|
With this in mind, Donaldson believed it would be interesting to tap into the physical, emotional and ethical concerns
of volcanologists. "Volcanology is not an exact science," he explains. "The movie looks at a group of very knowledgeable,
dedicated men and women who end up arguing amongst themselves about what is really going to happen to the volcano. The scientists
also have to interact with the townspeople of Dante's Peak, whose lives are in their hands."
 Expecting to find little more than the routine rumblings common to the region, Harry becomes alarmed by what
he sees as evidence of the kind of activity - ground deformation and sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide emissions - that precedes
a catastrophic eruption.
Harry appeals to Mayor Wando. Though skeptical at first, she decides "better to be safe
than sorry" and calls a town council meeting to discuss Harry's warnings of a pending disaster. As evacuation procedures are
being discussed, Harry's boss enters and dissuades the council from declaring a state of alert, questioning the scientific
accuracy of Harry's findings.
 Yet, the evidence soon mounts and even his colleagues must admit that Harry is right. A town hall meeting is
called, but it is a little too late. Just as the meeting is beginning, the auditorium is rocked by a series of powerful earthquakes,
sending the panicked citizenry scrambling for exists. Chaos ensues when they see a huge ash cloud over the  mountain; traffic snarls the only road leading out of town; buildings start to crumble as the pre-eruption pressure
seeks release.
Harry drives Rachel home to get her two kids, only to discover that Graham (JEREMY FOLEY) and Lauren (JAMIE
RENEE SMITH) have gone up the mountain in Rachel's car to evacuate their grandmother Ruth (ELIZABETH HOFFMAN), who stubbornly
 refuses to budge from her lodge. With the earth's clock racing against them, Harry and Rachel must rescue Ruth
and the children before the volcano blows.
|
 |
|
|
Detecting signs of approaching danger is one thing; convincing the authorities to take action is another. Or as Harry confides
to Rachel, "I'm better at figuring out volcanoes than people and politics."
The tragedy causes Harry to reevaluate his life and work, but when he is asked by his former colleagues
to investigate minor seismic activity near the Pacific Northwest town of Dante's Peak, he obliges. The town, run by Mayor
Rachel Wando (LINDA HAMILTON), a businesswoman and single parent, is on the verge of signing a lucrative agreement with a
millionaire who has selected Dante's Peak (rated by Money magazine as the second most desirable place to live in the United
States, population under 20,000) as the site of his latest investment - a deal that will substantially boost both the local
economy and the self-esteem of its residents
|
|
|
|
|
At the heart of Dante's Peak, which was produced by Gale Anne Hurd and Joseph M. Singer with executive producer Ilona Herzberg,
is a compelling human drama. The film, based on an original screenplay  written by Leslie Bohem, begins with an ominous Colombian volcano evacuation scene that ends with researcher Harry Dalton
(PIERCE BROSNAN) trying to outrun a pyroclastic cloud when a fragment of molten rock smashes through the cab of his truck,
killing his fiancee.
|
|
|
|
|
