Ladder 49 : Brings You Into the Life of a Firefighter

Ladder 49 is a heroic tale of a rookie firefighter’s life; from his first day in the fire station to his last day as an honorable firefighter and husband.

The movie opens with a huge fire, sirens can be heard for miles, helicopters are covering the scene and firefighters are everywhere. A lifeless firefighter lies in a burning building, falling in and out of consciousness, remembering flash backs of happier days….

Captain Mike Kennedy (John Travolta) welcomes rookie firefighter, Jack Morrison (Joaquin Phoenix) to his new home at the fire station. Jack nervously awakens a drunken Captain Kennedy in his office, Kennedy gives him the welcome speech and then ushers him to the door, while trying not to trip on his pants, which are around his ankles. Jack finds this odd, but seems to be willing to give it a shot. A fellow firefighter asks Jack if he’s Catholic, Jack says yes and is soon invited to a makeshift confessional. Jack confesses his sins to the priest behind the curtain in the firehouse and is soon the butt of the joke as the entire crew jumps from behind the curtain. The drunken captain and makeshift confessional are ways of welcoming all the new rookies. Practical jokes play a big part in the movie as it knits the firefighter’s relationships, closer together.

Jack settles in to his new environment and is acquainted with the crew. He anxiously awaits his first fire and it isn’t long before the tell-tale bell rings and everyone is sliding down the golden poles, jumping into action. Nervous energy spurns Jack forward into his first fire, but like a good captain, Mike Kennedy is right beside him, teaching him how to be the best. They successfully put out the fire and now Jack feels great, he’s really a firefighter.