Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Thursday Thirteen #54 -- A Die Hard Valentine to My Favorite Action Hero


13 THINGS ABOUT THE MOVIE
DIE HARD


This summer will mark the 20th anniversary of when I first met my enduring movie boyfriend, John McClane – the world-weary New York cop with a gift for gab and a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Consider this my Valentine to him.

(Author/screenwriter William Goldman has famously said of the film business, “Nobody knows anything.” Much of this trivia and many of these factoids about Die Hard do seem to back that up,)

1. The original “coming soon” poster for Die Hard didn’t include Bruce Willis’ face. Executives at Fox were worried that the press he’d received recently might turn off moviegoers. These “problematic” news stories included …

2. The many high-profile feuds on the set of the Moonlighting, which was being shot during the day while Die Hard was filmed at night … and

3. The $5 million Bruce received for the movie, a damn near unheard-of salary 20 years ago, especially for a TV actor who had no box office successes under his belt. There was much snickering and smirking (how appropriate where Bruce Willis is concerned) about no actor being worth that much and "who does he think he is" and Fox and Rupert Murdoch must be crazy. But …

4. The studio quickly realized what it had on its hands with Willis/McClane and switched to the poster you see here.

5. When a suspicious LA cop casts aspersions on McClane’s credentials, saying that for all anyone knows “he could be a bartender,” it’s a reference to Willis’ previous profession and the fuss about his Die Hard salary. One of the industry rags had a headline that ran something like, “$5 million & 5 years ago he was tending bar.”

6. Director John McTiernan had worked with Arnold Schwarzengger in the past and hoped Arnold would take the role of John McClane. Happily, Arnold turned it down.

7. Second choice Sylvester Stallone turned it down, too. Rumor has it Stallone thought that the McClane character had too much dialog. (In years to come, Arnold, Sly and Bruce would become partners in Planet Hollywood.)

8. So did third choice Burt Reynolds. Imagine McClane in a dirty, torn t-shirt and a toupee. Shudder!

9. So did fourth choice, Richard Gere – rumored to be a favorite of the studio but not the director.

10. McTiernan encouraged Bruce Willis to ad lib, and among his more memorable unscripted contributions are, (as he crawls through the vent) “Come out to the coast, we’ll get together, have a few laughs” and (as the firetrucks approach Nakatomi Tower) “Come to papa and I’ll kiss your effin’ dalmation.”

11. McClane’s signature line, “Yipee-ki-aye, MF,” was considered too intrinsically American for European audiences and before the movie was released in some countries, it was dubbed in as, “Here, eat this!”

12. All the action takes place overnight, rather than in the afternoon than as originally written, because Bruce was working on Moonlighting during the day. Most of the film was shot on location in an actual LA skyscraper (Fox Plaza), and making the Christmas party an evening affair instead eliminated a lot of lighting problems.

13. Bruce Willis and Demi Moore were married in Las Vegas during the filming of Die Hard. Ashton Kutcher, then aged 10 and not yet able to cross the street by himself, was not in attendance.

Leave your link in "comments" and I'll add you here:
1) Sandy Carlson has a thoughtful, inspirational TT
2) Pjazzypar plans to hit the road
3) Chelle's TT Valentine is to Brad Paisley
4) SJ's TT bravely goes where no TT has gone before
5) Nicholas shows off a lovely Siamese cat and his DVD collection
6) Adelle highlights romantic duos
7) Sandee has a cinematic TT (and I love movie lists)
8) Malcolm's TT topic is an interesting choice, esp. for Valentine's Day!
9) Mama Kelly encourages us to visit 13 of her past posts
10) Cricket's Hearth! I'm sorry but I couldn't open your link!
11) Ellen B. has a fantastic TT about The Lads, my favorite group of all time, THE BEATLES
12) Morgan Leigh lists 13 fascinating conspiracy theories
13) Susan Helene Gottfried uses love songs as a kinda Rorschach Test to give us insights into her characters
14) Journeywoman talks to the 14-year-old Journeygirl
15) No Nonsense Girl kicks back and enjoys life in her TT
16) Will Think 4 Wine shares her love of the Swamp
17) Mo says "I love you" every way possible!
18) Sue doesn't have a TT, but she does have a fascinating post about a Canadian champion of women's rights
19) How does Joy Is My Goal love her husband? Today, she counts the ways!
20) Sarai puts on her headphones for this week's TT
21) Lori shares her favorite Firefly quotes
22) OneLuvGirl gets romantic with 13 love songs
23) Maribeth has a love-ly TT
24) Colleen spreads the love
25) Alice Audrey has a most romantic TT
26) bkclubcare doesn't have a TT, but her blog is worth reading
27) Karina has a Valentine's Day Giveaway on her TT!
28) Dane Bramage shares Valentine's Day tips
29)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!



39 comments:

  1. No. 13 cracked me up! Thanks for these insights into that movie.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am a Bruce Willis fan. Have been since I saw him in "Moonlighting". He was just right for "Die Hard". I am glad that the action stars of the day turned it down.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I actually liked the last one they made. I am a Bruce Willis fan too. It's hard to believe he got his start on T.V.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I can't believe it has been 20 years!

    SJR
    The Pink Flamingo
    http://thepinkflamingo.blogharbor.com/blog/_archives/2008/2/13/3522017.html

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous4:53 PM

    Was it really 20 year ago?? I enjoyed Die hard a lot, and the third one in the series as well.

