escapism for a couple of hours or like you said a good nap :)

@a.barnard3205

6 жыл бұрын

Oh? What was unbelievable about the story line? Very tall building on fire? Oh gee, you're right! I've NEVER heard about THAT in real life! (*sarcasm*)

@w9gb

6 жыл бұрын

A five minute opening like this in 21st century is RARE. Cinematography (Photography) was great. At 2:05 ... breaking through fog ... to see Golden Gate Bridge :-) Fred Konenkamp and Joseph Biroc won the Academy Award (Oscar) for their work in this picture. This motion picture was so expensive in mid-1970s, 20th Century Fox and Warner Brothers had to work together (also rare). So many stars, in this film, it required more time for the credits. Bonus was John Willams film score..

@a.barnard3205

6 жыл бұрын

w9gb- A five minute opening in the 21st Century is NON EXISTENT. And the fact that 20th and Warner's teamed up for this was NOT "rare"- It was the VERY FIRST TIME that two competing studios teamed up....EVER! And for good reasons! And THE TOWERING INFERNO's 14 million budget, was a bargain, compared to 20th's TWO previous efforts. 20th split the cost with Warner's so each studio only had to kick in 7 mil each. This was more than just about "money" however. Two different novels were published about the SAME subject. Warner's had the rights to THE TOWER, while Fox had rights to THE GLASS INFERNO. Read more here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Towering_Inferno#The_Books TORA! TORA! TORA! Cost 20th an astounding 25 mil back in 1970. But, even MORE expensive than THAT, was the mega flop known as CLEOPATRA (1963) that nearly SANK 20th, with an astounding cost of 31 mil!

The building they used in this movie is far better looking than that Salesforce tower that actually was constructed in San Francisco

You really have to watch this on a big screen! The San Francisco bridge looks amazing and the photography is superb. It's a fantastic opening and the music composed by John Williams is brilliant! The whole sequence just lifts the spirits. Thank you so much for posting.

@preshutchins

5 жыл бұрын

YES YES.... anytime I'm in a low vibration... I will KZread this video and I feel right as rain every time. Very uplifting music. And a great movie.

@GreenerHill

4 жыл бұрын

That'd be great for Simmons' murder/death scene!

@michaeltrower741

Жыл бұрын

the Golden Gate Bridge

The only relaxing scene in the entire movie! Beautiful countryside below, a 'copter manned by an expert, Doug back from his holiday, rippling water, blue skies... Then the rest of the film is claustrophobic and terrifying. A fantastic piece of contrast.

John Williams composes great music for helicopter scenes! This also reminds me of Jurassic Parks helicopter scenes, where they are going to the island.

@a.barnard3205

6 жыл бұрын

Irwin Allen was THE originator of using a helicopter to great effect and every movie that even HAS a helicopter in the main titles will always have to thank Irwin Allen for being the FIRST to do this! For instance, check out the main titles for GRIZZLY (1976)

@youjuda

6 жыл бұрын

This helicopter scene indeed reminds of Jurassic Park. And it is superb too.

@Hal09i

4 жыл бұрын

@@youjuda You wonder if Spielberg went to Williams and said I want something like THAT!

@youjuda

4 жыл бұрын

@@Hal09i I don't think so but certainly may have some inspiration involved

@ckeledjian

4 жыл бұрын

Yeah. I thought of Jurassic Park... Another helicopter flying unnecessarily low (illegal for manned aircraft to fly below 400ft, today you may hit my drone if you do!). But heck, great effect. I miss these movies, with spirit of adventure, the ambition of man, the obligatory disaster and the fight for survival. Today all we have is superhero reboots

As I watch this, I so wish I was back in San Francisco...sigh...

I vividly remember seeing this movie in 1974 at The Park Terrace Theater (Charlotte, North Carolina) And even seeing the movie here. One feels the height of the building. 🎥

Gorgeous upload. Love John Williams.

Back when the sound track was as good as the movie.

The bell 206B Jetranger 2 featured in the opening sequence was a state of the the art helicopter back then, but its first incarnation looked nothing like the sleek machine you see here, had a production run of nearly 45 years from 1966 and at one point was the standard of which light rotary wing aviation was set but the year this movie was released also marked the first flight of the (then) prototype Aerospatialè AS350 'Ecureil' or Squirrel and although the jetranger was still relatively ahead of its time in 74 , the technological advances and performance in the squirrel eventually put the bell on the back foot but despite this , the jetbuggy had a very strong operator and customer base because of its inherent reliability and user friendliness and many are still operated today because of these virtues and the As350 is still being produced although these days it's known as the Airbus H125. And there you have a bit of trivia/info related to the helicopter in this scene

I like that the film is about a fire and the opening shots are bodies of water.

Este filme tinha que tê-lo completo, é uma superprodução com elenco de primeira, não fazem filmes como esse hoje em dia.

