Movie fans are often aware of most book-to-movie adaptations but one film whose source material isn't well known is the 1988 action-thriller film Die Hard. Despite the movie being widely popular, very few people are aware that it was adapted from the 1979 Roderick Thorp novel, Nothing Lasts Forever.

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The novel is a sequel to Thorp's earlier novel titled The Detective which had also been adapted into a film starring Frank Sinatra. The author wrote the sequel with the hope that it would be made into a follow up film that still had Sinatra as the lead. Unfortunately, the legendary singer and actor didn't want to reprise his role. Several years later, the novel would be adapted into Die Hard with a few changes made to the original story. Here are those major differences.

John McClane Was Joe Leland

John McClane crawls through an air vent in Die Hard

In the movie, the protagonist is John McClane, an NYPD detective with eleven years worth of experience in the police force. He is a daredevil and an alcoholic who doesn't like following orders from his bosses. McClane is also said to be in his 30s.

However, in the book, the protagonist is a retired cop name Joe Leland, an elderly tough guy who is also a World War II veteran. He spends much of his time reminiscing about his days as a policeman and a soldier. Despite the wide age gap, Leland is also stubborn and has trouble bowing down to authority like McClane does. This explains why an older Sinatra was first approached for the book's film adaptation before the script was rewritten to accommodate a younger Willis.

Joe Leland Has A More Stable Family Life

John McClane going to LA in Die Hard

Before things go terribly wrong, John McClane is trying to repair his relationship with his wife Holly. She has dropped his name McClane and is now going by Holly Gennero, moving to Los Angeles after getting a job opportunity there. McClane thus goes to surprise her at her office during a Christmas party.

Leland, on the other hand, is on his way to Los Angeles to meet his daughter Stephanie Gennero, who is having an office party. In contrast to McClane showing up unannounced in the movie, Stephanie actually invited her dad Leland to her office party because she misses him.

The Book Is Set In An Oil Corporation

Nakatomi Elevator

Most of the action in Die Hard takes place in and around the Nakatomi Plaza. This is a building in Los Angeles that houses Holly's workplace, the Nakatomi Corporation. The Los Angeles branch is the headquarters of what is said to be a larger Japanese conglomerate.

In the novel, the action takes place at the Klaxon Oil Corporation where Stephanie is an executive. The company is celebrating a $150 million deal that will enable them do business with the Chilean government.

The Original Terrorist Isn't A Common Thief

Hans Gruber taking the silencer off his gun in Die Hard

The villain in Die Hard is the self-proclaimed German radical Hans Gruber. Under the guise of a terrorist/freedom fighter who wants his imprisoned comrades back, Gruber and his men take the Nakatomi employees hostage to steal untraceable bonds worth around $640 million. Holly even calls out Hans on this, to which he violently reacts.

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In the novel, the villain is a German terrorist named Anton "Little Tony The Red" Gruber, and is an actual terrorist. His plan is to steal crucial documents that will expose the corrupt Klaxon Corporation's dealings with Chile's dictatorial regime. He also plots to throw $6,000,000 out of the tower to make sure the Klaxon Corporation doesn't benefit from the money.

The Original Driver Had No Character To Speak Of

Argyle in Die Hard in the back of a car with a teddy bear.

When he lands in Los Angeles, McClane is picked up by a driver named Argyle and taken to Nakatomi Plaza. Argyle is seen randomly throughout Die Hard waiting in the basement's parking area so that he could bring him to the next location on the itinerary.

In the novel, Leland is picked at the airport by a taxi driver who happens to be older than Argyle. No name is given for the driver, too. As soon as he drops Leland, he leaves both the area and story, never to be mentioned again.

Joe Struck A Relationship With The Flight Attendant

John McClane at the airport holding a teddy bear.

A flight attendant seems interested in McClane but he doesn't reciprocate. When he lands, she stares at him briefly but McClane simply goes about his business, intent on reconciling with Holly.

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However, in the novel, Leland strikes up a real romance with a stewardess named Kathi Logan. The two flirt on the plane and when he lands, he takes her phone number. During the ongoing terrorist activities in the building, he keeps communicating with her via an OB radio. This remote form of help is fulfilled by Sgt. Al Powell in the film.

How Many People Have A Machine Gun?

"I have a machine gun now" - Die Hard (1988)

When McClane kills one of Gruber's men, he ties his body on a chair and sticks a Santa Claus hat on his head. He then scribbles the words "Now I have a machine gun, Ho Ho Ho" on the man's shirt and sends him up the elevator for Gruber and company to see. It's all part of his mind games to freak out the baddies while also taunting whoever's in charge since at this point, John has yet to see or hear Hans.

Leland does something similar in the novel, only that he switches the wording to plural. He writes "Now we have a machine gun" to confuse the terrorists, making them think there's multiple infiltrators when in fact he's a one-man team.

Holly Gennero & Stephanie Gennero Are Polar Opposites

McClane and Holly embracing in Die Hard

Holly Gennero is mostly portrayed as a decent, independent woman. She is hardworking and doesn't tolerate McClane's irresponsible behavior and selfishness, which is what supposedly led to their split.

Stephanie, on the other hand, is portrayed as corrupt and immoral. She is directly involved in the Klaxon Corporation's shady deals with the Chilean government. Despite being married, she is having an affair with her cocaine-loving co-worker Ellis. Just like in the movie, Ellis also tries to betray the hero and make a deal with the villain in order to save his own life. In both instances, this ends up getting him killed.

Gruber Doesn't Die Alone In The Book

Hans Gruber's death in Die Hard

Hans Gruber has a memorable death in Die Hard that's arguably also one of the most iconic villains deaths in history. When he tries to hold on to Holly's arm as he goes out of the window, he holds on to her watchband and almost pulls her down with him. Luckily, McClane shows up and releases the clasp. Gruber thus falls to his death in an unforgettable slow motion shot.

In the book, Anton Gruber also grabs Stephanie Gennero's arm as he is falling. However, Leland doesn't show up in time. Stephanie thus falls to her death together with the big baddie. This angers Leland, who then murders all the remaining terrorists in brutal manner.

The Book's Ending Is Depressing

Die Hard ending

It goes without saying that Die Hard has a happier ending than its book. When McClane emerges from the plaza after Gruber's death, he finally meets Sgt. Al Powell in person, who was helping him from the outside via radio. One of the baddies emerges and tries to kill McClane but Powell shoots him down. McClane and Holly are then driven off by Agyle in a damaged limo, presumably to a new start and a proper Christmas party.

Meanwhile in the book, Leland still witnesses more tragedy even after losing his daughter. One of the surviving terrorists emerges from the building and opens fire at random. The police chief ends up dead from this ensuing shooting. Leland lies on the ground injured, and that sums up the events of Nothing Lasts Forever. Talk about a downer.

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