ONE BREATH OF OXYGENE AND IT EXPLODES IN A DEADLY RAGE.

As a serial arsonist strikes in Chicago, Brian McCaffrey (William Baldwin) decides to follow in his father’s (and brother Stephen (Kurt Russell) footsteps and become a firefighter. Director Ron Howard delivers what might best be described as a Top Gun for firefighters. The bombastic music equals the fiery effects that are the true attraction; there’s beauty and danger in those sequences. Less interesting are the emotional sentiments and the silly part where Donald Sutherland’s character turns into a Hannibal Lecter. The story goes on for too long, but fans love the film for its grand entertainment.

1991-U.S. 135 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by Ron Howard. Music: Hans Zimmer. Cast: Kurt Russell (Stephen McCaffrey/Dennis McCaffrey), William Baldwin (Brian McCaffrey), Robert De Niro (Donald Rimgale), Donald Sutherland, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Scott Glenn… Rebecca De Mornay.

Trivia: Dennis Quaid was allegedly considered for the part of Stephen; Val Kilmer and Johnny Depp for Brian. Donald Rimgale is in fact a real person (who also has a cameo in the film). Followed by a direct-to-video sequel, Backdraft 2 (2019).

IMDb