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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
directed by John Guillermin + Irwin Allen
USA 1974
A dedication ceremony at the world's tallest skyscraper turns into a high-rise catastrophe when a defective wire in its systems-control panel causes an electrical flare-up. Within minutes the gala event turns into a hellish inferno, as a raging fire traps society's most prominent citizens on the top floor. Winner of three Academy Awards, this spectacular suspense thriller features dazzling special effects and a star studded cast including Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, William Holden and Faye Dunaway. *** Hot off the heels of the success of "The Poseidon Adventure," producer Irwin Allen chose to follow up that seaworthy disaster epic with yet another excursion in peril: "The Towering Inferno," which went on to become an even bigger box office success than its predecessor, and remains to this day one of the most suspenseful and potent thrillers ever to come from a Hollywood studio. Much like the circumstances surrounding the Titanic disaster, those which enshroud the sudden and deadly fire that engulfs the newly-built Glass Tower in San Francisco stem from one thing: human arrogance. The building's owner (William Holden) is convinced that nothing can bring his structure to its knees, despite the knowledge that his son-in-law (Richard Chamberlain) was behind the decision to use faulty electrical wiring. Even with the warnings of the tower's chief architect (Paul Newman), who takes every opportunity to advise against holding off the dedication ceremony until a later date, the gala still goes on as planned, resulting in the entrapment of hundreds of people 135 stories up, with the flames chewing up their precious little time for a rescue effort. |
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Theatrical Release: December 10th, 1974
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Comparison:
20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC vs. 20th Century Fox (Special Edition - 2-disc) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. 20th Century Fox - Region 'A' - Blu-ray |
1) 20th Century Fox - Region 1- NTSC
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DVD Box Cover |
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Distribution |
20th Century Fox Region 1 - NTSC |
20th Century Fox (Special Edition - 2-disc) Region 1 - NTSC |
20th Century Fox Region 'A' - Blu-ray |
70's Disaster Flicks Invasion | |||
Runtime | 2:44:40 | 2:44:40 | 2:44:53.884 |
Video |
2.35:1
Original Aspect Ratio |
2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 48,107,532,781 bytesFeature: 39,291,930,624 bytesVideo Bitrate: 24.81 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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Bitrate : Fox - original release |
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Bitrate: Fox (Special Edition - 2-disc) |
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Bitrate: Fox Blu-ray |
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Audio | English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround) | English (Dolby Digital 4.0), English (Dolby Digital Surround), DUB: Spanish (Dolby Digital 1.0) |
DTS-HD Master Audio English 3555 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz /
3555 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) Dolby Digital Audio English 448 kbps 4.0 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps Dolby Digital Audio English 224 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 224 kbps / Dolby Surround Dolby Digital Audio English 224 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 224 kbps Dolby Digital Audio English 224 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 224 kbps Dolby Digital Audio English 224 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 224 kbps Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 224 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 224 kbps |
Subtitles | English, Spanish, None | English (HoH), Spanish, None | English (HoH), French, Spanish, None |
Features |
Release Information: Studio: Paramount Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details:
• Cast Bios Chapters 29 |
Release Information: Studio: 20th Century Fox (Special Edition - 2-disc) Aspect Ratio:
Edition
Details:
• Commentary
by: Mike Venzina - Special Effects Director and Branko
Racki - Stunt Coordinator.
