Name: The Towering Inferno
Genre: Drama, Action, Thriller
Released: 1974-12-14
Duration: 165 min
Rating: 7
Cast: Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, William Holden, Faye Dunaway, Fred Astaire

The Towering Inferno

Concerns About Building Structural Safety

Chief O'Halloran (to Doug) I want to see all your floor plans, 81 to 85.

Doug Roberts Gotcha.

Chief O'Halloran This is what I'm worried about, all those beams and glass.

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The Towering Inferno

Emergency Response to Tower Fire Situation

Kappy Chief, this is Roberts, the architect.

Chief O'Halloran 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'Halloran 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'Halloran Sprinklers?

Doug Roberts They're not working on 81.

Chief O'Halloran Why not?

Doug Roberts I don't know.

Chief O'Halloran Jim?

Firefighter Yes sir.

Chief O'Halloran 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'Halloran GPM?

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

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

Doug Roberts These two are.

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

Doug Roberts 79, my office.

Chief O'Halloran 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'Halloran Ok. Phew...architects.

Doug Roberts Yeah, it's all our fault.

Chief O'Halloran 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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The Towering Inferno

Urgent Concern Amidst Celebration in Crisis

Doug Roberts And they're celebrating... a party.

Chief O'Halloran Party? What party? Where?

Doug Roberts In the Promenade Room. 300 people.

Chief O'Halloran Well, why didn't you get them the hell out of there?

Doug Roberts Why don't you go upstairs and talk to Duncan? He ain't exactly listening to me.

Chief O'Halloran I will.

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The Towering Inferno

Decision to Proceed with Confidence

James Duncan So, how was it?

Doug Roberts Good.

James Duncan You're gonna go ahead, huh?

Doug Roberts Full steam.

James Duncan Anything I can do to change your mind?

Doug Roberts Nope, no way.

James Duncan You know there's an old saying that, uh, No matter how hot it gets up there during the day, there's -

Doug Roberts -not a damn thing to do in the night', right?

James Duncan That's right. Now just what the hell are you gonna do at night in the middle of nowhere?

Doug Roberts Sleep like a winner.

James Duncan Doug, you're a city boy with a low threshold for boredom. You'll be back in two weeks. (The elevator arrives on the 65th floor) Can you come in the office for a minute?

Doug Roberts I got people waiting upstairs.

James Duncan Well what I wanted to tell you is that Senator Parker's flying in for the dedication tonight. And he's almost guaranteed the Urban Renewal contract. Now do you know what that means? Skyscrapers like this all over the country! You design em, I'll build em.

Doug Roberts (Boarding an elevator for the 79th floor) Jim I think you suffer from an edifice complex.

James Duncan You'll never leave.

Doug Roberts Right after the party. Come on downstairs and watch me burn my black tie.

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The Towering Inferno

Comment on rescue efforts in crisis situations

Chief Michael O'Halloran Oh they'll find some dumb son of a bitch to bring them up.

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The Towering Inferno

Casual Greetings and Drink Preferences

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 kickbacks 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.

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The Towering Inferno

Emergency Announcement During Party Evacuation

James Duncan Ladies and gentlemen. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION? It seems that we have a small fire. In one of our storage rooms, 50 floors below. Now I assure you there's no danger. But in accordance with the fire department's orders, a purely precautionary procedure, we're going to have to move the party down to the lobby for a while and we'll be serving cocktails and champagne in our Continental Room. But I promise you - dinner will not be delayed. Now if we can all move to the elevators.

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The Towering Inferno

Accountability in Leadership Dynamics

James Duncan Where were you all day?

Roger Simmons I wasn't aware the leash was that tight.

James Duncan When I get the time I'll be asking you a few questions, and I expect some straight answers!

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The Towering Inferno

Firefighting Challenges in Tall Buildings

Chief Michael O'Halloran Now you know there's no sure way for us to fight a fire in any place above the seventh floor, but you guys just keep building them as high as you can.

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The Towering Inferno

Consequences of Igniting a Disaster

James Duncan We've got a fire, and if it was caused by anything you did I'm going to hang you out to dry, and then I'm going to hang you!

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The Towering Inferno

Safety Concerns in a Crisis Situation

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 the 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?

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 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 (clearly confused) I'm missing something.

Doug Roberts We damn near had a fire.

Doug Roberts 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 (clearly frustrated at this development) Out where?

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

James Duncan (to his secretary) Ok. (pauses before speaking to Doug) 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)

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The Towering Inferno

Speculation on Design Changes

Will Giddings Did you find Simmons?

Doug Roberts Yeah, I found him......

Will Giddings Well did he or didn’t he change your specs?

Doug Roberts He didn’t admit it, but two bucks will get you ten he did.

