It wasn’t the first or last of the disaster pictures, but it was the best of them all, yet its producer had no way of knowing that his career would never again reach those heights.

The Towering Inferno (1974) was the crowning achievement of über-producer Irwin Allen, the self-proclaimed “Master of disaster.” Crafted from two best-selling books and with a budget-busting cast headed by two mega-stars, it took two studios to bring it to the screen.

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of The Towering Inferno, biographer-historian Nat Segaloff (who was a member of the film’s special publicity unit) writes about the production, its innovative marketing campaign, and the goings-on before, during, and after its box office success. He draws a compelling, compassionate portrait of Irwin Allen, the workaholic filmmaker who craved the spotlight yet studiously hid his personal life. Segaloff also charts the history of fire in movies, draws personal profiles of the cast and crew, and offers modern fire safety tips that can save your life.

More Fire! The Building of The Towering Inferno will bring back the excitement, the fear, and the heat of the greatest disaster movie ever made.