Haruki Murakami, on writing:

For me, writing a novel is like having a dream.

Writing a novel lets me intentionally dream while I'm still awake.

I can continue yesterday's dream today,

something you can't normally do in everyday life.

- Haruki Murakami.

Recommended reading - The Sixteenth Round & Lazarus and the Hurricane

The Sixteenth Round & Lazarus and the Hurricane

 

Both books filmed as The Hurricane (1999), directed by Norman Jewison.

 

The Sixteenth Round

From Number 1 Contender to Number 45472
By Rubin “Hurricane” Carter.
 
First published 1974.
Published by Chicago Review Press.
Paperback.

ISBN-10: 1569765677
ISBN-13: 978-1569765678
 
Description:
 
A document of life lived in the center of hell. – Sports Illustrated.
 
When they come to list the greatest boxers, Hurrican's name isn't likely to pop up in the Top 10. But when they come to list the greatest figures of the 20th century, he'll be alone at the peak. – Boston Globe.
 
A shocking, savage and brilliant indictment of racial injustice and the inhumanity of the prison. – Globe and Mail.
 
Carter's scorching and poetic autobiography. – Toronto Sun.
 

Rubin "Hurricane" Carter was riding a wave of success. The survivor of a difficult youth, he rose to become a top contender for the middleweight boxing crown. But his career crashed to a halt on May 26, 1967, when he and another man were found guilty of the murder of three white people and sentenced to three consecutive life terms. Written from prison and first published in 1974, The Sixteenth Round chronicles Hurricane's journey from the ring to solitary confinement. The book was his cry for help to the public, an attempt to set the record straight and force a new trial. Bob Dylan wrote his classic anthem "Hurricane" about his struggle, and Muhammad Ali and thousands of others took up his cause. The power of Carter's voice, as well as his ironic humor, makes this an eloquent, soul-stirring account of a remarkable life.

 

Lazarus and the Hurricane

The Freeing of Rubin "Hurricane" Carter
By Sam Chaiton and Terry Swinton.
 
First published 1991.
Published by St. Martin's Griffin.
Paperback.

ISBN-10: 0312253974
ISBN-13: 978-0312253974
 
Description:
 

A moving chronicle of the seven-year-battle to free boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter from wrongful imprisonment reveals the role of a group of Canadians in winning Carter's release.

Born on this day – Marguerite Bertsch:

Marguerite Bertsch

Writer

Director

December 14, 1889 – 1967 (exact date unknown)

Credits:

Shadows of the Past (1919); The Painted World (1919); The Glory of Yolanda (1917); The Soul Master (1917); The Devil's Prize (1916); Through the Wall (1916); The Dawn of Freedom (1916); The Law Decides (1916); Salvation Joan (1916); The Vital Question (1916); For a Woman's Fair Name (1916); The Writing on the Wall (1916); The Cave Man (1915); Mortmain (1915); His Phantom Sweetheart (1915); The Enemies (1915); The Silent Plea (1915); The Man Behind the Door (1914); The Wheat and the Tares (1914); The Painted World (1914); A Florida Enchantment (1914); Uncle Bill (1914); My Official Wife (1914); Shadows of the Past (1914); Too Many Uncles (1914); Captain Alvarez (1914); He Never Knew (1914); Never Again (1914); A Million Bid (1914); The Vavasour Ball (1914); The Trap (1913); The Wreck (1913); The Diver (1913); The Fruits of Vengeance (1913); Bunny for the Cause (1913); The Tiger (1913); The Call (1913); The Flirt (1913); The Prince of Evil (1913); The Carpenter (1913); The Butler's Secret (1913); One Can't Always Tell (1913); The Midget's Revenge (1913); Two's Company, Three's a Crowd (1913); Getting Up a Practice (1913); Cutey and the Twins (1913); Una of the Sierras (1912); Nothing to Wear (1912); The Indian Mutiny (1912); The Troublesome Step-Daughters (1912).

Author of the book How to Write for Moving Pictures: A Manual of Instruction and Information (1917). 

