Ladder 49 (2004)

Director:

Jay Russell

Writer (WGA):

Lewis Colick (written by)

Release Date:

1 October 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

A bond forged by fire is never broken.

Plot:

Under the watchful eye of his mentor Captain Mike Kennedy, probationary firefighter Jack Morrison matures...

Plot Keywords:

Firefighter | Fire | Irish Catholic | Catholic Church | Warrior

Awards:

1 win & 6 nominations

Cast

Joaquin Phoenix	...	Jack Morrison
John Travolta	...	Captain Mike Kennedy
Jacinda Barrett	...	Linda Morrison
Robert Patrick	...	Lenny Richter
Morris Chestnut	...	Tommy Drake
Billy Burke	...	Dennis Gauquin
Balthazar Getty	...	Ray Gauquin
Tim Guinee	...	Tony Corrigan
Kevin Chapman	...	Frank Mckinny
Jay Hernandez	...	Keith Perez
Kevin Daniels	...	Don Miller
Steve Maye	...	Pete Lamb
Robert Lewis	...	Ed Reilly (as Robert Logan Lewis)
Brooke Hamlin	...	Katie Morrison
Spencer Berglund	...	Nicky Morrison

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense fire and rescue situations, and for language.

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

India:UA | Iceland:10 | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Malaysia:U | USA:PG-13 (certificate #40479) | South Korea:12 | Sweden:7 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | Canada:PG | Chile:14 | Finland:K-11 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIA | Ireland:12 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:11 | Peru:14 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Switzerland:12 (canton of Zurich) | UK:12A

Filming Locations:

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Company:

Touchstone Pictures

Trivia:

Joaquin Phoenix was so afraid of heights before shooting this film that he could not even slide down the 20-foot fire pole. After he finished training he hung off the side of a 20-story building by a single repelling rope.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the engine and ladder truck leave the firehouse on Jack's first working fire, Tommy Drake is driving the ladder truck. However, upon arrival on the scene of the fire, Ray Gauquin is driving the ladder truck.

Quotes:

Jack Morrison: There's something I wanted to talk to you about, Cap. I was thinking of transferring to the truck.
Chief Kennedy: Oh, geez. What the hell do you want to do that for? You're an engine man. Truck's a whole different thing. No water between you and the fire, no hose to lead you out if you get lost in the smoke. Not a good idea.
Jack Morrison: I know that, Cap. And I love being on the pipe, but... I want this, Mike.
Chief Kennedy: Ok. We'll give it a try. But you gotta tell me something. If this isn't for you, you tell me right away. Promise?
Jack Morrison: Yes, sir.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Benchwarmers (2006)

Soundtrack:

Shine Your Light

Fire & rescue scenes are spectacular

Ladder 49 introduces us to the life of Jack Morrison (Joaquin Phoenix), a firefighter for the Baltimore City fire department. Jack is assigned to Fire Station 33 as a pipe-man for Ladder 49. (Note: The pipe-man holds the water hose nozzle and sprays water onto the fire.) As a new probationary firefighter, Jack is assigned all the little jobs at the firehouse. Station 33 Captain Mike Kennedy (John Travolta), and the other veteran firefighters love to play jokes on the new rookies, including Jack. Captain Kennedy takes Jack under his wing to make him the best firefighter in the city. Time passes, and Jack is now a seasoned veteran on the rescue team. Ladder 49 has been called on a four-alarm fire to a burning 20-story building. Chief Mike Kennedy, his former Captain, is in command of the fire. Jack and the rescue team brave the fire to rescue anyone trapped inside. They save several people, and Jack continues to search for others. Jack finds a man and lowers him to safety, just before the floor collapses around him. Jack falls through the building into the middle of the inferno, and is rendered unconscious. When he awakens, Jack is able to radio to his men that he is alive. Now Jack is the one who needs to be rescued. Chief Kennedy coordinates the effort to save Jack. Awaiting rescue, Jack begins to relive his life with his wife and kids, and his career through flashbacks. If you like firefighter movies, you will like this one, because some of the rescue scenes are spectacular. The fire scenes capture the real dangers and unpredictability of a fire. One line in the movie states it all, 'Everyone is running out of a burning building and only the firefighters are running into the fire.' The movie shows how brave our firefighters are and why we should honor them. (Touchstone Pictures, Run time 1:55, Rated PG-13)(8/10)