Backdraft

Backdraft
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Ron Howard[1]
Produced by	Richard B. Lewis John Watson Pen Densham
Written by	Gregory Widen
Starring	Kurt Russell William Baldwin Scott Glenn Jennifer Jason Leigh Rebecca De Mornay Donald Sutherland Robert De Niro
Music by	Hans Zimmer
Cinematography	Mikael Salomon
Editing by	Daniel P. Hanley Mike Hill
Studio	Imagine Entertainment
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release date(s)	May 24, 1991 (1991-05-24)
Running time	132 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$152,368,585

Backdraft is a 1991 action thriller film directed by Ron Howard and written by Gregory Widen. The film stars Kurt Russell, William Baldwin, Scott Glenn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Rebecca De Mornay, Donald Sutherland, and Robert De Niro. Jason Gedrick and J. T. Walsh co-star in the film. The story is about firefighters in Chicago on the trail of a serial arsonist who sets fires with a fictional chemical substance, trychtichlorate.

The film grossed $77,868,585 in its domestic run and $74,500,000 from foreign markets, making it the highest grossing film ever made about firefighters. Its total worldwide gross is $152,368,585.^[2][3] The film was also a success at the Academy Awards, receiving a full three nominations.

Plot

The film tells the story of a group of Chicago firefighters at Engine 17, two of whom are brothers. Lt. Stephen "Bull" McCaffrey (Kurt Russell), the elder, is experienced and obsessed with beating the fires that he fights, being always at the most dangerous part of a conflagration. Brian McCaffrey (William Baldwin), Stephen's brother, has labored under his brother's shadow all his life. He returns to firefighting after a number of other career attempts falter, though Stephen has doubts that Brian is fit to be a firefighter. As a child in 1971, Brian witnessed the death of their father, Dennis (also played by Kurt Russell), firsthand when a gas pipe ruptured and burned him alive.

The longest serving of all the firefighters at Engine 17, John "Axe" Adcox (Scott Glenn), served under the McCaffreys' father in the Chicago Fire Department and was like an uncle to the two boys when Dennis died saving his life. He takes great pride in his work and loves the department. He attacks fires head on, but is concerned about Stephen's unorthodox methods and disregard for safety procedures.

Martin Swayzak (J. T. Walsh) is an alderman on the Chicago City Council. He hopes to be elected mayor, but has had to make a number of budget cuts to the fire department. Many of the rank and file firemen believe that the cuts are endangering the firefighters' lives.

Helen McCaffrey (Rebecca De Mornay) is Stephen's estranged wife and the mother of their son, Sean. Helen has grown fearful of Stephen's dedication to firefighting and the risks he takes. While they are still in love, she separated from Stephen to protect herself and Sean. Jennifer Vaitkus (Jennifer Jason Leigh) is Brian's ex-girlfriend and works in Swayzak's office. Her loyalties are torn between her job and Brian. She eventually sides with Brian, recognizing the danger her boss is putting firefighters in through his self-centered actions.

Inspector Donald "Shadow" Rimgale (Robert De Niro) is an arson investigator dedicated to his profession. He is called in because a number of recent fires appear connected. Arsonist Ronald Bartel (Donald Sutherland) has been imprisoned for many years. He appears very normal on occasions but at the mention of fire he becomes obsessed with the idea of living fire (he calls it "the animal"), one that takes over not only buildings but people's lives. Rimgale manipulates this to ensure Ronald's annual application for parole is turned down. While still an active firefighter, Rimgale was horribly burned saving Ronald's life in a warehouse fire (that he started), when a tub of phosphorus exploded.

When 17 answers a call in a high-rise, Stephen urges them to move in quickly to take out the fire despite Adcox's advice to wait for back-up. Brian's friend and fellow "probationary fireman" trainee Tim Krizminski (Jason Gedrick), under Stephen's wing, accidentally opens a door only to be met by a backdraft. His face is burned beyond recognition, but he survives. Adcox and Brian both blame Tim's condition on Stephen's reckless tactics. A third victim is found afterward.

Rimgale takes a ride with Swayzak, who seems edgy. When the alderman reveals the latest victim's name before it's released, Rimgale grows suspicious. Brian and Rimgale's investigation reveals that Swayzak was paid off by businessmen and contractors to shut down firehouses so they could be converted into community centers, with the businessmen (the three victims) receiving contracts for the construction. The two men decide to confront Swayzak at his house, but upon arrival, they smell gas. Brian is attacked by a masked intruder, who gets away, but not before getting burned by an exposed electrical outlet, where he was setting up the latest backdraft. Rimgale gets Brian and Swayzak out of the house, before it explodes.

