The Towering Inferno

[MainTitle]

For those fans of the movie in the United Kingdom, Warner Home Video released a Region B coded Blu ray of this title on November 16.

The picture quality in high definition is stunning and a notch or two above the regular standard def DVD. Most of the outstanding extras from the US version's Region A coded BD from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment have been ported over for this release.

Missing is the 'AMC Backstory' and 'Scene Specific Commentaries' for several of the action sequences but all the deleted scenes, making of docos and several other featurettes are included. It also retains film historian F.X. Feeney's enjoyable feature length audio commentary, although he does make a couple of factual errors like saying that Paul Newman's son who played a bit part as a scared fireman is the same who assists Steve McQueen after the dramatic scenic elevator derailment, but that role went to stuntman/actor Ernie Orsatti. Aside from that he provides a good listening experience into the background of this legendary blockbuster film.

The sound mix is quite good utilising a Dolby True HD 5.1 audio track. I don't know how much better or worse it compares the the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track on the Region A disc. It still sounds mighty impressive on my home theatre system.

As a long time fan of this film over 35 years, I imported it last week to Australia and am thrilled with the quality. Warner deserves credit for their work on this release and I urge any fans of the film to buy it. You won't be disappointed!



The Towering Inferno Blu-ray