MovieChat Forums > The Towering Inferno (1974) Discussion > Richard Chamberlain as Roger Simmons

Richard Chamberlain as Roger Simmons

posted 11 years ago by RossBoss42
19 replies | jump to latest

I don't know if this is just me, but I have to say that my favorite character in this film has to be and will always be Roger Simmons. I know so many people say he's greedy, self centered and sleazy, but I think Richard Chamberlain's performance is just amazing the way he portrays Simmons. Plus Simmons has some really great lines, and I will never forget that scene at the dinner party where he tried to pick up Faye Dunnaway, he was really flirting with her, even though he was married, and his wife was in the room at the time. I actually felt bad when he dies in the film.

What do you guys think?

[–] green_dog 11 years ago

While he comes off as a real jerk later in the movie (though it was probably from all those drinks he poured for himself), he does seem to be portrayed as a little sympathetic regarding the cuts he made to the electrical budget.

I really got the impression that Duncan was the one who pushed him into making the budget cuts, and it was pretty clear that Duncan also cut a lot of things elsewhere in the building, like the non-working sprinkler system, duct holes without firestops, a lazy construction crew that apparently can't be bothered to clean up their own messes (re: the overturned wheelbarrow of cement that blocked the promenade room exit). The tower had a lot more problems with it than Roger Simmons' shoddy electrical system.

In the end though, Duncan seems to get off relatively scot-free compared to Simmons, at least in the responsibility department.

[–] eolloe 11 years ago

"a lazy construction crew that apparently can't be bothered to clean up their own messes (re: the overturned wheelbarrow of cement that blocked the promenade room exit)"

I've seen stuff like that in fire stairwells so many times over the years that it doesn't even surprise me any more. The elevators weren't working in the condo building of a friend of mine last year, so we had to use the stairs. We discovered that the residents of the building leave those large shopping carts, pilched from nearby stores, on the landings in the stairwells, and a construction team also had left a wheelbarrow with dried cement in it in the stairwell.

[–] joonas5883 8 years ago

ID DID NOT LIKE HE ON HE MOVIE

[–] tristandude14 8 years ago

You can tell that Duncan indeed feels extremely guilty in the very last seen when he looks up at the destroyed building and says "All I can do now is pray to God that I can stop this from ever happening again."

[–] manage-932-700755 11 years ago

Simmons was a character in one of the two books on which the film was based- "The Tower." Chamberlain was perfect in the role. I can't say he was a favorite, though. I was glad when he bought it. They should have burned his arrogant, sleazy asxxxs.

He did have a significant role. In fact, two of his scenes in the film were based on two other characters in "The Tower," making it three characters on which his film role was based. Well, in many ways, people love a bad guy- as long as he gets his in the end. In the book, though, Simmons only gets arrested. In the film, he buys it, which he deserved.

[–] ecarle 10 years ago

My understanding is that Richard Benjamin was first offered this role, but felt he'd played too many jerks recently. So he took a "nice guy" role in "The Sunshine Boys" instead.

[–] pjglynndoora 10 years ago

He was a cowboy (British term for shoddy worker)

[–] couzijn 10 years ago

Always a good sign if an actor whom I find sympathetic (in this case, for his roles in 'Shogun' and 'The Thornbirds') manages to create a character that I really dislike. Chamberlain pulled this one off perfectly. I forgot he was Chamberlain, and I hated his guts as the selfish, cowardly, deceitful son-in-law. Therefore this actor deserves praise.

[–] mattstevens 10 years ago

No question Chamberlain owned that part. He is so believably sleezy without ever seeming like a cardboard villain. It was a great performance. He had incredible range as an actor.

[–] ecarle 8 years ago

Trivia: the part was offered to Richard Benjamin first, but he felt he'd been playing too many sleazy guys lately(Diary of a Mad Housewife; Catch-22.)

Chamberlain makes a "sympathetic case" against Duncan's overall corruption and greed that's right on the money, but you can see that he'd been under Duncan's daddy-in-law thumb for years and liked the access to the wealth. Take the pay, implement the graft...cheat on the old man's daughter.

Sad: the wife really loved him. But he was charming.

Stupid: Trying to commandeer a Breech's Buoy by putting 20 men on it. Indeed, too many drinks in his system.

