History Film / Ladder49

* InitiationCeremony: Jack gets chastised on his first day at work for being late by a seemingly-Drunk Captain Mike Kennedy, who then stands up to show that he is not wearing pants, and is then taken to a [[NunsNRosaries mock confessional]] set up by the other firefighters with Lenny Richter as the "priest". The process is repeated for another new firefighter later on, [[spoiler:with Mike letting the rookie in on the joke to turn the tables on Lenny by claiming to be gay.]]

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:Jack is unsuccessful escaping and dies in the building, as the only possible exit out of the burning grain elevator turns out to be completely engulfed in flames. Jack radios this to Mike and insists he calls off the other firefighters, who evacuate. Despite this, he has built his life to saving people and managed to save one last person in the building he died in. Thus, he died a hero and others honor his sacrifice.]]

* DownerEnding: [[spoiler:Jack is unsuccessful escaping, as the only possible exit out of the burning grain elevator turns out to be completely engulfed in flames. Jack radios this to Mike and insists he calls off the other firefighters, who evacuate. Jack dies inside the building.]]

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

* MeaningfulFuneral: Dennis'[[spoiler:, and later Jack's]]. In the film commentary it is noted that hundreds of actual firefighters came from all over the country to participate in these sequences. This is also TruthInTelevision; a real firefighter's funeral procession consists of representatives from fire departments across the country.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: As the fire crew is shown sleeping before the alarm wakes them up for the early morning call at the industrial plant, the firehouse clock is prominently displayed showing the time as [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/420_%28cannabis_culture%29 4:20.]]

%%* DeathByFlashback: [[spoiler:The entire film.]]

%%* TheHeroDies: [[spoiler:Jack himself at the end.]]

* RippedFromTheHeadlines: The framing fire at the grain elevator was heavily based off of the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worcester_Cold_Storage_and_Warehouse_Co._fire 1999 Worchester Cold Storage and Warehouse fire.]] In that fire, ''five'' alarms were struck and a search and a 3-person rescue team was sent in to look for the two homeless people squatting inside. They confronted an absolute labyrinth of office cubicles, walls, insulation basically made of accelerant, and a building with ''no windows''. During the search, they got lost in the building, and another 3-person rescue team was sent in to find them. [[spoiler: ''All six firefighters'' perished when the building collapsed before anyone could get to them, mirroring Jack's fate in the movie.]] The homeless people they were sent in to search for? They evacuated as soon as the fire started and ''didn't tell anyone.'' The building was well involved by the time smoke started showing. The incident changed fire doctrine worldwide and is precisely why the incident in the movie is RuleOfDrama.

* RippedFromTheHeadlines: The framing fire at the grain elevator was heavily based off of the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worcester_Cold_Storage_and_Warehouse_Co._fire 1999 Worchester Cold Storage and Warehouse fire.]] In that fire, ''five'' alarms were struck and a search and rescue team was sent in to look for the two homeless people squatting inside. They confronted an absolute labyrinth of office cubicles, walls, and insulation basically made of accelerant. During the search, they got lost in the building, and a rescue team was sent in to find them. [[spoiler: ''All six firefighters'' perished when the building collapsed before anyone could get to them, mirroring Jack's fate in the movie.]] The homeless people they were sent in to search for? They evacuated as soon as the fire started and ''didn't tell anyone.'' The building was well involved by the time smoke started showing. The incident changed fire doctrine worldwide and is precisely why the incident in the movie is RuleOfDrama.

** Similarly with the incident that killed [[spoiler:Dennis.]] The doctrine when dealing with abandoned structures with nobody in them is "surround and drown" - stand back and just pour tons of water on the fire from aerials and attack lines as soon as it shows itself. The Battalion Chief that put the company on the roof committed a ''nuclear'' FUBAR - the sort of thing that gets Battalion Chiefs fired or demoted. No coincidence that not long after that fire, Mike Kennedy is promoted to Battalion Chief.

* RippedFromTheHeadlines: The framing fire at the grain elevator was heavily based off of the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worcester_Cold_Storage_and_Warehouse_Co._fire Worchester Cold Storage and Warehouse fire.]] In that fire, ''five'' alarms were struck and a search and rescue team was sent in to look for the two homeless people squatting inside. They confronted an absolute labyrinth of office cubicles, walls, and insulation basically made of accelerant. During the search, they got lost in the building, and a rescue team was sent in to find them. [[spoiler: ''All six firefighters'' perished when the building collapsed before anyone could get to them, mirroring Jack's fate in the movie.]] The homeless people they were sent in to search for? They evacuated as soon as the fire started and ''didn't tell anyone.'' The building was well involved by the time smoke started showing.

