"Dante's Peak" towers above Brosnan, Hamilton

February 5, 1997
Web posted at: 6:00 a.m. EST

From Correspondent Ron Tank

HOLLYWOOD (CNN) -- The trailer says the stars of "Dante's Peak" are Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton. But both of them agree the real star is the volcano.

Brosnan, of "Remington Steele" and James Bond fame, says the real draw for the public is to see the volcano "pop, to watch it blow."

But before audiences could gasp at the power of "Dante's Peak," the people behind the camera had to work through a logistics nightmare to recreate Mother Nature's fury.

Finding a location that could stand in for the community of Dante's Peak was the first, and perhaps easiest, task. Wallace, Idaho, was perfect -- except for the lack of a volcano.

Smoke and mirrors?

Director Roger Donaldson says his explosive star is a real mountain but also admits that "it's not really there."

Part of the volcano, in fact, was in Southern California -- five stories of fiberglass and steel girders doing their best to imitate a mountain full of pent-up terrestrial angst.

The man-made volcano section allowed cast and crew to work in relative safety. Shots of real volcanoes and special effects blend together with the live action to create the illusion of danger.

Back in Idaho, the lack of a menacing volcano did not stop the hand of fear from caressing the movie's cast and crew.

Hamilton, best remembered for her role in the "Terminator" movies, was so panicked by a test involving falling ash -- actually shredded newspaper and smoke -- that she left the set streaming fearful tears.

Less tangible for the actors, but no less dramatic for the moviegoer, was the lava that flows from Dante's Peak. The molten rock was an electronic effect based on real lava flows observed across the globe.

Love erupts, too

While "Dante's Peak" is all about the sparks flying off the mountain, there is room in this Hollywood production for the spark of romance.

Hamilton helped develop and write the romantic subplot between her character, the town's mayor, and Brosnan's, the scientist.

"The ending in the script was us finding each other alive, walking up to each other, getting into a helicopter," said Hamilton. "And from the first I said, 'Guys, this is gonna end with a Hollywood kiss. It has to. We can't cheat our audience.'"

Hamilton may be on to something. After nearly two hours of eruptive action, audiences may be ready for a little tenderness.

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