    ReplyDelete
  7. This is a very interesting list. Bruce is one of my fav actors. Happy Valentine's Day!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great information. Have you seen his newest? It's just as good as the others. Have a great TT and Valentine's Day. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I knew about the other 3 turning down "Die Hard", but not Richard Gere. Even though it obviously wasn't, it seems like the role was written for Bruce.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous6:39 PM

    I never knew that some of BW's lines were ad-libbed. What a fun and interesting TH13

    ReplyDelete
  11. I always liked Bruce Willis but never cared for the Die Hard movies. Nice tribute though. Happy Valentine's Day

    ReplyDelete
  12. That was great...
    Die Hard is way up there on my favorite action list...

    ReplyDelete
  13. No 13 was so funny! :) Hahahaha. Great post. I didn't know that much about Die Hard, I am a big Willis fan, although I really don't like Die Hard that much. LOL. Happy TT!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'd hope Ashton wasn't there!

    I can't believe it's been twenty years. Yowch. That made me feel old. And I'm not that old!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Oh, Gal. When the book comes out (I promise it will!), you can see that Trevor's more of a softie than he lets on. I promise.

    But he left you a comment on my blog... Might want to check it out...

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous8:49 PM

    My kinda woman. I approve.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous9:18 PM

    Loved this one. Big Moonlighting fan.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I think Bruce Willis can be hot! :)

    Happy TT girly!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous11:24 PM

    Hey gal,
    nice to see a tribute to one of your "Evergreens". I think the thing about Bruce Willis is that he attracts both men and women into his circle. And Moonlighting -- that bantering with Maddy Hayes was just priceless -- very new stuff for tv back then. Love #13!
    your ol' pal

    ReplyDelete
  20. I still love Moonlighting! Wish they'd rerun that one. The Die Hard series has language I could do without, but isn't it wonderful to watch. I can unhear the language! Armageddon is one of my favorites!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Ahhh....Bruce.

    Kewl info; especially to me, the yippee-ki-aye thing..glad I got to hear the US version; "Here, eat this" just doesn't do it...

    LMAO @ the Ashton Kutcher line!!

    Great list, Gal!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Loved that film! Not feeling up to doing my own list this week, but wanted to wish all my fave 13ers a Happy Valentines Day, and TT :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. Anonymous8:52 AM

    I love Bruce Willis and still think him and Demi work great together as a couple.
    I like him bald these days too. You can't take the sexy away from him.
    Happy TT
    Maribeth
    www.marnini.wordpress.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. I used to adore him in Moonlighting
    Have a fun Valentines Day
    http://joyismygoal.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  25. I love, love, love this movie. Thanks for the quick facts ;) Now I can pretend I am smart and quiz the hubby!
    Sarai
    http://www.saraij.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  26. I absolutely adore your TT! My friends and I laugh about the fact that Die Hard is our favorite Christmas movie. Not so traditional but awesome!

    I can't imagine anyone else playing the role but Bruce!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I love Richard Gere, but he's a bit... metrosexual for that role!

    My TT is 13 love songs that you can listen to in the post. Happy TT & Valentine's!

    http://blog.mysocalledsite.com/?p=220

    ReplyDelete
  28. I love #13!!
    And I can't believe they went through that many actors before getting Bruce.
    On a slightly unrelated note, when my baby was a newborn, he'd furrow up his brow and looked an awful lot like Bruce!
    here's my t13 if you'd like to visit

    ReplyDelete
  29. Anonymous1:21 PM

    This is a great list. I had no idea about any of it, and love Die Hard and Bruce Willis.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Anonymous1:59 PM

    I have fond memories of Die Hard - husband and I had just quit our jobs and moved into a room at a friends' house... We had our love seat, bed, TV; we watched this flick and then watched it again immediately! loved it. Just saw Live Free or Die Hard and loved it, too!

    ReplyDelete
  31. This was a great TT, but the last thing on the list made me laugh out loud! LOVED IT.

    Mine is at http://candidkarina.blogspot.com

    Happy TT!!

    ReplyDelete
  32. I admire Willis as an actor and was really glad he got his shot at being an action hero. He showed himself fully capable. I loved Die Hard. Thanks for these behind-the-scenes tidbits on the film.

    My 67th Thursday Thirteen edition 13 Romantic Tips (from a single man's perspective) is up. Stop by if you get a chance.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Anonymous2:25 PM

    LOVE Die Hard! What a clever Valentine's post!

    Happy TT.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Has it really been 20 years???? WOW. I have to admit I am not a HUGE Die Hard fan, though I did like the last one...but I do love trivia like that!

    Happy TT

    ReplyDelete
  35. I like "Die Hard" too. Has it really been twenty years? Wow, have a happy Valentine's Day!

    ReplyDelete
  36. I like the Die Hard movies, especially the first one so I found this interesting.

    I love it best when Bruce Willis picks non-action hero roles. (movies like Nobody's Fool, Twelve Monkeys, 16 Blocks) I think BW is a highly underrated talent.(not necessarily underpaid, but certainly not appreciated for his actual talent.)

    ReplyDelete
  37. Being introduced to Bruce Willis in Moonlighting when I was 13 has made me love him forever. That grin, those eyes, that voice....*dreamy sigh* Thanks for the great post!

    ReplyDelete
  38. lol #13! i love the DH movies. great list!

    ReplyDelete
  39. I want to share my view on the die hard 4 Mostly, the flick relies on old-school stunt work rather than computer generated effects.

    ReplyDelete

Please note: If you have a WordPress blog, I can't return the favor and comment on your post unless you change your settings. WordPress hates me these days.