When Backdraft was released, there were a lot of veteran firefighters who were not fans because of fantasy fire scenes, firefighter arson, firefighter drinking, firefighter fighting, lovemaking on pumper, poor leadership and many negative depictions of firefighters. Although it depicts firefighters as heroic, it presents a totally inaccurate Hollywood view of firefighting.
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Firefighter movies and others we remember
- Thread starter nfd2004
- Start date
There could never be a movie to show what it was exactly like living the life of a FF during the war years. Going from fire to fire and not getting back to the Firehouse for several hours. Busy Co.s taking up from one job and going 10-8 to go to the next run or possibly another job. For people that had no idea, it was what just a little insight that showed what firefighting was all about. Those complaints you mentioned probably didn't come from busy companies because most of it was true and some a little far fetched.
Here are previews of the Highest Rated Fire Movies, starting with the 5th Highest Rated to the Number 1 rated fire movies.
Perhaps some of Our Members have never seen or heard of these movies before.
Which one was/is YOUR FAVORITE ?
Perhaps some of Our Members have never seen or heard of these movies before.
Example; "Backdraft" came out 31 years ago, in May, 1991
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhfYGWetV3M
Perhaps some of Our Members have never seen or heard of these movies before.
Which one was/is YOUR FAVORITE ?
Perhaps some of Our Members have never seen or heard of these movies before.
Example; "Backdraft" came out 31 years ago, in May, 1991
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhfYGWetV3M
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2017
- Messages
- 1,013
As far as I know, the only book about "Backdraft" is "Robert DeNiro and the Fireman" written by Bill Cosgrove in 1997. Cosgrove was a CFD fire investigator working out of Engine 104's old quarters on S. Michigan Ave. He got a job as a technical advisor to Robert DeNiro during the filming of "Backdraft". The book is basically a diary of the six weeks of filming in Chicago. He describes teaching DeNiro how BFI works in the field (including taking him up to the knob in a burning 2-11 warehouse fire at 3829 North Oakley) and the filming set-up of on- location shots of DeNiro's scenes.
As an aside, in 1998 a bunch of us were in NYC to march with the Pipes & Drums in the St' Patrick's Day Parade. The next day, with maybe a hangover and snow flurries, we took a walking tour of lower Manhattan and stopped at Ladder 20 for a visit. The Housewatch told us they recently had a couple of runs to DeNiro's place in TriBeCa- all 9-2's. The thinking at 20 Truck was that DeNiro had a crazy girlfriend issue.
As an aside, in 1998 a bunch of us were in NYC to march with the Pipes & Drums in the St' Patrick's Day Parade. The next day, with maybe a hangover and snow flurries, we took a walking tour of lower Manhattan and stopped at Ladder 20 for a visit. The Housewatch told us they recently had a couple of runs to DeNiro's place in TriBeCa- all 9-2's. The thinking at 20 Truck was that DeNiro had a crazy girlfriend issue.
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2019
- Messages
- 402
Some interesting backdraft info I came across.
the large chemical fire in that movie was filmed at the old Cueno press building. At one time it was the largest printing company in the world. Anyways in 1989 they had a fire in one of the buildings in the multi building complex. The complex was on Grove street and butted up the the river. The complex was about 5-7 large buildings, interconnected with a train yard adjacent and a tram track through one of the “alleys” between the buildings. Some of the building were 8 stories high. That fire was allegedly started by Lou Wolf, one of Chicago’s biggest slumlords. It was very large job with multiple buildings involved. (Think the Greenpoint terminal market fire) I’ll post some videos of the building fire and a walk through of the building after filming. They remaining buildings in the complex were imploded in 1995.
the large chemical fire in that movie was filmed at the old Cueno press building. At one time it was the largest printing company in the world. Anyways in 1989 they had a fire in one of the buildings in the multi building complex. The complex was on Grove street and butted up the the river. The complex was about 5-7 large buildings, interconnected with a train yard adjacent and a tram track through one of the “alleys” between the buildings. Some of the building were 8 stories high. That fire was allegedly started by Lou Wolf, one of Chicago’s biggest slumlords. It was very large job with multiple buildings involved. (Think the Greenpoint terminal market fire) I’ll post some videos of the building fire and a walk through of the building after filming. They remaining buildings in the complex were imploded in 1995.
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2019
- Messages
- 402
There’s a longer video of the fire Simone made with the menu is from the movie. At one point in this video, they are fighting the fire in the building it was filmed in. The tower ladder is operating into the movie building.