The Towering Inferno

The Towering Inferno

The Towering Inferno is a 1974 American disaster film about a massive fire that breaks out during the opening of the world's tallest building in San Francisco.

Year:
1974
758 Views
One Tiny Spark Becomes A Night Of Blazing Suspense.
The tallest building in the world is on fire. You are there with 294 other guests... There's no way down. There's no way out.
“The Towering Inferno” Is Not Just The Story Of The World' Tallest Building In Flames, It's The Story Of People...
One minute you're attending a party atop the world's tallest skyscraper. The next... you're trapped with 294 other guests in the middle of a fiery hell.
You are there on the 135th floor, no way down, no way out.
The world's tallest building is on fire. You are there on the 135th floor... no way down... no way out.

James Duncan:
I know, I know. Callahan called me. Now just how bad is it?

Doug Roberts:
Depends on how good your imagination is. (Roberts drops a burned wire on Duncan's desk) Jesus Christ. Specs called for Conduit safety covering!

James Duncan:
How many fuse terminals did you check?

Doug Roberts:
How many do I have to?

(Intercom buzzes)

James Duncan:
Yes?

Duncan's Secretary:
Mr. Bigelow's here, sir.

James Duncan:
Ok, send him in. Now Doug, one piece of scorched wire from a burned-out circuit breaker is hardly conclusive.

Doug Roberts:
Maybe not. But after that I'm worried about what other shocks we're in for!

(Dan Bigelow walks into the office)

Dan Bigelow:
Will, Doug, J.D., wait 'til you see this. (Bigelow opens a box containing golden scissors for the Tower's dedication but the men do not react) What happened? Somebody hang the wallpaper upside down?

James Duncan:
We have an equipment problem.

Dan Bigelow:
No problem in the Tower is there?

Doug Roberts:
Could be.

James Duncan:
Oh now come on Doug. You're just guessing!

Doug Roberts:
Alright I'm just guessing. But I wanna talk to that son-in-law of yours and I wanna talk to him right away.

James Duncan:
Ok. (Talking to his secretary on the intercom) Get me Roger Simmons.

Duncan's Secretary:
Yes, sir.

Will Giddings:
We're going to check this thing out Mr. Duncan, I guarantee you.

James Duncan:
Sure, sure, we're all going to check it out.

Dan Bigelow:
I'm missing something.

Doug Roberts:
We damn near had a fire. Yeah. A fire.

Dan Bigelow:
In this building? Come on.

Will Giddings:
You know we haven't even finished installing the safety equipment? The party should have been put off for at least another month...

James Duncan:
(Duncan cuts Giddings off) Now hold it Will, hold it! Everybody's overreacting! (Intercom buzzes) Yes?

Duncan's Secretary:
Mr. Simmons is out, sir.

James Duncan:
Out where?!

Duncan's Secretary:
They don't know, sir, but I left word for him to call.

James Duncan:
Ok. We'll talk to Roger tomorrow. And then we'll decide what to do, that's ok isn't it?

Doug Roberts:
No, it won't wait! (Roberts and Giddings leave)

Roger Simmons:
Hi Doug. Honey.

Patty Duncan Simmons:
Hello.

Roger Simmons:
What are you drinking these days?

Doug Roberts:
Nothing right now.

Roger Simmons:
Well, welcome back from the wilderness. To what do we owe the pleasure?

Doug Roberts:
Callahan was testing a backup generator. There was a power surge and a systems failure.

Roger Simmons:
How can that be?

Doug Roberts:
Well it can't be, theoretically. Unless you've been screwing around with the electrical specifications.

Roger Simmons:
That's being rather blunt, isn't it?

Doug Roberts:
You betcha.

Roger Simmons:
Well then you'll understand my being equally blunt. What the hell business is it of yours anyway?

Doug Roberts:
Well I'm just wondering what kind of kick-backs were involved.

Roger Simmons:
I don't have to take crap from you.

Doug Roberts:
Now listen. We had an electrical flare-up in the main utility room. It looked to me like some of that wiring wasn't exactly what I asked for.

Roger Simmons:
Every piece of wire I put in that building is strictly up to code, inspected and approved.

Doug Roberts:
The code's not enough for that building. And you know it. That's why I asked for installations that were way, way above standard!

Roger Simmons:
Buddy you live in a dream world. I deal in realities.

Doug Roberts:
I want your wiring diagrams and copies of your work orders.

Roger Simmons:
It would take weeks to get that all together and someone with a lot more clout than you to make me do it!

Doug Roberts:
In my office, tomorrow, 9:00. (Roberts leaves)

Patty Duncan Simmons:
They say he used to wrestle grizzly bears in Montana. Of course he was younger then, probably in better condition.

Roger Simmons:
You must have enjoyed all this immensely.

Patty Duncan Simmons:
No, I didn't. Actually, I'm depressed for both of us.

Roger Simmons:
What did you expect me do - punch him in the nose?

Patty Duncan Simmons:
Roger, if you've done anything to Dad's building, God help you!

Roger Simmons:
Baby I don't need God's help, or your old man's, not anymore. So don't expect me to shake everytime Daddy barks, even if that's what you want me to do.

Patty Duncan Simmons:
All I want is the man I thought I married! But I guess we're running out of reasons to stay married, aren't we?

Roger Simmons:
It's getting late. We mustn't miss the party.

(Roberts and O'Halloran meet outside the building as the fire department arrives)

Kappy:
Chief, this is Roberts, the architect.

Chief O' Hallorhan:
What do we got here Kappy?

Kappy:
Fire started, 81st floor, storage room. This is a bad one. Smoke is so thick we can't tell how far it's spread.

Chief O' Hallorhan:
What about your exhaust system?

Doug Roberts:
Well it should have reversed automatically. It must have been a motor burn-out or something.

Chief O' Hallorhan:
Sprinklers?

Doug Roberts:
They're not working on 81.

Chief O' Hallorhan:
Why not?

Doug Roberts:
I don't know. (Roberts, O'Halloran & Kappy enter the lobby)

Chief O' Hallorhan:
Jim?

Firefighter:
Yes sir.

Chief O' Hallorhan:
Alright, give us a quick refresher on your standpipe system.

Doug Roberts:
Well, we got outlets on every floor, both 3 1/2" inch.

Chief O' Hallorhan:
GPM?

Doug Roberts:
1500 from Ground to 68, 1000 from 68 to 100 and 500 from there to the roof.

Chief O' Hallorhan:
Alright, you sure these elevators are programmed for emergency service?

Doug Roberts:
These two are.

Chief O' Hallorhan:
What floor do you keep your plans on?

Doug Roberts:
79, my office.

Chief O' Hallorhan:
That's good, that's 2 floors below the fire. Alright, that'll be our Forward Command. Alright men, take up the equipment. Alright, let's go. (Roberts, O'Halloran, Kappy and a fireman board the elevator for the 79th floor)

Chief O' Hallorhan:
Ok. Phew...architects.

Doug Roberts:
Yeah, it's all our fault.

Chief O 'Hallorhan:
Now you know there's no sure way for us to fight a fire in anything over the 7th floor. But you guys just keep building them as high as you can.

Doug Roberts:
Hey, are you here to take me on, or the fire?


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