NAME: Lesly Ann B Llaguno
TOPIC: Summary of the Dante’s Peak Movie
A WRITTEN REPORT IN SCIENCE 9
Volcanologist Dr. Harry Dalton of the United States Geological Survey and his partner Marianne
try to escape an erupting volcano in Colombia. Marianne is killed when a piece of cooled lava
enters Harry’s truck’s roof and strikes her in the head as she attempts to get away from the ash
and falling debris.
Four years later, Harry receives a mission from his boss, Paul Dreyfus, to investigate volcanic
activity in the small Washington town of Dante’s Peak, which is close to a dormant volcano in
the Northern Cascades. As soon as Harry gets there, he meets Rachel Wando, the mayor, who
has two kids named Graham and Lauren. Lauren screams as she sees two bodies that have been
boiled by the water, while Harry stops Graham from jumping into the springs. Harry interprets
this as a warning sign, tells Rachel to call a town meeting, and alerts Paul about the issue. Paul
shows up and informs Harry that he is overreacting and that for the time being they will only
observe as he is suggesting that the town put on alert. Harry and Rachel become closer as Paul
and his team set up and look after the volcano.
Harry makes another unsuccessful attempt to warn Paul that this mountain would blow up as
Terry is being flown to the hospital. When Harry goes to say goodbye to Rachel, they almost kiss,
but Lauren wakes up and says she wants a glass of water. Harry checks the primary water supply
when Rachel notices there is a problem with the tap water and finds sulfur has leached into the
water because of volcanic activity. The grandma wouldn’t come down the mountain, so Graham
and Lauren stole her truck and drove up to her house. The grandma finally makes peace with
Rachel, but after being carried down the mountain by Harry, she is unable to continue and
passes away from the shock and pressure. Paul and the group leave the town with the
assistance of the National Guard, but the swelling river has overflowed due to a combination of
the volcano’s ice melting and the nearby dam collapsing. Harry, Rachel, and the kids make it
back to town after finding a truck at a ranger station as the volcano erupts violently.
In order to escape the pyroclastic cloud as it demolishes the town, Harry drives the truck into an
abandoned mine that had previously served as Graham’s hiding place. He assures everyone that
he will take them deep sea fishing when they leave, and he promises to return to Rachel and the
kids. The mine collapses, blocking him off from Rachel and the kids as he returns the truck to
switch on the beacon. Even with his arm injured, Harry turns on the beacon even as the truck is
crushed under the force of the rocks. They are eventually all saved and returned together with
Harry, who keeps his promise to take them deep-sea fishing. The camera moves over the ruined
town as the helicopter carrying Harry and the Wando family flies away.