The Towering Inferno Quotes

Chief O'Hallorhan: [sighs] Architects.
Doug Roberts: Yeah, it's all our fault.
Chief O'Hallorhan: Now, you know there's no sure way for us to fight a fire in anything over the seventh floor, but you guys just keep building 'em as high as you can.
Doug Roberts: Hey. Are you here to take me on, or the fire?

Movie: The Towering Inferno
Doug Roberts: I thought we were building something 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 remained within the building code and god-dammit I did!
Doug Roberts: [Chuckling] Building code? Jesus. Building code. Come on, Dunc, I mean now that's a standard cop-out for when you're in trouble. See, I was crawling around up there. I mean duct holes weren't fire-stopped! Corridors without fire doors in them, sprinklers that won't work, and electrical system that's good for what? I mean it's good for starting fires! Phew, 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?

Movie: The Towering Inferno
Doug Roberts: [on security phone with Wes] Doug - I'm up on 83 with Will. Listen, we got a little wiring problem. If we've got an overload it could be trouble. Shut down as many of the Zone One systems as you can.
Wes: I'm afraid I can't do that, Mr. Roberts. We've got all the lights on for the dedication ceremony.
Doug Roberts: [in disbelief] All... you mean the whole building?
Wes: Well, we're taking the overload just fine.
Doug Roberts: [sharply] Well shut it down, right away!
Wes: But I can't do that without a direct okay from Mr. Duncan himself.
Doug Roberts: I'll accept the responsibility for that. Just turn off the goddamned lights!
Wes: What about the lights in the tower for the party?
Doug Roberts: I didn't say kill all the power, just the overload!
Wes: Yes sir, Mr. Roberts.

Movie: The Towering Inferno
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.

Movie: The Towering Inferno
[Doug Roberts gets a call for Harry Jernigan from the Security station in the Tower]
Doug Roberts: Harry?
Harry Jernigan: [picks up the phone] Jernigan. [Jernigan learns that Lisolette Mueller is trapped on the 87th floor trying to rescue the Albright family]
Harry Jernigan: What? Dammit man, you should have sent a man up there! [pause]
Harry Jernigan: How do you expect her to hear a phone call? She's deaf! [pause]
Harry Jernigan: Sure the kids can hear! [pause]
Harry Jernigan: I don't know, maybe they were in the shower or something when you called. [pause]
Harry Jernigan: No, you stay where you are, I'll get them down. [Doug Roberts listens while Kappy angrilly demands reinforcements over his radio]
Harry Jernigan: There's still some people on Eighty-Seven. I'll get 'em down.
Doug Roberts: I'll give you a hand.

Movie: The Towering Inferno
[O'Hallaran is getting his air tank changed]
Chief O'Hallorhan: Why do they make these goddamned things so heavy?
Kappy: You want it easier, Chief?
Chief O'Hallorhan: I don't know why they couldn't design a survival suit for us like they did for football players.
Kappy: Who pays to see us play?

Movie: The Towering Inferno