The film was shot on various locations in San Francisco and Los Angeles, as well as on sound stages at 20th Century Fox Studios. The Glass Tower was a combination of miniatures, matte paintings, and a 70-foot (21 m) model that was used for the exterior shots.
The fire effects were created by using propane gas and rubber cement, and were supervised by special effects coordinator A.D. Flowers. The film also employed hundreds of stunt performers and extras, some of whom were injured during the production.
The film’s score was composed by John Williams, who later became famous for his music for Star Wars (1977) and other blockbuster films. The film’s theme song, “We May Never Love Like This Again”, was written by Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn, and performed by Maureen McGovern.
The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, one of the three Oscars that the film received. The other two were for Best Cinematography and Best Film Editing.
The Reception
The Towering Inferno was released on December 16, 1974, and became a huge box office hit, grossing over $203 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film of 1974. It also received critical acclaim, with many reviewers praising the film’s suspense, action, and performances.
The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, but lost to The Godfather Part II (1974). The film also won three Golden Globe Awards, including Best Motion Picture – Drama.
The film is widely regarded as one of the best and most influential disaster films of all time, and has been cited as an inspiration for films such as Die Hard (1988), Independence Day (1996), and The Dark Knight (2008). The film also sparked a public interest in fire safety and building codes, and led to the creation of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers.
The Towering Inferno is a classic 1974 disaster film that showcases the talents of some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, and delivers a thrilling and spectacular spectacle of fire and heroism. It is a film that deserves to be seen and appreciated by fans of cinema and history.