Born on this day – Laurence Naismith:

Laurence Naismith

Actor

December 14, 1908 – June 5, 1992

Credits:

12 O'Clock High (1965); A Killer Walks (1952); A Night to Remember (1958); A Piece of Cake (1948); Adventure Theater (1956); Amicalement Votre, Hollywood au service de sa majesté (2017); Bad Blonde (1953); Badger's Green (1949); Barriers (1981–1982); BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (1950); Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1966–1967); Bonanza (1969); Boy on a Dolphin (1957); Calling Bulldog Drummond (1951); Camelot (1967); Chelsea Story (1951); Cineficción Radio (2020); Cleopatra (1963); Compression (2023); Court Martial (1954); Crock of Gold (1948); Danger Man (1960); Dark Secret (1949); Deadlier Than the Male (1967); Diamonds Are Forever (1971); Eye of the Cat (1969); Fall of Eagles (1974); Fan des années 70 (2012); Final Column (1955); Fitzwilly (1967); Gideon of Scotland Yard (1958); Gilbert Harding Speaking of Murder (1953); Great Performances (1993); Greyfriars Bobby: The True Story of a Dog (1961); Gypsy Girl (1966); Hell Is Sold Out (1951); High Treason (1951); His Excellency (1952); I Accuse! (1958); I Believe in You (1952); I Remember Nelson (1982); I Thank a Fool (1962); Jason and the Argonauts (1963); Jason and the Argonauts: An Interview with Ray Harryhausen (1995); Josephine and Men (1955); Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949); Lancer (1968); Late Night Theatre (1972); London Conspiracy (1974); Love in Pawn (1953); Love Story (1969); Lust for Life (1956); Man with a Million (1954); Mannix (1968); Mission: Monte Carlo (1974); Mogambo (1953); Mr. Lord Says No (1952); Oh, Father! (1973); Penny Princess (1952); Pool of London (1951); Profiles in Courage (1965); Quest for Love (1971); Rendezvous (1957); Rétrogaming made in France (2019); Return of the Saint (1978); Richard III (1955); Robbery Under Arms (1957); Room to Let (1950); Run a Crooked Mile (1969); Scrooge (1970); Seven Days from Now (1957); Shoot First (1953); Sink the Bismarck! (1960); Sir Francis Drake (1961); Solomon and Sheba (1959); Special Collector's Edition (2012); Tempest (1958); Terror on a Train (1953); The 300 Spartans (1962); The Admirable Crichton (1968); The Adventures of Robin Hood (1956); The Amazing Mr. Beecham (1949); The Amazing Mr. Blunden (1972); The Angry Silence (1960); The Barretts of Wimpole Street (1957); The BBC Television Shakespeare (1978); The Beggar's Opera (1953); The Black Knight (1954); The Bushbaby (1969); The Concrete Jungle (1960); The Dam Busters (1955); The Defenders (1964); The Extra Day (1956); The File on Devlin (1969); The Fugitive (1965–1967); The Gypsy and the Gentleman (1958); The Happiest Days of Your Life (1950); The Invaders (1967); The James Bond Story (1999); The Last Appointment! (1977); The Long Duel (1967); The Long Memory (1953); The Magical World of Disney (1959–1965); The Making of 'A Night to Remember' (1993); The Man Who Never Was (1956); The Masqueraders (1980); The Naked Earth (1958); The Name of the Game (1969); The Persuaders! (1971); The Prince and the Pauper (1962); The Protectors (1972); The Scorpio Letters (1967); The Singer Not the Song (1961); The Slasher (1953); The Switch (1976); The Third Man (1959–1963); The Three Lives of Thomasina (1963); The Trials of Oscar Wilde (1960); The Two-Headed Spy (1958); The Valiant (1962); The Valley of Gwangi (1969); The Vise (1954–1955); The Weapon (1956); The World of Suzie Wong (1960); Third Man on the Mountain (1959); Tiger in the Smoke (1956); Timeshift (2006); Train of Events / Segment: The Actor (1949); Trouble in the Air (1948); Vampire Over London (1952); Village of the Damned (1960); Wall of Death (1951); We Joined the Navy (1962); Whispering Smith vs. Scotland Yard (1952); Young Winston (1972).

Born on this day – Elyse Knox:

 

Elyse Knox

Actress

December 14, 1917 – February 15, 2012

Credits:

There's a Girl in My Heart (1949); Joe Palooka in the Counterpunch (1949); Forgotten Women (1949); Winner Take All (1948); I Wouldn't Be in Your Shoes (1948); Fighting Mad (1948); Linda, Be Good (1947); Joe Palooka in the Knockout (1947); Black Gold (1947); Sweetheart of Sigma Chi (1946); Gentleman Joe Palooka (1946); Joe Palooka, Champ (1946); Army Wives (1944); A Wave, a WAC and a Marine (1944); Moonlight and Cactus (1944); Follow the Boys (1944); Hi Ya, Sailor (1943); So's Your Uncle (1943); Hit the Ice (1943); Mister Big (1943); