This is now playing's diehard retrospective series.

It's a good day to diehard, so each week we will be watching and reviewing a new diehard film ending with a weekend or release review of the new movie.

This review will contain detailed plot spoilers and harsh language.

Listener discretion is advised.

We're discussing the detective, but I thought this was the diehard series.

Starring Frank Sinatra, Lee Remick, Jacqueline Bissett, Ralph Meeker, and Jack Klugman directed by Gordon Douglas.

I'm Arnie, the hard-boiled co-host of now-playing.

And this is Jacob Yippee Kaie, old blue eyes.

I'm confused.

I think this all comes down to revenge because I made you all sit through Generation X as part of X-Men that we are here talking about a Frank Sinatra film from 1968 as part of the diehard series.

I know, very weird, and you're right. This may be the absolute worst tie-in that we've ever had.

Not to say the worst movie, but nothing that this movie is going to deliver sets you up for what the rest of the series is going to be like at all.

But there is a connection, and I guess I could walk everybody through that connection.

Please do, because I'm the fan of diehard, and I don't know what the connection is.

John McClain is Joe Leland in print.

There are two books about this detective.

The first was adapted to the movie that we're watching today.

Next week, it's sequel, Nothing Last Forever, morphed into diehard.

And they have the exact same character.

He was not named John McClain in print.

That was something they had to do when they realized old blue eyes wasn't coming back.

Yes, Sinatra was offered diehard, contractually required.

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