Bruce Willis has had a legendary Hollywood career but, more than anything else, he’llalways be most closely associatedwith theDie Hardfranchise. One ofthe greatest action franchises of all time,Die Hard, like many other classic cinematic IPs, came from a book. For instance,First Bloodwas based on a book of the same name. And, just as the book and movie versions ofFirst Blooddiffered, so too didDie Hardand the book upon which it was based, Roderick Thorp’s 1979 novelNothing Lasts Forever.
While the book kicked off a film franchise, it was itself a sequel. Specifically, to Thorp’s terrific 1966 novelThe Detective, which was adapted into a movie by the same name, starring Frank Sinatra. ButDie Hardwas more different from its source material than that Sinatra movie, and what follows is a list of those major differences.
8John McClane as Opposed to Joe Leland
John McClane is asnarky, one-liner-spoutingNew York City Police Department Detective. Joe Lelandwasa big city cop, now retired from the force, who has shifted to a career as an insurance company investigator before ultimately starting up a PI detective agency with his former partner on the force. So, to a degree, the characters are very similar with some slight alterations.
Out of His Jurisdiction
But having McClane be a cop who is currently on the other side of the country adds some complexity to his whole ordeal at Nakatomi Plaza (Klaxon Oil Building in the book). He’s far, far out of his jurisdiction. And, as could be expected, certain members of the LAPD aren’t thrilled that he’s acting like he isn’t.
7The Book Has a Romantic Subplot
Whereas the movie begins with McClane exiting the airport, the book has him being driven to the airport, getting on the plane, and traveling to L.A. That said, before he gets off the plane, a flight attendant flirts with him. But he’s not interested, he only has eyes for Holly.
It Wouldn’t Have Made Sense in the Movie
But Holly isn’t a part ofNothing Lasts Forever, and considering it shows the audience more of the protagonist’s plane ride, it also shows him actually going for the flight attendant’s (named Kathi Logan in the book) flirtation. And, just as Argyle was a presence throughout the movie, Logan was a presence throughout the book, even getting on the radio with Leland alongside Sgt. Al Powell.
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6Joe’s Visiting His Daughter, John’s Visiting His Wife
In the movie, John McClane has travelled across the country to visit his wife, Holly Gennaro. The two have been having marital problems and her move hasn’t helped things. He’s hoping to patch things up, but the viewer gets the sense it would be just as difficult for him to leave the NYPD as it would be to have Holly leave him for good.
Similar Reason to Visit
In the book, Leland also goes across the country and also attendsa Christmas partyin a skyscraper. But he’s not visiting his estranged wife, he’s visiting his estranged daughter, Stephanie Gennaro. And, while Holly seems to have everything put together in her life, Stephanie is sleeping with her boss and does more cocaine than Harry Ellis does in the movie. Oh, and the characters have far different outcomes, but more on that later.
5Different Gruber, Different Goal
In the novel,it’s not Hans Gruber, but rather Anton “Little Tony the Red” Gruber. A former SS officer, Gruber is inspired both by politics and his own sociopathology. In the movie, this is basically what Hans is making himself seem like to the press and police. But, in reality, he’s just out for $640 million in bearer bonds.
No Ordinary Thief
Anton is a well-known terrorist across the globe. He’s taken over the Klaxon Oil Building to expose their illegal activities in Chile. In short, the only true similarities between the two are their last names and comfort with killing anyone who gets in the way of their goal.
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InDie Hard, Reginald VelJohnson’s Sgt. Al Powell is a 40-something police officer who has been on the beat for a while. But, when the events at Nakatomi Plaza go down, he’s off duty. Yet, like any cop intent on keeping the public safe, he travels there anyway.
Very Helpful in Both
InNothing Lasts Forever, his name is still Al Powell and he’s still a Sergeant. However, he’s called to Klaxon Oil Headquarters, as opposed to answering a call while in a nearby convenience store. Also, he’s only 22. Interestingly, outside of these small details, Al Powell is a character whose purpose in the narrative, AKA assisting John/Joe, wasn’t altered very much.
3The Protagonist Knows Who the Antagonist Is Prior to the Events of the Book’s Narrative
As mentioned, Anton Gruber is a notorious terrorist before the events ofNothing Lasts Foreverhave even taken place. That is, by members of the law enforcement community. This includes Joe Leland.
Mystery Man
InDie Hard, however, Hans Gruber is a total mystery to John McClane. He’s essentially a mystery to everyone outside his own crew (perhaps even to them, as well). In other words, McClane learns about Gruber and his motives alongside the audience.
2No Argyle in the Book
There is a taxi driver inNothing Lasts Forever, but he’s nothing like Argyle (who drives a limo in the film). For one, he’s only featured in the very beginning of the book. He drives Joetothe airport as opposed tofromthe airporttoNakatomi Plaza and, when in front of the entrance, his car collides with another. The scene really exists just to show Joe pulling out his gun and threatening the other driver, who is quite upset about his car being damaged, simultaneously showing that Joe has a temper as well.
Christmas In Hollis
InDie Hard, Argyle has scenes peppered throughout the film. He’s far younger than the taxi driver described in the book, it’s his first day on the job, and he’s the fun-loving type. Most importantly, whereas the taxi driver in the book departs after Joe enters the airport, Argyle does not leave after dropping John off at Nakatomi. As he is instructed to do, he waits for John in case anything goes wrong and, by the time all is said and done, he’s managed to incapacitate a member of Gruber’s crew.
1The Book’s Devastating Ending vs. the Movie’s Hopeful Ending
At the end ofDie Hard, all the bad guys have been killed, Gruber’s beendropped off Nakatomi Plazain slow motion, and John McClane throws his arm around Holly as they walk off into the metaphorical sunset. It’s as happy as an ending can get.Nothing Lasts Forever’s conclusion, however, is outright grim.
Wouldn’t Have Worked in a Blockbuster
As mentioned, Holly survives the events ofDie Hard. Leland shoots Gruber, who falls to his death from the Klaxon Oil Building, but he takes Stephanie with him. It’s a gut punch of an ending, and it’s hard to imagine it working in a crowd-pleasing motion picture.
