I’ve long considered Die Hard a guilty pleasure. Considering it’s the Christmas Season, I was happy to introduce my younger son to the film today (since it is arguably a Christmas Movie. Coincidentally, the movie was featured on “The Movies that Made Us” on Netflix. Some fascinating reveals:
- The movie is based on a book titled “Nothing Lasts Forver” by Roderick Thorpe. This book is as sequel to a book by the same author called “The Detective,” whose film adaptation starred Frank Sinatra. Thorpe wrote the book at Sinatra’s behest because Sinatra wished to appear in another film, but it took too long (10 years) to complete, and Sinatra lost interest.
- One of the terrorists, Karl, was played by ballet actor Alexander Godunov
- The film was filmed on unfinished sections of a building Fox owned
- Bruce Willis did some of his own student work, including part of the jump off of the roof just before it explodes.
- Similarly, Alan Rickman dropped onto a safety bag for Hans Gruber’s drop from Nakatomi; he was released a second early to ensure a look of sincere fright
- The “good news, bad news” scene, where John McClean avoids the explosion, but is trapped outside, gains entry, but then is almost pulled out the window again is a nod to an older film.