* RippedFromTheHeadlines: The framing fire at the grain elevator was heavily based off of the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worcester_Cold_Storage_and_Warehouse_Co._fire Worchester Cold Storage and Warehouse fire.]] In that fire, ''five'' alarms were struck and a search and rescue team was sent in two look for the two homeless people squatting inside. They confronted an absolute labyrinth of office cubicles, walls, and insulation basically made of accelerant. During the search, they got lost in the building, and a rescue team was sent in to find them. [[spoiler: ''All six firefighters'' perished when the building collapsed before anyone could get to them, mirroring Jack's fate in the movie.]]

2004 film that follows the life and heroics of Baltimore City Firefighter Jack Morrison (Creator/JoaquinPhoenix) from his first day on the job to his last fire, the focal point of the film. It also stars Creator/JohnTravolta as Deputy Chief Mike Kennedy, his former Captain with whom he develops a very close friendship, and [[Series/TheRealWorld Jacinda Barrett]] as Linda, Jack's eventual wife.

2004 film that follows the life and heroics of firefighter Jack Morrison (Creator/JoaquinPhoenix) from his first day on the job to his last fire, the focal point of the film. It also stars Creator/JohnTravolta as Deputy Chief Mike Kennedy, his former Captain with whom he develops a very close friendship, and [[Series/TheRealWorld Jacinda Barrett]] as Linda, Jack's eventual wife.

* FaceDeathWithDignity: [[spoiler:Jack has Mike call off the others after he sees his death as inevitable.]]
* FacialHorror: Tommy's face is severely burned after a steam pipe ruptures next to him and he has to get skin grafts. He is afraid to let his children see him and Jack's son is shaken up after he hears about it at school.

* InitiationCeremony: Jack gets chastised on his first day at work for being late by a seemingly drunken Mike, who then stands up to show that he is not wearing pants, and is then taken to a [[NunsNRosaries mock confessional]] set up by the other firefighters with Lenny as the "priest". The process is repeated for another new firefighter later on, [[spoiler:with Mike letting the rookie in on the joke to turn the tables on Lenny.]]

** Also, when the firehouse is in mourning over Dennis' recent death, Lenny suggests that it was Dennis' own fault, provoking turmoil in the house.

2004 film that follows the life and heroics of firefighter Jack Morrison (Creator/JoaquinPhoenix) from his first day on the job to his last fire, the focal point of the film. It also stars Creator/JohnTravolta as Deputy Chief Mike Kennedy, his boss with whom he develops a very close friendship, and [[Series/TheRealWorld Jacinda Barrett]] as Linda, Jack's eventual wife.

* MeaningfulFuneral: Dennis'[[spoiler:, and later Jack's]]. In the film commentary it is noted that hundreds of actual firefighters came from all over the country to participate in these sequences.

* [[spoiler:DeathByFlashback: The entire film.]]
* [[spoiler:DownerEnding: Jack is unsuccessful escaping, as the only possible exit out of the burning grain elevator turns out to be completely engulfed in flames. Jack radios this to Mike and insists he calls off the other firefighters, who evacuate. Jack dies inside the building.]]

* [[spoiler:EndingMemorialService: Mike delivers Jack's eulogy.]]

* [[spoiler:TheHeroDies: Jack himself at the end.]]

2004 film that follows the life and heroics of firefighter Jack Morrison (Creator/JoaquinPhoenix) from his first day on the job to his last fire, the focal point of the film. It also stars Creator/JohnTravolta as Deputy Chief Mike Kennedy, his boss with whom he develops a very close friendship, and [[TheRealWorld Jacinda Barrett]] as Linda, Jack's eventual wife.

* ShownTheirWork: Generally a far more accurate portrayal of the life of a firefighter then the similar movie Film/{{Backdraft}}, including [[spoiler:the seemingly pointless deaths and maimings in the line of duty]], and showing a wider variety of the calls that a firefighter must respond to.

* ShownTheirWork: Generally a far more accurate portrayal of the life of a firefighter then the similar movie {{Backdraft}}, including [[spoiler:the seemingly pointless deaths and maimings in the line of duty]], and showing a wider variety of the calls that a firefighter must respond to.