MovieChat Forums > The Towering Inferno (1974) Discussion > Seeing this film again, I was struck by ...

Seeing this film again, I was struck by how...

posted 4 years ago by Interlepos (1807)
9 replies | jump to latest

...depressing the film really is.

Seeing this film as a kid: Very entertaining, exciting and a fun movie.

Seeing this film again as an adult: Depressing seeing all those good people getting killed while finding themselves in such a horrible predicament. And the agony of William Holden's character for cutting corners. Still exciting, but it's a much more serious film when you watch it with mature eyes.

I was also impressed by all the actors putting themselves in the middle the action. All the fire and explosions. This type of practical and dangerous film making would not be done the same way today.

It's still a very good film, and deserves it's spot with The Poseidon Adventure as the best of 70's disaster flicks.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

I agree that it's depressing. Especially the part where Robert Wagner falls through the window after telling his wife he'll be back with the whole Fire Department.

That was a bit of a shock.

[–] Interlepos (1807) 4 years ago

Yeah, he was a kind person who met a pretty horrible end, no doubt.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Yes, and killing off a sympathetic character in such an unpleasant way was a slight misstep for the film, I thought. It certainly jarred on me. All the other characters were stock-standard types with predictable arcs within the plot. It was an Irwin Allen disaster film, after all. But to give a minor character such audience appeal and then kill him, just seemed to me like an indulgence towards Wagner.

Still, it made for a pretty memorable, if short, scene.

[–] Drooch (5333) 4 years ago

Misstep? It was genius - it showed right up front that the film has balls and isn’t afraid to kill off your favourite stars.

[–] modica (4169) 4 years ago

Jennifer Jones and the glass elevator was the most upsetting scene for me.

[–] sslssg (34211) 4 years ago

That was really heartbreaking.

[–] modica (4169) 4 years ago

I was only 11 when I first saw it and that scene really upset me. She falls out of the elevator and screams on her way down, hits the side of the building and the screaming stops. It is one of those scenes that really stayed in my memory.

[–] sslssg (34211) 4 years ago

When Fred Astaire is looking for her and he gets handed the cat.... 😥😥

[–] ColumboKate (5678) 4 years ago

I couldn't have said it better. Yes, I completely agree with everything in your post!