In the hospital, an injured and frustrated Rimgale confirms it is arson, but knows something is amiss. Brian consults Ronald for advice in order to determine the missing link. Ronald states the arsonist knows fire, but doesn't love it and knows trychtichlorate, an absorption catalyst used in the arsons. Brian remembers cleaning chemicals Stephen had and discovers one of the chemicals is trychtichlorate. Suspecting his brother, Brian goes to the firehouse where he spots Adcox with an outlet-shaped burn on his left shoulder, just like the masked attacker. The two share a glance, before an alarm rings. When Stephen arrives, Brian runs to tell him but Stephen figured it out from Brian's presence at his boat, a few minutes earlier. Stephen says he'll handle it, but upon going in, Brian spots Adcox spying on them and runs after his brother.

During a multiple-alarm fire at a chemical plant, Stephen confronts Adcox about the deadly backdrafts on the roof. Adcox admits that he set the fires to kill associates of Swayzak because he is angered that Swayzak was benefiting both financially and politically from the deaths of firefighters. He tries to be understanding, but lashes out at Brian. The roof starts to go and Brian runs for the side. Coming down, he falls into the water-filled elevator shaft and gets trapped by a ruptured gas line and rising water, before Stephen rescues him.

The brothers look for Adcox, who knocks Brian out. On a catwalk, Adcox breaks down stating, "I just couldn't let it go, Bull." Stephen understands him. An explosion destroys the catwalk, and Stephen grabs Adcox's hand while also grabbing the remains of the catwalk with his other hand. Fire from the floor below envelops Adcox, severely burning him. When Adcox requests Stephen let go of him, he responds with "You go, we go" and loses his own grip on the catwalk, just as Brian makes it back up. Adcox is killed and Stephen is mortally wounded when he lands on the catwalk below. When fellow firefighters lose the hose, Brian goes for it and clears a path, allowing them to reach his brother and earning Stephen's respect. Stephen dies en route to the hospital with Brian at his side, his final request being that Brian not reveal that Adcox was behind the series of fires and proud the fire didn't get him.

After Stephen and Adcox's funeral, Brian and Rimgale, with the help of the police, interrupt a press conference that Swayzak is hosting. Rimgale questions Swayzak on a fake manpower study that led to the deaths of several firemen, including Stephen and Adcox, effectively killing Swayzak's mayoral ambitions. Brian whispers a line to Swayzak that the alderman used earlier on Stephen.

As the film ends, Brian decides to carry on with his firefighting career despite the loss of his father and brother. Brian suits up and clambers onto Engine 17 as it heads to a fire, then helps another probationary firefighter buckle up his jacket properly while veteran firefighter Grindle (Cedric Young) watches with a smile.

Cast

• Kurt Russell as Lt. Stephen "Bull" McCaffrey/Capt. Dennis McCaffery
• William Baldwin as Brian McCaffery
• Robert De Niro as Inspector Donald "Shadow" Rimgale
• Scott Glenn as John "Axe" Adcox
• Jennifer Jason Leigh as Jennifer Vaitkus
• Rebecca De Mornay as Helen McCaffrey
• Donald Sutherland as Ronald Bartel
• Jason Gedrick as Tim Krizminski
• J. T. Walsh as Alderman Martin Swayzak
• Anthony Mockus, Sr. as Chief John Fitzgerald
• Cedric Young as Grindle
• Juan Ramirez as Ray Santos
• Kevin Casey as Nightingale
• Jack McGee as Schmidt
• Mark Wheeler as Pengelly

Production

According to the article listed on Entertainment Weekly, rubber cement from Petronio Shoe Products was used to create some of the fire effects. Also, George Lucas' Industrial Light & Magic were used to help with some other shots that were tricky to shoot, or otherwise unlikely to happen in real life. ^[4]

Theme park attraction

Release

Critical reception

Backdraft received a positive reception.^{[5][6] [7]} The film currently holds a 73% 'Fresh' rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus "It's not particularly deep, but Backdraft is a strong action movie with exceptional special effects."^[8]

Box office

The film grossed $77,868,585 in the US (ranking 14th in box-office for 1991), and $74,500,000 in foreign markets.^[9][10]

Awards

The film received three Academy Award nominations (Sound Effects Editing, Visual Effects and Best Sound - Gary Summers, Randy Thom, Gary Rydstrom and Glenn Williams).^[11] It also received two nominations at the first annual MTV Movie Awards.^{[citation needed]}

References

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Backdraft

• Backdraft at the Internet Movie Database
• Backdraft at the TCM Movie Database
• Backdraft at Box Office Mojo
• Backdraft at Rotten Tomatoes