They have remade many films over the years but shouldn't even dare to try with this one - what a great cast - what great action scenes - and no CGI to make it look like a cartoon !!!

@nickforbes-warren6602

6 жыл бұрын

There was a superb Korean movie in 2014 called THE TOWER - very similar in places and had great SFX and action scenes - even debunked a 9/11 tinfoilhat theory, but not quite as great as TOWERING INFERNO. But almost got there!!

@a.barnard3205

6 жыл бұрын

There is nothing wrong with CGI except for today, where EVERY MOVIE is going out of its way to impress the hell out of us with their great "special effects." Special Effects were NEVER meant to be "noticed" as much as they are , in the now- they were supposed to blend in with the rest of the visuals. And even though INDEPENDENCE DAY contained a fair amount of CGI, a lot of tape and bailing wire, models and plain sweat were also used, because the director realized that simple solutions were often the best ones, physically speaking, without having to put in the time, doing it on a computer. The doomed AWACS plane for instance, was nothing more than an off the shelf model kit. The monitor tank that comes into view, outside of Houston was another model on a table top , being pushed into view with a broom handle! Just as long as the SFX are used sparingly, in support of the story, instead of trying to be the WHOLE story by themselves, a remake or even a sequel would be just fine!

@a.barnard3205

6 жыл бұрын

And WHAT "Tin Foil Hat Theory" was that?

@a.barnard3205

6 жыл бұрын

Abysmal scripts=Abysmal movie.

@nickforbes-warren6602

6 жыл бұрын

The controlled demolition one - yes, the Twin Towers could have been a controlled one but what if the fire dept had to do this to save the rest of NYC and stop the top parts of the towers falling over sideways? Just a thought.

Great movie, great actors and wonderful soundtrack by John Williams. Gran película, grandes actores y una maravillosa banda sonora de John Williams.

This must be the longest opening music ever. very exciting opening music.

3:22 gets me all the time!. To think people would put themselves at risk to save you!. 👏👏😥

I find it interesting that The Poseidon Adventure ended with a helicopter and this opens with the same. My first thought the first time I saw this was that these were the survivers😀.

@aragon77

4 жыл бұрын

That would have been awesome. Kind of scary 😳for the survivors of Poseidon to be pulled out of the sea 🌊 to a high rise with fire 🔥

@1212matt

4 жыл бұрын

Good point never thought of that.

I love this theme and what a great opening to a what is my favourite disaster movie.

Great opening theme. Listening to Towering Inferno tracks of the John Williams Disaster Movie CD released a few months ago. Realized the movie score on the cd differs slightly than this opening theme. The difference being Irwin Allen asking John Williams "More cymbal on my name please"

When at 0:17 you see the names of actors like Steve Mcqueen and Paul Newman i think there's nothing left to say

Loved this time period of genre Hollywood film and the producer who made this & The Poseidon Adventure. Irwin Allen happen. Newman is American Archetypal Alpha. Dunaway is American Class.

It's a great popcorn flick as far fetched as it is. A lot of famous actors are in it as well. Including bobby from the Brady Bunch. The apartment scene with Robert Wagner and his girlfriend is crazy. I wonder how many kids were scared of fire after that one. Irwin Allen kind of made a name for himself with these disaster flicks. As I recall he also made the code red TV show which was about fire fighters back in the 80's. Great stuff. Thanks for posting.

@steveblaugh2180

6 жыл бұрын

Indeed, Allen was known as "The Master of Disaster." The 1971 film, "The Andromeda Strain" is also a brilliant movie which doesn't give TTI the day off.

@a.barnard3205

6 жыл бұрын

Dude, you are SO way off about everything in your post. For one, Irwin Allen made his name in TV long before the movies. Ever see a little TV show called LOST IN SPACE? Among others?

@ilttpvvm

4 жыл бұрын

I was seven years old when this movie came out, and it scared the living shit out of me!!!

@strawnobi

4 жыл бұрын

A. Barnard I never said he wasn’t famous before then. I am well aware of his TV work. Lost in Space etc.

Great 5min opening of super well photographed classic clear and very set up.

R.I.P. to a giant behind the lens...Director of Photography FRED J. KOENEKAMP, A.S.C.

@tompennock6369

6 жыл бұрын

Yes, he did pass away recently and he lived a very long life. Very nice that both he and Joseph Biroc A.S.C. received Oscars for Cinematography for this film. Both extremely talented cinematographers. Legends.

Classic "Old Hollywood" holding on against the sweeping tide of 70s "American New Wave." In terms of popular appeal, it kept Coppola's "The Godfather II" at bay, and was an entertaining blockbuster, if not more.

Beautiful scenery 😮🌹. Imagine if we can fly with our own power like a bird 🐦 in and out among all those buildings 😮😵😎.

The first time I saw the GG Bridge from the Marin Headlands, I remembered this great opening.

