The Towering Inferno is a 1974 "disaster" film about a San Francisco skyscraper that catches ablaze on the night of its dedication, trapping hundreds of people inside. Drawing similarities to the Titanic, the building's owners and architect make presumptuous claims about the structure's safety, which is met with objection by the city's fire chief (played by Steve McQueen). This results in a moral lecture from the chief at the end of the film about consulting with fire professionals about how to ensure safety in public structures rather than cutting corners to save on costs.