A huge glass tower block, touted as the tallest building in the world, bursts into flame on its opening night.

An all-star cast includes Steve McQueen as Michael O'Hallorhan, the fire chief determined to get the blaze under control, while Paul Newman stars as embarrassed architect Doug Roberts, trapped inside with fellow guests Fred Astaire, Richard Chamberlain and Robert Wagner.

The Towering Inferno became the biggest of the Seventies cycle of disaster movies, which began four years earlier with 'Airport'.