DVD
Release Date: May 9th, 2006 Chapters 32 |
Release Information: Studio: 20th Century Fox
1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 48,107,532,781 bytesFeature: 39,291,930,624 bytesVideo Bitrate: 24.81 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition
Details:
Blu-ray
Release Date:
July 14th, 2009 Chapters 32 |
Comments |
NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were ripped directly from the Blu-ray disc. ADDITION: Fox 2009 Blu-ray July 09': Well, it just keeps getting better but the Blu-ray doesn't appear to advance as much as the SE did over the original. The image is a bit tighter now - detail and colors also improved. What might be as impacting for the presentation is the DTS-HD track at a whopping 3555 Kbps. Extras are swamping the Blu-ray and, no, I'm still not through them from my review of the SE. It looks as though they are duplicated with a few more on the Blu-ray. It seems much more 'epic' now on 1080P but also retains its 70's disaster flick excess. There are 40 Gig of 2.75 hour feature and 10 Gig of extras. Wow. My Momitsu tells me this is region-locked to 'A'. The film's massive star appeal (Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, William Holden, Faye Dunaway, Fred Astaire, Susan Blakely, Richard Chamberlain, Jennifer Jones, O.J. Simpson, Robert Vaughn, Robert Wagner etc.) and, like all the Allen disaster epics, produces an unique appeal. Certainly the term 'popcorn flic' might be appropriate to describe any viewing interest. Save this for a late Friday night or wet Sunday afternoon - it has obtained a kind of nostalgic charm. The price is right too - you can't really go wrong. Sure, we endorse. *** ON THE DVDs: Quite an extravagant difference from the old Fox release of this blockbuster disaster epic to the new Special Edition. We don't need to belabor the original's obvious weaknesses - it is non-anamorphic - with a black border around the entire frame limiting its already minimal resolution - colors are drastically manipulated and the image is very dull and hazy next to the new release - its is also cropped. In fact this is one of the most extreme differences I have seen in a long while. I bought the original at Walmart from a 'bargain bin' for about $4. Nuff' said on the image front. It seems it is feast or famine with Fox as the new SE is beyond loaded - it is spilling over with extras - from commentaries to more featurettes and deleted/extended scenes than anyone might care to indulge. Personally I'd say 'quite the overkill' - I am a DVD reviewer and I had to stop before completing all of the supplements - too much! Bumps in audio and everything else make this an amazing package (yes, why can't they do same with better films?!?!). Anyway, for the price this new SE almost feels like stealing. |
DVD Menus
(20th Century Fox - Region 1- NTSC LEFT vs.
20th Century Fox (Special Edition - 2-disc) - Region 1 - NTSC RIGHT)
Disc 2 of the SE
Screen Captures
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
1) 20th Century Fox - Region 1- NTSC TOP 2) 20th Century Fox (Special Edition - 2-disc) - Region 1 - NTSC MIDDLE 3) 20th Century Fox - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
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1) 20th Century Fox - Region 1- NTSC TOP 2) 20th Century Fox (Special Edition - 2-disc) - Region 1 - NTSC MIDDLE 3) 20th Century Fox - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
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1) 20th Century Fox - Region 1- NTSC TOP 2) 20th Century Fox (Special Edition - 2-disc) - Region 1 - NTSC MIDDLE 3) 20th Century Fox - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
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1) 20th Century Fox - Region 1- NTSC TOP 2) 20th Century Fox (Special Edition - 2-disc) - Region 1 - NTSC MIDDLE 3) 20th Century Fox - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
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1) 20th Century Fox - Region 1- NTSC TOP 2) 20th Century Fox (Special Edition - 2-disc) - Region 1 - NTSC MIDDLE 3) 20th Century Fox - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
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1) 20th Century Fox - Region 1- NTSC TOP 2) 20th Century Fox (Special Edition - 2-disc) - Region 1 - NTSC MIDDLE 3) 20th Century Fox - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
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1) 20th Century Fox - Region 1- NTSC TOP 2) 20th Century Fox (Special Edition - 2-disc) - Region 1 - NTSC MIDDLE 3) 20th Century Fox - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
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Image: |
Blu-ray |
Sound: |
Blu-ray |
Extras: | Blu-ray |
20th Century Fox
Region
1 - NTSC
20th Century Fox (Special Edition - 2-disc)
Region
1 - NTSC
20th Century Fox
Region
'A' - Blu-ray
DVD Box Cover
Distribution
70's Disaster Flicks
Invasion