 Based on two novels: "The Tower" by Richard Martin Stern (qv), and  "The Glass Inferno" by Thomas N. Scortia (qv) and  Frank M. Robinson (qv). After the success of  _Poseidon Adventure, The (1972)_ (qv), disaster was hot property and  Warner Brothers bought the rights to film "The Tower" for $390,000.  Eight weeks later Irwin Allen (I) (qv) (of 20th Century Fox)  discovered "The Glass Inferno" and bought the rights for $400,000.  To avoid two similar films competing at the box office the two  studios joined forces and pooled their resources, each paying half  the production costs. In return, 20th Century Fox got the US box  office receipts and Warners the receipts from the rest of the world.