Memorable quotes for
The Towering Inferno (1974) More at IMDbPro »

James Duncan: Oh, come on. Now just how bad is it?
Chief O'Hallorhan: It's a fire, mister, and all fires are bad.

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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.

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Chief O'Hallorhan: For what it's worth, architect, this is one building I figured would never burn.

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James Duncan: Give me the architect that designed you, and who needs Doug Roberts?
Susan: I do.

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James Duncan: You know there's... nothing that any of us can do to bring back the dead.

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[last Lines ]
Chief O'Hallorhan: You know we were pretty lucky tonight, body count's less then 200. You know, one of these days, you're gonna kill ten-thousand in one of these firetraps, and I'm gonna keep eating smoke and carrying out bodies until someone asks us... how to build them.
Doug Roberts: Ok, I'm asking.
Chief O'Hallorhan: You know where to reach me.

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Doug Roberts: [picks up ringing phone] Roberts.
Chief O'Hallorhan: It's out of control, and it's coming your way. You got about fifteen minutes. Now, they wanna try somethin'. They wanna blow those water tanks two floors above you. They think it might kill the fire.
Doug Roberts: [surveys room] How're they gonna get the explosives up here?
Chief O'Hallorhan: [after already having been given the task] Oh, they'll find some dumb son of a bitch to bring it up.

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James Duncan: What I wanted to tell us is that Senator Parker is flying in for the dedication tonight. And he's almost guaranteed to sign 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: Don't you think you're suffering 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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Roger Simmons: [tears breeches buoy ticket] The women are gone, we are next.
James Duncan: [punches him] You've all got numbers, and you're going to take them. And if it's any consolation, I'm going to be the last one out of here, along with my son-in-law.

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

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Doug Roberts: I thought we were building something where people could work and live and be SAFE! If you had to cut costs, why didn't you cut floors instead of corners?
James Duncan: Now listen. Any decisions that were made for the use of alternate building materials were made because I as a builder have a right to make those decisions. If I remained within the building code and god-dammit I did!
Doug Roberts: [Chuckling] Building code? Jesus. Building code. Come on, Dunc, I mean now that's a standard cop-out for when you're in trouble. See, I was crawling around up there. I mean duct holes weren't fire-stopped! Corridors without fire doors in them, sprinklers that won't work, and electrical system that's good for what? I mean it's good for starting fires! Phew, where was I when all this was going on? Because I'm just as guilty as you and that god-damned son-in-law of yours! What do they call it when you kill people?

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Dan Bigelow: I'll be back, with the whole fire department.

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Chief O'Hallorhan: [sighs] Architects.
Doug Roberts: Yeah, it's all our fault.
Chief O'Hallorhan: Now, you know there's no sure way for us to fight a fire in anything over the seventh floor, but you guys just keep building 'em as high as you can.
Doug Roberts: Hey. Are you here to take me on, or the fire?

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

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[about setting the charges for the tanks]
Chief O'Hallorhan: How do I get back down?
[long pause]
Chief O'Hallorhan: Oh shit! Huh...

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[about breeches buoy lottery]
Doug Roberts: We'll send the kids out first, and then the women. Number this up to, I don't know - a hundred or so.
Susan: High-rise roulette.
Doug Roberts: High-rise roulette. That's right.

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[about the fire spreading up the building]
Mayor Ramsey: How much time do we have?
James Duncan: Bob, I wish I knew.
Mayor Ramsey: Goddamnit Jimmy, you built the place!
James Duncan: I just don't think all of us are going to make it.

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Chief O'Hallorhan: [picking up a security phone] This is O'Hallorhan, who am I speaking to?
Flaker: Chief Flaker, sir. US Navy Air Rescue.
Chief O'Hallorhan: It's about time, we can use your rescue choppers.
Flaker: I've ordered them right away. I'd like to set up communications next to the forward command center.
Chief O'Hallorhan: No no, too dangerous, stay out of those elevators.
Flaker: Well then, sir, we'll just trot right up the stairs.
Chief O'Hallorhan: Yeah, you'll just trot right up to 79, huh?
Flaker: [chastened] Standing by in the lobby, sir.
Chief O'Hallorhan: Thank you.

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[Doug is explaining the fire situation to O'Hallorhan]
Doug Roberts: And they're celebrating... a party.
Chief O'Hallorhan: Party? What party? Where?
Doug Roberts: In the Promenade Room, three hundred people.
Chief O'Hallorhan: 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'Hallorhan: I will.

