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DIE HARD (1988) |
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MORGAN'S RATING |
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| High above L.A. terrorists have seized a building, taken hostages, and declared war. But one man has managed to escape detection, an off-duty cop. He's alone, tired and the only chance anyone has. Bruce Willis stars as New York City Detective John McClane, newly arrived in Los Angeles to spend a quiet Christmas with his estranged wife. But while waiting for her Christmas office party to break up, terrorists seize control of the building. As hostages are rounded up McClane slips away and armed with only a service revolver, launches his own one-man war. |
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| Bruce Willis (John McClane), Bonnie Bedelia (Holly Gennero McClane), Reginald VelJohnson (Sgt. Al Powell), Paul Gleason (Dwayne T. Robinson), De'voreaux White (Argyle), William Atherton (Richard Thornburg), Hart Bochner (Harry Eliis), James Shigeta (Joseph Takagi), Alan Rickman (Hans Gruber), Alexander Godunov (Karl), Bruno Doyon (Franco), Andreas Wisniewski (Tony), Clarence Gilyard Jr. (Theo), Joey Plewa (Alexander), Lorenzo Caccialanza (Marco), Gerard Bonn (Kristoff), Dennis Hayden (Eddie), Al Leong (Uli), Gary Roberts (Heinrich), Hans Buhringer (Fritz), Wilhelm von Homburg (James), Robert Davi (Big Johnson), Grand L. Bush (Little Johnson), Bill Marcus (City Engineer), Rick Ducommun (City Worker), Mary Ellen Trainor (Gail Wallens), Diana James (Supervisor), Robert Lesser (Businessman). |
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40 STORIES OF SHEER ADVENTURE! |
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PRODUCTION INFORMATION |
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| DIRECTOR: John McTiernan (Last Action Hero). |
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| WRITERS: Jeb Stuart and Steven E. DeSouza. |
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| Based on the novel "Nothing Lasts Forever" by Roderick Thorp. |
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| PRODUCERS: Lawrence Gordon and Joel Silver. |
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| ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: Beau Marks. |
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| EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Charles Gordon. |
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| ORIGINAL MUSIC: Michael Kamen and James Horner (uncredited, from Aliens). |
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| DISTRIBUTOR: 20th Century Fox |
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QUOTES |
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McClane's seatmate notices his nervousness.
Businessman: Wanna know the secret to surviving air travel? After you get where you're doing, take off your shoes and your socks, and you walk around on the rug barefoot and make fists with your toes.
John McClane: Fists with your toes?
Businessman: (chuckles) I know, I know, it sounds crazy. Trust me. I've been doing it for nine years. |
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FACTS |
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| RELEASE DATE: July 15th, 1988 (USA) |
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| BOX OFFICE RESULT: $81.3 million (USA) |
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| WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE: $137.4 million |
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| - The original poster for the film did not feature Bruce Willis' likeness; just the building. The producers originally thought it might deter non-Willis fans from seeing the movie. Posters were later altered after the early box office success. |
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Ellis: Hey babe, I negotiate million dollar deals for breakfast. I think I can handle this Eurotrash! |
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[Stealing a dead terrorist's shoes.]
John McClane: A hundred million terrorists in the world and I gotta kill one with feet smaller than my sister. |
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| - The addresses and phone numbers depicted on the LAPD dispatch's computer for the Nakatomi plaza management are the actual numbers for management for Fox Plaza, where the film was shot. |
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[McClane tries to call up police]
Supervisor: Attention, whoever you are. This channel is reserved for emergency calls only...
John McClane: No fucking shit, lady! Do I sound like I'm ordering a pizza? |
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| - One cop says that John McClane (Bruce Willis) "could be a fucking bartender for all we know." Prior to becoming a well-known actor, Willis was a bartender. |
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| - The head terrorist, Hans Gruber, shares the name of the villian from Our Man Flint. |
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John McClane: Yuppee-ki-yay, motherfucker! |
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[In a small air duct]
John McClane: Now I know what a TV dinner feels like. |
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| - Nominated for four Academy Awards for Best Sound Effects Editing, Best Visual Effects, Best Film Editing and Best Sound. |
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Holly: After all your posturing, all your speeches, you're nothing by a common thief.
Hans: I am an exceptional thief, Mrs. McClane. And since I'm moving up to kidnapping, you should be more polite. |
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| - Followed by two sequels, Die Hard 2 and Die Hard With a Vengeance. |
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Hans: This time John Wayne does not walk off into the sunset with Grace Kelly.
John McClane: That was Gary Cooper, asshole. |
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CRITICAL COMMENTS |
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| "Dynamite action yard...great action scenes and stunts, with Richard Edlund's special effects, and a perfect part for Willis. Marred only by overlength and too many needlessly stupid supporting characters." -- Leonard Maltin |
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Agent Johnson: I'm Agent Johnson, this is Special Agent Johnson. No relation. |
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John McClane: Take *this* under advisement, jerkweed! |
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John McClane: [recalling his wife's invitation] Come out to the coast, we'll get together, have a few laughs... |
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| "For sheer roller-coaster thrills, the pick of the crop is Die Hard." -- David Ansen, Newsweek |
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Hans: I wanted this to be professional. Efficient, adriot, cooperative, not a lot to ask. Alas, your Mr. Takagi did not see it that way, so he won't be joining us for the rest of his life. |
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| "This action film is different. Willis is a real guy, not a comic book hero. He's terrific! Die Hard is dynamite." -- Joel Siegel, Good Morning America |
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| "Relentless energy and smashing special effects." -- Caryn James, The New York Times |
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