[–] aaronhusar 8 years ago

Yes, Duncan seems to have really pressured him into doing certain things wrong with the building. I definitely agree with his case against Duncan's corruption. I wish someone would've knocked the wind out of Duncan and then tried to push him out the tower. I wish Roger Simmons lived and Duncan died. It's a shame that Duncan wanted Roger Simmons to be the big boogeyman to put all the blame on. Duncan is so fake, at least Roger Simmons was transparent. Now that I've found a full video on youtube I can see that flirtation being referred to and understand why people are saying he cheated on the old man's daughter. Definitely not good on his part. The last interaction he ever had with his wife is sad, he basically flat out rejected her. I can justify almost everything in Roger Simmons's character, at least concerning his responsibility in the tower's designs, but not the way he treated his wife. The film doesn't say this, but I wonder if Duncan knew of an affair Simmons had because if so then he was very cordial around his son-in-law. Whether he did, there is no mention of it by Patty or Duncan so I assume Duncan didn't know of Roger Simmons ever cheating whether he ever had a chance to go through with it or not. At least Susan Franklin (Faye Dunaway) chose not to be a case where he could go through with his bad intentions. It's not at all implied that Duncan knew of Roger's cheating heart so I don't treat his character like he knew. Even though I don't classify Roger as a hero because he obviously wasn't one of the heroes, I can't classify him as a villain either. Doug Roberts is the hero and I can understand why he wouldn't like Roger Simmons, he feels like Roger Simmons should've gone above and beyond with the electrical system and I admit he should've paid more attention when designing the building but I don't think anyone intended for the fire to break out. Roger Simmons invested a lot of money into that building, therefore I don't think he wasn't planning on the disaster that happened. What he did was up to standard so he thought it was enough, I don't think he should've changed the plans at all because Doug knew for a building that size the electrical system needs to be far above standard.

[–] Corky666 8 years ago

That was a pretty dumb assumption on your part. He technically never cheated? It's been very clear to the viewer that he is in fact a cheater especially when his wife tells Doug and I'm paraphrasing here that he has the territory range of a mountain lion something to that effect. The writer didn't go out of his way to portray the Simmons character as flirtatious without leading you to believe he hasn't followed up on it. Geez! What movie were you watching? Pay attention

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] Corky666 8 years ago

Dude, you should be required to wear a bicycle helmet at all times. He attempted to cheat with Faye's character you DOPE, she just declined him. He's been a cheater off screen his whole life which is the biggest problem in his marriage, his wife pretty much says so. You're one of people who needs everything spelled out for ya, I get it now.

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] Stratego (29246) 3 years ago

"Yes, Duncan seems to have really pressured him into doing certain things wrong with the building. I definitely agree with his case against Duncan's corruption. I wish someone would've knocked the wind out of Duncan and then tried to push him out the tower. I wish Roger Simmons lived and Duncan died. It's a shame that Duncan wanted Roger Simmons to be the big boogeyman to put all the blame on. Duncan is so fake, at least Roger Simmons was transparent."

I agree.

[–] sage2112 8 years ago

Great performance by a great actor. It seems like you're letting the traits of a character somehow affect the judgment of the performance.

[–] aaronhusar 8 years ago

My man, yeah I hate that Roger Simmons died. Roger Simmons's accusation that corrupt old Duncan couldn't dispute: You didn't talk like this two years ago, did you? Running over budget and out of money? Did you ask me then how I could shave two million dollars off our electrical costs? And let me ask you, my dear father-in-law! Am I the only subcontractor you encouraged to cut corners? Where did you save the other $4 million in Doug's original budget?

Duncan couldn't handle the heat so he tried to get away and lied to the crowd to save his own life.

No, I don't think anyone in the movie wanted people to die, but that doesn't change Duncan's corruption. Duncan pressured Simmons into doing questionable things. Duncan is mad that Simmons isn't letting him call all the shots anymore. Duncan basically ignored his own faults and put all the blame on Roger Simmons, he was way too hard on him considering he wasn't hard on himself at all. Roger's only mistake from what I could find concerning the design is that he changed Doug's electrical specifications. I don't think Roger would've done it except for two reasons, He thought it'd be fine as long as the codes were up to standard, and if Duncan hadn't pressured him into shaving 2 million dollars off the electrical costs. Duncan didn't care as long as they saved money, Roger was just trying to help but even if he made it to where the electrical wiring wasn't up to standard it wouldn't have fazed Duncan as long as they saved money. It was sickening how the smug Duncan wanted to act all innocent when his bad decisions out of greed were finally biting him in the butt. Duncan cared more about his party and reputation than he did about the danger of the fire. I consider Duncan the villain and wish he was punched in the stomach, almost pushed off the tower, and then fell to his doom. Even if Roger's fate was divorce and jail(Duncan probably didn't get arrested) that would've been better than the way it turned out for him while Duncan got off scot free.

[–] SnoozeAlarm 8 years ago

I actually found the William Holden character to be the most despicable in the film.

Scariest words in English: We’re from the federal government and we’re here to help. R. Reagan