Die Hard Turns 35
The movie was released 35-years ago yesterday.
Yesterday was the 36th anniversary of the release of Die Hard. Won't get into the debate of whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie or not (that argument never grabbed me to take one side or another). Also not getting into the fact that Joe Biden and Die Hard both have eight letters
This was a great thread summary about the making and impact of the movie well worth the time:
The original story was called Nothing Lasts Forever and was written by cop Roderick Thorp
The plot was inspired by the blockbuster The Towering Inferno starring Steve McQueen and Paul Newman or Paul Newman and Steve McQueen depending which side of that argument you fall on.
Screenwriter Jeb Stewart was hired in 1987 to write the movie
Frank Sinatra was contractually required to be offered the starring role but he wisely refused saying, "I'm too old and too rich." That would have been a much different movie.
Many, many stars were considered for the lead that eventually went to Bruce Willis. Another argument has been made whether this movie made Willis a star or was earlier from his TV show Moonlighting.
Die Hard was actor Alan Rickman's first role. He's an unforgettable Hans Gruber.
Historically IMDB has Die Hard on its list of the Top 250 movies of all-time (117) and I think it would be in the top 20 of movies made in the 1980's (I would have placed it higher).
Perhaps I rate it so highly is because I have some personal history with Die Hard. My former sister-in-law somehow won tickets to the debut of Quigley Down Under starring Tom Selleck (and weirdly enough Alan Rickman) but the movie was sold out. The theater gave us tickets to Die Hard instead and I've loved the flick ever since.
As an aside - I actual wrote a satiric sequel to Die Hard. Called it Die Hard: The Wrath of Bob.
As a final aside - here's the details on a deleted scene that fills in many of the missing details from the movie.
I’d be remiss if I did not mention Bruce Willis’ deteriorating condition. Sadly have the feeling neither he nor Alan Rickman would be available for a retrospective.
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