Backdraft

Overview

"Two firemen brothers (Kurt Russell and William Baldwin) battle blazes and face heated sibling rivalry while on the trail of a maniacal arsonist in director Ron Howard's absorbing thriller, arriving on DVD from MCA Home Video. Presented in 2.35:1 widescreen and featuring a closed-captioned Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, this release also offers an alternate French Dolby Digital Stereo track in addition to optional Spanish and English subtitles. Extra features are limited to production notes."

Product Details

Release Date:	12/10/1997
UPC:	0025192004124
Original Release:	1991
Rating:	R
Source:	UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, Dolby Digital Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	2:15:00

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
J.T. Walsh	Martin Swayzak
Jason Gedrick	Tim Krizminski
Tony Mockus Sr.	Chief John Fitzgerald,Actor
Cedric Young	Grindle
Juan Ramirez	Ray Santos
Kevin M. Casey	Nightengale
Jack McGee	Schmidt
Mark Wheeler	Pengelly
Richar Lexsee	Washington
Beep Iams	Sean McCaffrey
Ryan Todd	Brian (age 7)
John Duda	Stephen (age 12)
Robert Swan	Willy, the Bartender
Clint Howard	Ricco,Actor
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
W. Earl Brown	3rd Paramedic
Robert Byrnes Jr.	4th Paramedic
Kathryn Jaeck	Mannequin Fire Reporter
David Westgor	Mannequin Fire Reporter
James Ritz	Mannequin Fire Reporter
Joe Gustaferro	Donald Cosgrove
Don Herion	Repairman
Gregory Widen	Engine Lieutenant
Andrew Lipschultz	Man on Party Boat
Bob Krzeminski	Captain
F. Pat Burns	Battalion Chief at Tenement Fire
Anthony C. Ellis Jr.	Gasping Child at Tenement Fire
Peter C. Hobert Jr.	Probie
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
Neil J. Francis Jr.	1st Cop
Andre Melchor	2nd Cop
Karel King	1st Swayzak Aide
Scott Baity	2nd Swayzak Aide
Gretchen Erickson	Bar Patron
Joan Esposito	Television Reporter
Bob Rice	1st Detective
Marcella DeTineo	Nurse
Tom Clark	1st Retirement Party Schmoozer
Jane MacIver	2nd Retirement Party Schmoozer
Burton Stencel	3rd Retirement Party Schmoozer
Robert Martell	Retirement Party Roaster
Tony G. Chrisos	1st Politico
Cay DeVos	2nd Politico
Gregory Lundsgaard	High Rise Fireman
Charles Burns Jr.	Battalion Chief at Mannequin Fire
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
Ilene Kwitny	2nd Reporter
Jan Alderman	4th Reporter,4th Reporter
Kevin Petersen	Doctor
Thomas A. Senderak	1st Fireman
Michael Allen Mark	2nd Fireman
Tony Mockus, Sr.	Chief John Fitzgerald
J.R. Byrnes	4th Paramedic
Wandachristine	Mother at Tenement Fire
Janet Hirshenson	Actor
Richard Lexsee	Washington
Joe Guastaferro	Donald Cosgrove
Walter Williams Sr.	Security Guard
Hans Zimmer	Composer

Technical Credits

Gregory Widen

Steven de Souza

Ron Howard	Director
Gregory Widen	Screenwriter
Pen Densham	Producer
John Watson	Producer
Richard B. Lewis	Producer,Producer
Brian Grazer	Executive Producer,Producer
Allen Hall	Special Effects
Walter Scott	Stunts
Glenn Williams	Sound Mixer
Raffaella De Laurentiis	Producer,Executive Producer
Larry DeWaay	Producer
Jon Alexander	Special Effects
Sara Bolder	Sound Effects
Janet Hirshenson	Casting
Steven de Souza	Screenwriter
Mikael Salomon	Special Effects
Jane Jenkins	Casting
Mike Johnson	Stunts
Industrial Light and Magic	Special Effects

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.