Will Giddings Payoffs and kickbacks, that’s the only way he could have swung it (assembles a pile of plans with the electrical specifications). Well, here you are. It's your original specs. Zone one only, but we gotta start somewhere.

Doug Roberts Son of a bitch gave us an impossible job.

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The Towering Inferno

A Promise of Full Confession

Harlee Claiborne I promised myself if I every saw you again I'd make a full confession-

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The Towering Inferno

Questioning Electrical Specifications in a Crisis

James Duncan Did you change any of Doug's electrical specifications?

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The Towering Inferno

Isolation in a Dire Situation

Lorrie There never were any firemen, were there?

Dan Bigelow I said that to make it easier for you. I switched off the phones. There's no way to call out. Nobody knows we're up here.

Lorrie Well, I always did want to die in bed.

Dan Bigelow Nobody's going to die.

Lorrie One thing - at least they'll never find out about us, will they?

Dan Bigelow I used to run the 100 in 10 flat.

Lorrie Don't go.

Dan Bigelow I'll be back with the whole fire department. On your mark...

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The Towering Inferno

Unexpected Fire in a Secure Building

Chief Michael O'Halloran For what it's worth, Architect, this is one building that I figured wouldn't burn.

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The Towering Inferno

Lunch Hour Distraction in the Workplace

Doug Roberts Can I talk at all?

Susan Franklin No. It's my lunch hour.

Doug Roberts Well I'm not a cheeseburger, you know.

Susan Franklin You're better - all protein, no bread. All I need to go with you is about eight glasses of water.

Doug Roberts All I need to go with you is in that suitcase over there.

Susan Franklin What's in that suitcase over there?

Doug Roberts I got about $140 worth of vulgar underwear for ya.

Susan Franklin First things first. (Susan opens a door to a private room)

Doug Roberts That's nice.

Susan Franklin Years from now when they talk about this and they will, remember to tell them that it was my idea.

Doug Roberts Yeah, right.

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The Towering Inferno

Ignoring Danger Amidst Celebration

James Duncan (on the phone with Doug) Doug, I think you're overreacting. Now, I feel sorry for Will Giddings, but he'll be taken care of. But I am not going to concern myself with a fire in a storage room on 81, because it can't possibly affect us up here! Not in this building! Now, have someone call me when the fire department arrives. In the meantime, get in your dinner jacket and come up to join the party, now come on! (hangs up the phone)

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The Towering Inferno

Emergency Evacuation in The Towering Inferno

James Duncan You looking for me, Chief?

Chief O'Halloran If you're Duncan, yeah.

James Duncan I am. Everything under control?

Chief O'Halloran We gotta move all these people outta here.

James Duncan Oh now just how bad is it?

Chief O'Halloran It's a fire, mister. And all fires are bad.

James Duncan Well, uh, I don't believe you're familiar with the many modern safety systems we have designed into this building. We've got em all.

Chief O'Halloran All right. It's your building, but it's our fire. Now let's get these people the hell out of here.

James Duncan Now I don't think you're listening, Chief. There's no way for a fire on 81 to reach up here, not in this building!

Chief O'Halloran Okay. I'll do it.

James Duncan Hold it, hold it. The mayor's out there. Do you want me to pull rank on you?

Chief O'Halloran When there's a fire, I outrank everybody here. Now one thing we don't want is a panic. Now I could tell them, but you oughta do it. Just make a nice cool announcement to all your guests and tell them the party's being moved down below the fire floor. Right now.

The Towering Inferno

Concerns About Widespread Fire Hazards

Doug Roberts Urgency? Hey Dunc, if that fire was caused by fluky wiring in this building, we could get fires breaking out EVERYWHERE!!!

The Towering Inferno

Electrical Changes Spark Tension Between Colleagues

James Duncan Patty - you and Susan stay right here where I can find you. Now don't leave this table. (Pointing to Roger) You I wanna talk to. (Duncan & Simmons walk away from the table) Did you change any of Doug's electrical specifications?

Roger Simmons I most certainly did.

James Duncan For God's sakes why?

Roger Simmons The reason should be obvious - especially to you!

James Duncan We've got a fire. And if it was caused by anything you did I'm going to hang you out to dry, and then I'm going to hang you!

Roger Simmons I don't like the way you talk to me.

James Duncan You drunk?

Roger Simmons Not yet.

James Duncan Well then get out of my way!

Roger Simmons You didn't talk like this 2 years ago, did you? Running over budget and out of money. Did you ask me then how I could shave $2 million dollars off our electrical costs?

James Duncan Shut up and help me with these people!

Roger Simmons And let me ask you my dear father-in-law: am I the only subcontractor you encouraged to cut corners? Where did you save the other $4 million in Doug's original budget?!

