Backdraft

Director: Ron Howard Ron Howard

Overview

The sons of a Chicago fireman who gave his life in the performance of his duties, firefighting brothers Kurt Russell and William Baldwin carry their lifelong sibling rivalry into their work. Russell is convinced that Baldwin hasn't got what it takes to remain in the fire department. Baldwin is transferred to a "safe" assignment, assisting arson investigator Robert DeNiro, who is trying to make sense of a series of fires involving an oxygen-induced ball of fire called a backdraft. The investigation reveals a link between corrupt alderman J. T. Walsh and imprisoned pyromaniac Donald Sutherland. The trail of evidence leads Baldwin to suspect that his brother Russell, a much-decorated hero, may be the "inside" man setting up the arsons.

Product Details

Release Date:	05/07/2019
UPC:	0191329099124
Original Release:	1991
Rating:	R
Source:	Universal Studios
Format:	Blu-ray

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Kurt Russell	Stephen McCaffrey
William Baldwin	Brian McCaffrey
Robert De Niro	Donald Rimgale
Donald Sutherland	Ronald Bartel
Jennifer Jason Leigh	Jennifer Vaitkus
Scott Glenn	John Adcox
Rebecca de Mornay	Helen McCaffrey
Jason Gedrick	Tim Krizminski
J.T. Walsh	Martin Swayzak
Tony Mockus	Chief John Fitzgerald
Cedric Young	Grindle
Jack McGee	Schmidt
Mark Wheeler	Pengelly
Clint Howard	Ricco
Ryan Todd	Brian, Age 7
John Duda	Stephen, Age 12
Charles Burns	Battalion Chief at Mannequin Fire
J.R. Byrnes	4th Paramedic
Kevin M. Casey	Nightingale
Wanda Christine	Mother at Tenement Fire
Tom Clark	1st Retirement Party Schmoozer
Anthony C. Ellis	Grasping Child at Tenemant Fire
Neil J. Francis	1st Cop
Janet Hirshenson	Actor
Peter C. Hobert	Probie
Jane Jenkins	Actor
Karel King	1st Swayzack Aide
Ilene Kwitney	2nd Reporter
Richard Lexsee	Washington
Tony Mockus	Jackson
W. Earl Brown	3rd Paramedic
Juan Ramirez	Ray Santos
Beep Iams	Sean McCaffrey
Robert Swan	Willy-Bartender
Ron West	Alan Seagrave
Kevin Crowley	1st Candidate
Carlos Sanz	2nd Candidate
Harry Hutchinson	3rd Candidate
David A.C. Saunders	4th Candidate
J.J. Chaback	Woman Psychiatrist
Tim Grimm	Man at Parole Board
David Crosby	70's Hippie
Mike Mangano	Firetruck Driver
Rick Reardon	1st Paramedic
Leslie A. Ford	2nd Paramedic
Kathryn Jaeck	Mannequin Fire Reporter
David Westgor	Mannequin Fire Reporter
James Ritz	Mannequin Fire Reporter
Joe Guastaferro	Donald Cosgrove
Don Herion	Repairman
Gregory Widen	Engine Lieutenant
Andrew Lipschultz	Man on Party Boat
Walter Williams	Security Guard
Bob Krzeminski	Captain
F. Pat Burns	Battalion Chief at Tenement Fire
Zita Visockis	Grandma Vaitkus
Razz Jenkins	Photographer on Boat Party
Irma P. Hall	1st Nurse
Nydia Rodriguez Terracina	2nd Nurse
Hollis Resnik	Sally
Don Rimgale	Party Crony
Dennis Liddiard	Party Brawler
David Luckenbach	Security Officer
Andre Melchor	2nd Cop
Scott Baity	2nd Swayzack Aide
Gretchen Erickson	Bar Patron
Joan Esposito	Television Reporter
Bob Rice	1st Detective
Marcella de Tineo	Nurse
Jane MacIver	2nd Retirement Party Schmoozer
Burton Stencel	3rd Retirement Party Schmoozer
Tony G. Chrisos	1st Politico
Cay de Vos	2nd Politico
Gregory Lundsgaard	High Rise Fireman
Louise Woolf	Falling Chair Lady
Ian A. Nevers	Nervous Probie
Kelsey E. McMahon	Child Rescued at 70's Fire
Fidel Moreno	70's Onlooker
Zan Heber	1st Reporter
Jane Alderman	4th Reporter
Kevin Petersen	Doctor
Thomas A. Senderak	1st Fireman
Michael Allen Mark	2nd Fireman

Technical Credits

Steven E. de Souza

Gregory Widen

Ron Howard	Director
Gary Baugh	Set Decoration/Design
Albert Brenner	Production Designer
Raffaella de Laurentiis	Executive Producer
Steven E. de Souza	Screenwriter
Larry de Waay	Co-producer
Pen Densham	Producer
Monica Devereux	Choreography
William Fosser	Set Decoration/Design
Harold L. Fuhrman	Set Decoration/Design
Brian Grazer	Executive Producer
Allen Hall	Special Effects
Todd Hallowell	Associate Producer
Daniel Hanley	Editor
Michael Hill	Editor
Janet Hirshenson	Casting
Jane Jenkins	Casting
Mike Johnson	Stunts
Garry Lewis	Set Decoration/Design
Richard Barton Lewis	Producer
Becky Mancuso	Musical Direction/Supervision
Mikael Salomon	Cinematographer,Special Effects
Walter Scott	Stunts
Timothy R. Sexton	Musical Direction/Supervision
Jodie Lynne Tillen	Costumes/Costume Designer
John Watson	Producer
Gregory Widen	Screenwriter
Carol Wood	Art Director
Hans Zimmer	Score Composer

Editorial Reviews

Quite possibly one of the best films ever made about arson and firefighting, Backdraft has a throwback feel and pays homage to the disaster-thriller tradition. The well-spun script keeps the viewer glued as intriguing fire detective work unfolds, and benefits additionally from the blend of Ron Howard's use of pyrotechnic special effects with some superb acting, a combination which lends glamour to the already-romanticized world of firefighting. Although the anthropomorphisizing of fire is a bit heavy-handed and the sub-plots extraneous and far-flung, Backdraft's twisting narrative is tightly wrapped and makes for some good, nailbiting entertainment. Robert De Niro and Donald Sutherland give excellent performances in their respective roles as the fire chief sleuth and the depraved arsonist, and Kurt Russell and Billy Baldwin are also solid as firefighting sibling rivals. Despite its blockbuster appeal and budget, audiences responded lukewarmly to its somewhat far-fetched concept and the result was a lackluster showing at the box office.

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