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[Carlos is tied up to a wine case for the water tank detonations]
James Duncan: For God's sake Carlos, don't tie yourself up to a lot of glass.
Carlos: But that's the twenty-nines.

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[Duncan is talking about Roberts' unemployment after the Tower job]
James Duncan: You know, there's a saying that goes "No matter how hot it gets up there during the day...
James Duncan, Doug Roberts: [in unison] There isn't a damn thing you can do at night."
James Duncan: That's right. Now what the hell are you going to do at night in the middle of nowhere?
Doug Roberts: Sleep like a winner.

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[the firemen are trapped in an elevator shaft]
Chief O'Hallorhan: We'll go down by rope. We're gonna rappel down to 65, get on top of that elevator, use it as an exit.
Young Fireman: I can't make it. I'll fall. I know I'll fall.
Chief O'Hallorhan: Ok. Then you better go first. That way when you fall, you won't take any of us with you.

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James Duncan: Did you change Doug's electrical specifications?
Roger Simmons: I most certainly did.
James Duncan: For God's sake, 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, then I'm going to hang you.

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Dan Bigelow: What happened, somebody hang the wallpaper upside down?

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[O'Hallaran is getting his air tank changed]
Chief O'Hallorhan: Why do they make these goddamned things so heavy?
Kappy: You want it easier, Chief?
Chief O'Hallorhan: I don't know why they couldn't design a survival suit for us like they did for football players.
Kappy: Who pays to see us play?

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Chief O'Hallorhan: All right. It's your building, but it's our fire. Now, let's get these people the hell out of here.
James Duncan: 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'Hallorhan: OK. I'll do it.
[prepares to announce evacuation]
James Duncan: [stops him] Hold it, hold it. The mayor's out there. Do you want me to pull rank on you?
Chief O'Hallorhan: 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 ought to 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.

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Lorrie: [smelling smoke] Did you leave a cigarette burning?

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[Doug Roberts gets a call for Harry Jernigan from the Security station in the Tower]
Doug Roberts: Harry?
Harry Jernigan: [picks up the phone] Jernigan.
[Jernigan learns that Lisolette Mueller is trapped on the 87th floor trying to rescue the Albright family]
Harry Jernigan: What? Dammit man, you should have sent a man up there!
[pause]
Harry Jernigan: How do you expect her to hear a phone call? She's deaf!
[pause]
Harry Jernigan: Sure the kids can hear!
[pause]
Harry Jernigan: I don't know, maybe they were in the shower or something when you called.
[pause]
Harry Jernigan: No, you stay where you are, I'll get them down.
[Doug Roberts listens while Kappy angrilly demands reinforcements over his radio]
Harry Jernigan: There's still some people on Eighty-Seven. I'll get 'em down.
Doug Roberts: I'll give you a hand.

---

[Returning after his failed attempt to escape down the stairs]
Roger Simmons: Pretty ridiculous spectacle. There's no way down.

---

[to Duncan after hearing about Giddings on the phone]
Doug Roberts: Will Giddings is dead. He died twenty minutes ago.
[pause]
Doug Roberts: I wonder how many more will be dead by tomorrow?

---

[Chief O'Hallorhan has just found out the fire is heading towards the elevator shaft]
Chief O'Hallorhan: Roberts, better call Duncan and tell him to STOP those people in the tower from using that express elevator - or sombeody's going to get killed!
[Roberts picks up the phone to comply]
Chief O'Hallorhan: [addressing a colleague] OK, Kappy - ring in a third alarm. I want some rescue squads here and I also want choppers. We're going to need them to get those people off the roof.
Doug Roberts: [on the phone to Duncan as injured firemen are brought into the office to get medical help] The fire's moving towards the main shaft. Use the scenic elevator - don't overload.
James Duncan: OK, Doug.
[Duncan hangs up the phone and turns to do so but is confronted by Roger Simmons]
Roger Simmons: I don't like the way you talked to me.
James Duncan: Are 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 two million from our electrical costs?
James Duncan: [making his way to the elevators] Shut up and help me with these people!
Roger Simmons: And let me ask you something else, my dear father-in-law! Am I the only subcontractor you encouraged to cut corners?
James Duncan: [addressing people in the crowd] Excuse me.
Roger Simmons: Where did you save the other $4-million in Doug's original budget?
[Duncan reaches the front of the crowd & pushes past Simmons]
James Duncan: [addressing the crowd at the elevators] Ladies & 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. It's over here.
[Suddenly an elevator door opens behind Duncan, and several people surge past him into it. Duncan tries to stop them but is unable to, and the door closes behind him and the elevator starts down. Duncan hits the button to try to stop the elevator but it does not return]

---

James Duncan: [showing Senator Parker a rare case of vintage wine] That's all you're going to drink tonight!
Senator Parker: The whole case?

