Ladder 49

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Ladder 49

Directed by	Jay Russell
Produced by	Casey Silver
Written by	Lewis Colick
Starring	Joaquin Phoenix John Travolta Jacinda Barrett Morris Chestnut Robert Patrick
Music by	Robbie Robertson William Ross
Distributed by	Touchstone Pictures Beacon Communications
Release date(s)	October 1, 2004 (USA)
Running time	115 min
Language	English
IMDb profile

Ladder 49 is a 2004 drama film about firefighters. It was directed by Jay Russell, and it celebrates the firefighting profession.

The film opens with Jack Morrison (Phoenix) saving a man's life in a burning warehouse in Locust Point (Baltimore). However, the grain being stored in the warehouse explodes, sending Jack tumbling several floors where he breaks his leg. The film follows the efforts of the other men in his unit lead by Deputy Chief Mike Kennedy (Travolta), his longtime mentor, to rescue him while Jack tries to reach a safe area of the burning structure. Interspersed with the current rescue efforts are a series of flashbacks showing how Jack joined the fire department, his meeting with the woman who would become his wife, his relationship with his children, and the bond he formed with his fellow firefighters.

Although it was not the first film to be made about firefighters (Ron Howard's Backdraft was another example), it does contain a somewhat more detailed depiction of daily life in a firehouse, and the dangers posed by the job. After some time working with the firefighting unit (Engine 33) Jack takes a position as a search and rescue member (who enter the burning buildings to locate and rescue people trapped by the fire) on Ladder 49, making his work much more dangerous and challenging as the years pass. (Engine 33 and Ladder 49 are kept at the same firehouse, Engine 33 Co, and Mike Kennedy is then only a Captain). He finds the work rewarding, but his wife is initially concerned for his safety and opposes the change; however, she eventually accepts his new role and even talks him out of taking an administrative position when it is offered to him. He suffers some traumatic experiences, such as the loss of a friend in the line of duty, and also another friend's severe injury while searching for victims. One night he is able to break through to a small girl trapped in a burning apartment, but is trapped himself briefly before being rescued. Both he and his colleague receive the Medal of Valor for their actions.

Back at the grain building fire the efforts by Jack's fellow firefighters are extremely determined, and Jack does his best to reach the possible safe area that the Chief told him about. However, upon reaching that room he sees that the only exit is cut off by raging flames, and he realizes that his situation is hopeless. He radios the Chief to pull his men back, so no one else will be hurt while trying to rescue him. The Chief reluctantly agrees, and Jack accepts his fate to die in the fire. At his funeral he receives a standing ovation from his friends and family in attendance, and is carried to his resting place with full honors. The film ends by replaying memories of Jack at work and suggests that life at the firehouse will go on.