The Film
The early to mid 1970s was the true golden age of big budget disaster films, but most have failed to survive the test of time. The dated effects, campy stories and even the wardrobes are just reminders that beyond the disaster plot, these were filled with other malfunctions - limitations of the budget or current technology. But one still stands out among the best disaster pics ever made, and that's Irwin Allen's mega-blockbuster The Towering Inferno.
Just how big was this film is summed up in his all-star cast, the fact that it is based on two books and was the first major release produced by two studios. The basic plot is also simple and straightforward; the world's tallest building suffers a catastrophic disaster during its dedication ceremony - namely the building catches fire, and from there it is burn, baby, burn.
The Picture
Some things never go out of style, and fortunately much of the film is set during the dedication reception for the building and thus features a cast dressed in either formal attire or fire-fighting apparel, and this saves it from appearing too dated stylishly. But the Blu-ray disc manages to capture the range of colors in the evening wear, as well as making the fire feel a lot more than merely toasty. The 2.35:1 widescreen presentation also helps preserve the larger-than-life story, but the picture does lack a bit of crispness, while the black levels are somewhat murky rather than deep and rich. This is to be expected with a film that is 35 years old however.
The Sound
The audio is the weakest part of this package. While the Blu-ray's sound is presented in 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio there isn't really much in the way of immersion unfortunately. Worse some of the effects, such as a few of the well-timed explosions, have too much punch from the front, yet little in the way of even a rumble from the rear speakers. The dialog is also not well isolated and thus can be a bit hard to hear. And even the John Williams score fails to deliver any memorable cues. There may be a tower burning, but the sound doesn't live up to an inferno.
The Extras
Many older films aren't always worth the upgrade to Blu-ray, but for the bonus features alone, this release is worth the price. The Blu-ray version includes enough extra material to spread the disaster viewing out quite a bit. This includes 33 extended and deleted scenes, trailers and stills and sketches; as well as nine featurettes, including two vintage era specials, an AMC produced piece on the making of, and even a look at how the fictional Glass Tower compares to real world high-rises of today! Sadly many of the film's stars, as well as the master of disaster producer Irwin Allen are no longer with us, so the Blu-ray instead draws upon commentaries from contemporary industry insiders including film historian F.X. Feeney and stunt coordinator Branko Racki.
Final Thoughts
The Towering Inferno remains one of the best that the disaster genre has to offer, made so because of an excellent story and solid performances from the all-star cast. While the audio is somewhat lacking, it isn't a full-blown disaster, and the abundance of bonus features more than make up for any shortcomings.
Where to Buy
Product Details
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