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Doug Roberts: [on security phone with Wes] Doug - I'm up on 83 with Will. Listen, we got a little wiring problem. If we've got an overload it could be trouble. Shut down as many of the Zone One systems as you can.
Wes: I'm afraid I can't do that, Mr. Roberts. We've got all the lights on for the dedication ceremony.
Doug Roberts: [in disbelief] All... you mean the whole building?
Wes: Well, we're taking the overload just fine.
Doug Roberts: [sharply] Well shut it down, right away!
Wes: But I can't do that without a direct okay from Mr. Duncan himself.
Doug Roberts: I'll accept the responsibility for that. Just turn off the goddamned lights!
Wes: What about the lights in the tower for the party?
Doug Roberts: I didn't say kill all the power, just the overload!
Wes: Yes sir, Mr. Roberts.

---

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.

---

Scott: What building's on the corner of Montgomery and... aw Jesus, it's the Glass Tower.
Young Fireman: What?
Scott: The Glass Tower! I sure hope that fire's on the first floor!
Young Fireman: You ever fight one in a high rise?
Scott: Yeah.
Young Fireman: Is it as tough as I hear?
Scott: Like being inside a chimeny!

---

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 for help. Nobody knows we're up here.
Lorrie: Well, I always wanted to die in bed.

---

Doug Roberts: I'm not a cheeseburger.
Susan: No, you're way better, all protein, no bread, now all I need to take with you is eight glasses of water.

---

Harry Jernigan: [on the phone] Dammit, you should've sent a man up there. How do you expect her to hear the phone, she's deaf! Sure the kids can hear... I don't know, they were probably in the shower when you called.

---

Chief O'Hallorhan: How long before you can get me a complete list of your tenants?
Harry Jernigan: You don't have to wory about that, we're moving them out now.
Chief O'Hallorhan: Not live-in. *Business* tenants.
Harry Jernigan: We thought of that, too. Most of them haven't moved in yet and those who have aren't working tonight.
Chief O'Hallorhan: I want to know *who* they are, not *where* they are.
Harry Jernigan: [perplexed] But what does that have to do with anything, who they are?
Chief O'Hallorhan: [patiently] Do you have any silk or wool manufacturers? You see, in a fire silk and wool give off cyanide gas. Do you have any sporting goods manufacturers, like table tennis balls? They give off toxic gases. Now, do you want me to go on down the line?
Harry Jernigan: [now understanding] No. One list of tenants coming up.
Chief O'Hallorhan: Thank you.

---

Roger Simmons: [Returning after his failed attempt to escape down the stairs] Pretty ridiculous spectacle. 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: [Takes vodka bottle and glass] I know what I'm going to do. Get quietly drunk.
Patty Duncan Simmons: If you're responsible for all this, I know how you must be feeling.
Roger Simmons: You don't even know the meaning of the word!
Patty Duncan Simmons: Responsible?
Roger Simmons: Feeling! Oh you know a lot about responsibility, it's a family trait! The Duncans are big on responsibility, at least on the surface!
Patty Duncan Simmons: That's not fair! I don't think it's wrong to feel a sense of duty!
Roger Simmons: [scoffs] When you turn a 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 baby tree in the shade where the acorn fell.
Patty Duncan Simmons: Roger, I came over to you right now, because I-I thought you might need me!
Roger Simmons: What I need most right now, is this.
[Grabs vodka and glass and walks away]

---

Giddings: [Will has produced the original blueprints of the Glass Tower] Well Doug, here you are. The original specs. Zone 1 only, but we have to start somewhere.
[referring to Roger changing the electrical specs]
Giddings: You really think he did it?
Doug Roberts: Well, he didn't admit it, but two bucks'll get you ten that he did.
Giddings: Payoffs and kickbacks, that's the only way he could have swung it.
Doug Roberts: [referring to Roger's lack of cooperation in producing the wiring specifications]
Doug Roberts: Son of a bitch gave us an impossible job!

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