The Towering Inferno

Descending the Tower: A Call to Action

Senator Parker At this rate, it's going to take a couple of hours to get everyone down. So I would suggest that those of us with stout hearts and trim waistlines start using the stairs.

James Duncan That's 135 floors.

Senator Parker All downhill.

The Towering Inferno

Emergency Evacuation Warning in Crisis Situation

James Duncan Ladies and gentlemen, I'm sorry. You'll have to move back into the Promenade Room, and we'll be taking you down by the scenic elevator. Now these express elevators can be activated by fire. And with the probability of short circuits, the cars might stop on the floor where the fire is. So please we'll use the scenic elevator, over there. (a panicked group of guests enter an express elevator anyway despite Duncan's warnings) FOR GOD'S SAKE, GET OUT OF THERE! (elevator door closes with the panicked guests in the elevator car, which would soon bring them to their firey doom) Please, back!! (pushes the elevator button to try to get the elevator car back up to cancel the trip down, but to no avail)

The Towering Inferno

Desperation in a Crisis Situation

James Duncan For God sakes, why?!

The Towering Inferno

Miscommunication in a Crisis Situation

Doug Roberts Harry?

Harry Jernigan (picking up the phone) Jernigan.

Jernigan What? Dammit man, you should have sent a man up there!

Jernigan How do you expect her to hear a phone call? She's deaf!

Jernigan Sure the kids can hear!

Jernigan I don't know, maybe they were in the shower or something when you called!

Kappy (in background, speaking into his radio) Forward Command!

The Towering Inferno

Skepticism about evidence in disaster scenario

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

The Towering Inferno

System Failure Announcement

James Duncan (on the security phone) Security, this is Duncan. Have the main breakers gone? (whispering to Senator Parker after getting the bad news) The whole system's failed.

The Towering Inferno

Facing Crisis with Humor and Responsibility

Roger Simmons Pretty ridiculous spectacle, right? There's no way down.

Patty Duncan Simmons Oh, thank God you're all right! Oh Roger, what are we going to do?

Roger Simmons I know what I'm going to do. Get quietly drunk.

Patty Duncan Simmons If you're responsible for all this, I know...what you must be feeling.

Roger Simmons You don't even know the meaning of the word.

Patty Duncan Simmons What, "Responsible"?

Roger Simmons Feeling"! Oh, you know a lot about responsibility; it's a family trait. The Duncans are very big in the responsibility department - at least on the surface!

Patty Duncan Simmons That's not fair! I don't think it's wrong to feel a, a sense of, of duty!

Roger Simmons Sometimes, when you turn the exact same phrase, lift an eyebrow the exact same way, I see and I hear your father. The two of you, one! Like a great big tree and a little baby tree in its shade where the acorn fell.

Patty Duncan Simmons Roger, I came over here to you because I-I thought you might need me!

Roger Simmons Right now, what I need most, is this. (grabs the glass and bottle of vodka)

The Towering Inferno

Reflection on Change and Preservation

Doug Roberts I don't know. Maybe they just oughta leave it the way it is. Kind of a shrine to all the the bullshit in the world.

The Towering Inferno

Authority in Emergency Situations

Chief Michael O'Halloran When there's a fire, I outrank everybody here.

The Towering Inferno

Emergency Response Amidst Towering Inferno Crisis

Doug Roberts (on the phone to security) Hello, this is 81, we've had an accident up here, a man's been burned, get an ambulance! Yes, right away!

Security Chief Harry Jernigan (as he and another man drag the badly injured Will Giddings to safety) Roberts, call Duncan in the tower! They got a lot of people there!

James Duncan Yeah Doug, we were getting worried about you. Susan's here, Senator Parker, the Mayor and his wife. Everybody wants to know why the world's greatest architect isn't here.

Doug Roberts Never mind about that. Will Giddings has been pretty badly burned.

James Duncan (surprised) Will Giddings burned? How?!

Doug Roberts Look, I've already got an ambulance coming but you better think about getting those people upstairs down on the ground floor. (pause as Duncan asks why) What for? WE'VE GOT A FIRE HERE! (pause as Duncan asks the severity of the fire) Well, I think it's under control but....

James Duncan Well then, uh, why the urgency?

Doug Roberts Urgency?! Hey Dunc if that fire was caused by fluky wiring in the building we could get fires breaking out everywhere!

James Duncan Doug, I think you're overreacting. Now I feel sorry for Will Giddings but he'll be taken care of. (Duncan covers the speaker on the phone) But I am not going to concern myself with a fire in a storage room on 81 because it can't possibly affect us up here. Not in this building! Now have someone call me when the fire department arrives. In the meantime, get in your dinner jacket and come on up here and join the party. Now come on! (Duncan hangs up)

Doug Roberts I mean-(Roberts angrily hangs up)

The Towering Inferno Quotes