It's ironic that while "The Towering Inferno" is acknowledged as the classic titan of disaster films, it's treatment on video and TV has been so bad. Warner Bros. have some making-up to do and they go some of the way with this quality DVD.

The video release suffered from an opening title sequence in the wrong ratio and then a nasty cropped pan and scan treatment of the actual film. Additionally the picture was as lifeless and washed out as you could imagine. The DVD is thankfully presented in its original 2.35:1 ratio that allows the full splendour of the movie to be shown. The colour scheme of the film revels in 1970s browns and oranges that remain vibrant, strong, and sharp in this clear transfer.

The only extra is the trailer, which is punchy for its time but otherwise the lack of extras is a little disappointing. A special edition may one day come along but for now "The Towering Inferno" is a lot closer to its original glory and this is a good disc to have in the collection.

Chapters: 45
Ratio: 2.35:1
Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0
Extra Features: Scene selection, multiple subtitles, trailer, English for the hearing impaired.