This movie and The Poseidon Adventure (1972) signalled the end of the "colourful and safe musical period" for Hollywood which started with The Sound Of Music and then finished with Paint Your Wagon, Finnegan's Rainbow and Hello Dolly.

A movie full of REAL movie stars. McQueen knew exactly how to dominate any scene he played with ANYONE - even Newman! - as many actors and directors have said of him 😂. He was at his best tough and charismatic self in this one!!!

The Inferno was Towering in 1974 San Francisco, California, U.S A..

as a boy i still love this film!!!

@manoelpacheco6041

6 жыл бұрын

stephen white Me too!

AN ALL STAR CAST THAT MADE THIS MOVIE TO THE LIMELIGHT THE TOWERING INFERNO!

4:00 - One of the most dramatic entrances (of an inanimate object) by a building! At the scale of that 139 story Glass Tower, the Peerless Building just to left would be about as tall as NY's Empire State bldg. An interesting cinematic attempt at predicting San Francisco's future skyline for sure.

ICONIC

小学生で先生が映画で見たのを聞いていて興味を持っていたので、テレビ放映時に見ました。初めて恐怖で震えた映画です。

A very good movie. Really.

TO THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES SO THAT OTHERS MIGHT LIVE---TO THE FIREFIGHTERS OF THE WORLD---THIS PICTURE IS GRATEFULLY DEDICATED. 3:20

I was 14 when It’s released 👍🏻

@james5460

3 жыл бұрын

Me too. I think it was the first film I ever paid my own way into.

@billhosko7723

Жыл бұрын

@@james5460 Same here... at the Milan Cinemas (Illinois) 'in town'.

Exciting music! Makes me thrilled about architecture and industrial innovation!

this was fukin huge A list Actors 2 studios 2 Directors 2 Cinematographers John Williams score a massive undertaking this film would not be done in 2021 im glad I am 50 and grew up with these kinds of films

Richard Chamberlain is still with us! 89 yrs old. Cool.

To everyone rightfully praising one of John's very best opening themes, don't you think that it was criminal to banish his name to the end credits? He was already an Oscar winner for his arrangement of Fiddler on the Roof and deserved to be mentioned in the opening.

depending on when this first reached m own country NZ i was 15 or 16 when i saw it. it did not overwhelm me as the Poseidon Adventure did but it did make a powerful impression on me. of course John Williams music is as ever masterful but the memories this arouses , given the times then and since, are bitter sweet . . . . . .

"Action Sequences Directed by Irwin Allen." I guess he gets to do all the fun stuff. But that's virtually the whole movie, right???

@ellechim9302

7 жыл бұрын

No there are some boring romantic scenes like in all American movies

@a.barnard3205

6 жыл бұрын

I have never heard of the above bullshit tale.

The second tallest building in that opening them must be the same height as Salesforce Tower or even taller.

@GopherBaroque61

4 жыл бұрын

The Salesforce Tower (65 floors - 1,070ft or 326m) is a great deal shorter than the fictional Peerless Building (102 floors - probably around 1,300ft or 396m... I'm judging by eyeballing 555 California Street, which is 52 floors - 779ft or 247m). The fictional Glass Tower (138 floors - 1,688ft or 514.5m) was, of course, supposed to be the tallest building in the world at the time.

Awesome opening! Gorgeous Northern California scenery and beautiful Bell 206 Jet Ranger helicopter! The first sight of the tower was incredibly realistic as it looked absolutely real even nearly 50 years later. I was a 7-seven year old when I first saw this movie and I remember it vividly. I was living across the bay in Oakland at the time.

@Kurtiscott

Жыл бұрын

Born in Oakland, raised in Walnut Creek. I was 9 at the time and for the life of me I could not figure out how they put a totally convincing 138 story building in a city I was quite familiar with. This film is what made me pursue a career in VFX. Cheers!

Pretty Bay area scenery in the opening sequence.

This film was promoted as an Irwin Allen film, hardly anyone knew who the real director was. John Guillermin was told to downplay his role and not give interviews or it would hurt the film which was marketed as another Irwin Allen disaster blockbuster. I only found out JG directed it a couple of years ago when I was researching his films. Always thought it was Irwin Allen.

@w9gb

4 жыл бұрын

Drinkwater 7 Irwin Allen directed the Action sequences ... and inserted his name after the cinematographers (who won the Oscar).

@drinkwater319

4 жыл бұрын

w9gb ...it was must’ve been more than 50% action, JG is one of the unsung directors, probably due to him being a bit irascible, but his heart was in every project, rather he told you how he felt in his own down to earth way and you learnt from it than he got you replaced and off the film.

@goodowner5000

2 жыл бұрын

Alas, Irwin Allen as THE director unfortunately didn't fare too well, i.e. "The Swarm"('78) & "Beyond The Poseidon Adventure"('79).

I just know you put an helicopter in a movie, for some weird reason, its going to be good 👍