Chance Buckman (John Wayne) was known internationally as the best oil rig firefighter in the business. When the call came in that his services were required, he turned his jet around and summoned his crew. There was Greg Parker (Jim Hutton), a playboy with a different woman in every city. There there was Joe Horn (Bruce Cabot), a reliable and able man. Lastly, he had George Harris (Edward Faulkner), who mostly served in an administrative capacity, but was eager to get in the thick of the action. The crew convened at the fire, which was being actively covered by NBC News. In fact, the news crew became a nuisance that resulted in a serious injury to Chance.
Chance's injury was serious enough that Greg contacted his estranged daughter, Tish (Katharine Ross). Of course, Greg is drawn to her and vice versa. By the time Chance awakens, Greg has become his son-in-law! What will his ex-wife, Madelyn (Vera Miles), think of this?
The story covers several fires, with particular interest on the anxiety of Madelyn and Tish. Madelyn had divorced Chance because she could not endure his dangerous profession. She was worried that Tish would have the same issue with Greg. Unsurprisingly, he nearly dies in every fire. Will he survive the movie?
The original script didn't have enough action for John Wayne's tastes, so he insisted more was added. Thus we have a barroom brawl in Southeast Asia, rebels attacking a series of wells in Venezuela, and even a strafing run by rebel planes that is countered by military anti-aircraft guns. Oil well fires just aren't sufficiently exciting. Intermingled with all this action are the love stories of Greg & Tish and Chance & Madelyn. These are very much by the numbers romances that feel tacked on.
The character of Chance Buckman was based on Red Adair, a famous oil rig firefighter. He was still active when Saddam Hussein ignited the oil wells in Kuwait during the Gulf War (1991).
Mediocre. John Wayne needed to stick to the Western or the World War II epic.
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