Hollywood actor Bruce Willis has revealed he suffers with a lasting condition thanks to filming one of the intense and dramatic scenes in Die Hard.
The Christmas action film is known for its epic scenes including gun fire. However, one scene used extra loud blanks whilst filming, in order to create a better level of realism. For Bruce, this meant a shot that went off too close was even louder than anticipated and resulted in permanent hearing loss.
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The movie, which made Bruce Willis into one of Hollywood's best known action stars, centred around Bruce as New York City police officer John McClane as he tries to save his estranged wife and several others taken hostage by terrorists during a Christmas party at the Nakatomi Plaza in Los Angeles.
The film, directed by John McTiernan, features plenty of guns, explosions and quippy one-liners. It's become a Hollywood classic, with many debating its status as a Christmas movie.
In an interview with The Guardian, Bruce explained one of his most annoying habits which has happened as a result of his hearing. He said: "Due to an accident on the first Die Hard, I suffer two-thirds partial hearing loss in my left ear and have a tendency to say, 'Whaaa?'"
Whilst fans will be entertained with their new piece of trivia, this Christmas will see an ongoing debate surrounding the 1988 action film. Many movie fans can't agree on whether the film is classed as a Christmas movie or not. Whilst not typically focused on Santa or any of the traditional Christmas movie storylines, the film is set in December at Christmas time...but does this make it a Christmas film?
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Taking the matter into its own hands, 20th Century Fox settled the confusion with an updated trailer for the film in 2020, describing it as 'the greatest Christmas story ever told'. Argument settled then.
The rejigged Die Hard trailer features a voiceover describing John McClane's (Bruce Willis) predicament: "He just wants to spend Christmas with the family.
"But when he gets stuck at the office party, it'll be a holiday he'll never forget."
The voiceover continues and settled the debate once and for all as it declares: "This Christmas get ready to jingle some bells, and deck the halls with boughs of Holly.
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"Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman - together in the greatest Christmas story ever told."
Whether you think it's a Christmas movie or just a brilliant action movie, it's worth sticking on the TV over the holidays - even just as a break from the mince pies and Quality Street.
Topics: Bruce Willis, Die Hard, Christmas, TV and Film
Niamh Spence