The Towering Inferno (1974)

William Holden: Jim Duncan

Photos 

Quotes 

• Doug Roberts : I thought we were building something that... 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 remain within the building code and god-dammit, I did!

  Doug Roberts : [Chuckling]  Building code? Jesus. Building code. Come on, Dunc, I mean that's a standard cop-out when you're in trouble. I was crawling around up there. I mean, duct holes weren't fire-stopped! Corridors without fire doors in it, sprinklers won't work, and an electrical system that's good for what? I mean, it's good for starting fires! Hoo boy, 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?

• 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 : Now, 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.

  [He prepares to announce an 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.

• James Duncan : [smiling genially, sure that he can smarm his way out of the situation]  Everything under control?

  Chief O'Hallorhan : You've gotta move all these people out of here.

  James Duncan : Aw, now, just how bad is it?

  Chief O'Hallorhan : It's a fire, mister, and all fires are bad.

• 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.

• [Carlos has tied himself to a wine case in preparation for the water tank detonations] 

  James Duncan : For God's sakes, Carlos, don't tie yourself up to a lot of glass.

  Carlos : That's the '29!

• Roger Simmons : [He tears up his breeches buoy ticket and indicates some of the men directly behind him]  The women are gone. WE are going next.

  James Duncan : [Punches him hard in the stomach; to the other men]  You've all got numbers, and you're going to take your turn. And if it's any consolation, I'm going to be the last one out of here, along with my son-in-law!

• James Duncan : Did you change any of 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... and then I'm going to hang you!

• [Chief O'Hallorhan has just found out the fire is heading towards the elevator shaft] 

  Chief O'Hallorhan : You'd better call Duncan, tell him to stop those people in the car room from using that express elevator, or somebody'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 if we're going to get those people. - All right, come on, firemen. I'll be on 81.

  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 : You drunk?

  Roger Simmons : Not yet.

  James Duncan : Well then, get out of my way!

  Roger Simmons : You didn't talk like this two years ago, did you? Running over budget and out of money? Did you ask me then how I could shave two million dollars off 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, 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 and pushes past Simmons] 

  James Duncan : [Addressing the crowd at the elevators, and lying to save his own life:]  Please, please. Ladies and 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] 

• [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.

• James Duncan : Have someone call me when the fire department arrives. In the meantime, get into your dinner jacket, come on up, and join the party!

• James Duncan : Give me the architect that designed you, and who needs Doug Roberts?

  Susan : I do.

• 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.

• [about the fire spreading up the building] 

  Mayor Ramsey : How much time do we have?

  James Duncan : Bob, I wish I knew.

  Mayor Ramsey : Goddammit, Jim, you built the place!

  James Duncan : I just don't think that all of us are going to make it.

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

• 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?