Backdraft (1991)

Director:

Ron Howard

Writer (WGA):

Gregory Widen (written by)

Release Date:

24 May 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

One breath of oxygen and it explodes in a deadly rage.

Plot:

Two Chicago firefighter brothers who don't get along have to work together while a dangerous arsonist is on the loose.

Plot Keywords:

Death | Explosion | Rescue | Brother | Shower

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Kurt Russell	...	Stephen 'Bull' McCaffrey / Dennis McCaffrey
William Baldwin	...	Brian McCaffrey
Robert De Niro	...	Donald 'Shadow' Rimgale
Donald Sutherland	...	Ronald Bartel
Jennifer Jason Leigh	...	Jennifer Vaitkus
Scott Glenn	...	John 'Axe' Adcox
Rebecca De Mornay	...	Helen McCaffrey
Jason Gedrick	...	Tim Krizminski
J.T. Walsh	...	Alderman Marty Swayzak
Anthony Mockus Sr.	...	Chief John Fitzgerald (as Tony Mockus Sr.)
Cedric Young	...	Grindle
Juan Ramírez	...	Ray Santos
Kevin Casey	...	Nightingale
Jack McGee	...	Schmidt
Mark Wheeler	...	Pengelly

MPAA:

Rated R for language and a scene of sensuality.

Runtime:

132 min | Canada:137 min (Ontario)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby (35 mm prints) | 70 mm 6-Track (QSound) (70 mm prints)

Certification:

South Korea:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-14 | France:U | Germany:16 (w) | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R | Canada:14A

Filming Locations:

Archer Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Imagine Films Entertainment

Trivia:

The film's screenwriter, Gregory Widen, was a firefighter for three years before becoming a screenwriter. The film's basis is based upon the death of a friend in an actual backdraft.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the apartment fire, Stephen goes in to save a little boy. When there's an explosion, Brian falls back and his boots are all the way up, on another shot when he's on the floor his boots are folded down.

Quotes:

Ricco, Pathologist: [to Brian in the morgue about picking up the burned body] Jesus Christ! He's not going to sell you insurance, pick him up!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in New Frontiers: Making 'The Missing' (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

War

The Good & Bad Of 'Backdraft'

This is an entertaining movie with some awesome action scenes but has so much other garbage to it, that it ruined the film for me.

THE GOOD - The fire scenes are tremendous, the best I've ever seen on film. It's hard to believe this movie came over more than 15 years ago, but these scenes and special-effects are not dated, by any means. They make for some unique and very tense moments. The sound that goes with the fire also is extremely interesting. It's a good cast, too - just look at those names.

THE BAD - Way too much stupid dialog, mostly by Kurt Russell who was still in his super macho-man mentality stage of his career, playing profane, ultra-tough guys in many of his films. (He's slowed down and mellowed quite a bit now, thankfully). Also, the constant arguments between "Bull McCaffrey" (Russell) and his brother "Brian" William Baldwin) grates on the viewer after awhile. Then, there is the ridiculous view of fire as literally being alive and human-like. Are you serious? Only Hollywood could come up with New Age-type nonsense like that, which is insulting to any viewer with a brain.