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Backdraft
Two feuding siblings carrying on a heroic family tradition as Chicago firefighters. But when a puzzling series of arson attacks is reported, they are forced to set aside their differences to solve the mystery surrounding these crimes.
1991 · Directed by Ron Howard · 137 min · Drama · Thriller · Action · Crime · Screenplay in the scene database · 12 frames
Tagline
Silently behind a door, it waits. One breath of oxygen and it explodes in a deadly rage. In that instant it can create a hero...or cover a secret.
Plot
Two firefighters of Engine 17 of the Chicago Fire Department (CFD) are brothers: the elder, Lieutenant Stephen "Bull" McCaffrey, is experienced, while Brian has labored in his brother's shadow. Brian returns to firefighting after several other careers falter, although Stephen has doubts that Brian is fit to be a firefighter. In 1971, Brian witnessed the death of their firefighting father, Captain Dennis McCaffrey, while accompanying him on a call.
The longest-serving of the men at Engine 17, John "Axe" Adcox, served under the McCaffreys' father and was like an uncle to the boys when they lost their father. Adcox grows concerned about Stephen's unorthodox methods and disregard for safety procedures, as does Stephen's wife Helen, who separated from Stephen to protect herself and their son Sean from the risks that he was taking.
Inspector Donald "Shadow" Rimgale, a dedicated arson investigator and veteran firefighter, is called in because some recent explosive fires resemble those that were set by pyromaniac Ronald Bartel, who has been imprisoned for several years. Brian transfers to become Rimgale's assistant after an argument with Stephen. Rimgale manipulates Bartel's obsession with fire to ensure that his annual parole application is rejected. It is revealed during an investigation that Chicago City Council alderman Marty Swayzak has supported budget cuts to the CFD. Contractors have paid him to shut down firehouses so that they can be converted into community centers, with the contractors receiving kickbacks for the construction. Brian rekindles a relationship with Jennifer Vaitkus, an aide to Swayzak.
Plot summary from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.
Crew
- Written by: Gregory Widen
- Cinematography: Mikael Salomon
- Edited by: Mike Hill, Daniel P. Hanley
- Music: Hans Zimmer
- Production design: Albert Brenner
- Produced by: Richard Barton Lewis, Pen Densham, John Watson
Cast
- Kurt Russell as Stephen McCaffrey
- William Baldwin as Brian McCaffrey
- Robert De Niro as Donald Rimgale
- Donald Sutherland as Ronald Bartel
- Jennifer Jason Leigh as Jennifer Vaitkus
- Scott Glenn as John 'Axe' Adcox
- Rebecca De Mornay as Helen McCaffrey
- Jason Gedrick as Tim Kirzminski
- J.T. Walsh as Alderman Marty Swayzak
- Anthony Mockus Sr. as Chief John Fitzgerald
Production
- Country: United States of America
- Language: English
- Studios: Trilogy Entertainment Group, Imagine Entertainment, Universal Pictures
- Budget: $75,000,000
- Box office: $152,368,585
- Themes: chicago, illinois, rescue, fire, corruption, sibling relationship, psychopath, office, investigation, danger of life, arson
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