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- The Towering Inferno Is a Rip-Roaring Action Extravaganza
- Newman & McQueen’s Fiery On-Set Feud
- The Towering Inferno Becomes a Celebrated Classic
As a cinephile who has had the privilege of witnessing the golden age of Hollywood, I must say that the rivalry between Steve McQueen and Paul Newman was as captivating as their on-screen performances. Their intense competition, fueled by their unyielding desire to outshine each other, created a dynamic tension that added a layer of authenticity to their roles.
As a dedicated admirer, I can confidently say that Paul Newman and Steve McQueen were two unparalleled leading men in Hollywood, their magnetic personas leaving an indelible impression on viewers and solidifying them as true acting icons. In the year 1974, these extraordinary talents combined their skills to lead the cast of the pulse-pounding catastrophe spectacle, The Towering Inferno. This gripping tale centers around the heroic attempts of two fearless heroes as they strive tirelessly to rescue countless individuals trapped within a blazing skyscraper.
As a devoted admirer, I can share an intriguing perspective on the making of the electrifying movie, “The Towering Inferno.” Despite boasting impressive resumes and legions of adoring fans, the two leading men, Steve McQueen and Paul Newman, found themselves at odds during production. Their contrasting attitudes and egos ignited a tense rivalry that left an indelible mark on the film’s production process. Let’s delve deeper into the genesis of this iconic Hollywood feud and uncover the smoldering drama that unfolded behind the scenes in the ’70s blockbuster, “The Towering Inferno.
The Towering Inferno Is a Rip-Roaring Action Extravaganza
By merging the bestselling novels “The Tower” by Richard Martin Stern and “The Glass Inferno” by Frank M. Robinson, a cinematic masterpiece was born: the 1974 hit disaster film “The Towering Inferno.” Starring an illustrious ensemble of Hollywood legends like Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, Faye Dunaway, and Fred Astaire, this epic adaptation revolves around a colossal fire that erupts within a sumptuous San Francisco skyscraper during its grand opening. The story centers on Michael O’Hallorhan (McQueen), a seasoned fire chief from the San Francisco Fire Department, and Doug Roberts (Newman), the architect of the tower, as they work together to rescue innocents and prevent a more disastrous calamity.
20th Century Fox and Warner Bros., who had both been fiercely competing to produce novels about tower fires, realized they might end up with two competing films, given that both stories were inspired by the World Trade Center. To avoid this conflict, they decided to collaborate instead of competing, merging The Tower and The Glass Inferno’s shared themes and characters into a new cinematic project. This resulted in a fresh screenplay and a $14 million budget, with Steve McQueen and Paul Newman each earning an impressive $1 million for their roles in the high-octane production.
Newman & McQueen’s Fiery On-Set Feud
In the same movie, two highly renowned and gifted actors from Hollywood found themselves butting heads due to their intense rivalry, as Steve McQueen and Paul Newman frequently collided on set. McQueen, known as “The Cool King,” was basking in the success of his roles in box office sensations like The Great Escape, The Cincinnati Kid, and Bullit, while Newman captivated audiences with his performances in critically acclaimed films such as Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Hustler, and the prison break film Cool Hand Luke. Both these legendary actors shared a love for racing and high-risk activities, which fueled their similar personalities and competitive spirits, leading to inevitable conflict.
In the filming of The Towering Inferno, a rivalry sparked between Newman and McQueen due to McQueen’s dissatisfaction with the number of lines his character O’Hallorhan had compared to Newman’s character. Specifically, McQueen felt that he should have as many lines as Newman, leading him to ask writer Stirling Silliphant for 12 additional lines. This request was a point of contention for Newman, who grew annoyed when his friend and writer A.E. Hotchner visited during production, especially since this situation later became a topic in Hotchner’s book Paul and Me.
Based on Hotchner’s report from Best Life Online, it appears that McQueen’s behavior really got under Newman’s skin. Newman is said to have called McQueen a “coward” for his attitude, and he expressed this frustration by saying that working with McQueen was like going to the dentist every day. McQueen had a history of clashing with fellow actors, as seen during the filming of The Magnificent Seven in 1960 where he feuded with Yul Brynner. This rivalry involved McQueen trying to outshine Brynner in their shared scenes. The pair were originally set to star together in the 1969 classic Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, but it’s alleged that McQueen left the project because Newman was billed before him. Robert Redford then took over McQueen’s role.
During the filming of The Towering Inferno, the legendary actors vied fiercely, as Newman preferred to perform his own daring stunts and McQueen took on the demanding firefighter role by wearing full protective gear. Unfortunately, their commitment led to injuries; Newman suffered a severe burn, while McQueen twisted his ankle severely. The studio had to be innovative when designing the poster because both actors were given top billing, and they needed to adjust the layout to reflect their shared stardom. Despite the tension between them on set, The Towering Inferno was poised for cinematic brilliance.
The Towering Inferno Becomes a Celebrated Classic
Following a challenging and nerve-wracking filming process for the exhilarating remake, “The Towering Inferno” finally debuted on December 16, 1974, to great fanfare. It proved to be a smash hit with audiences and critics alike, with Variety hailing it as “one of the greatest disaster films ever made” and an “extraordinary production.” The movie not only grossed over $203 million during its run in theaters and was the top-grossing film of that year, but also received a remarkable eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. In the end, it walked away with three prestigious statuettes.
The audience was incredibly impressed by the stunning visuals, admirable characters that were easy to root for, and exceptional acting from the star-studded cast. As a result, The Towering Inferno added another success to McQueen and Newman’s list of cinematic achievements. Notably, both leading actors received $1 million upfront, along with a percentage of the total box office earnings. This deal earned Newman an impressive $12 million (equivalent to around $77 million today). However, even with this substantial payday, the film’s challenging production didn’t make it worth the effort for the Academy Award-winner.
The miserable experience led Newman to swear off taking on characters and films just for the hefty paycheck, as he heatedly declared to Hotchner at the time of shooting, “For the 1st time, I fell for the godd**n numbers. I did this turkey for a million and 10% of the gross, but it’s the 1st and last time, I swear.” Buy The Towering Inferno on Prime Video.
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2024-09-17 04:01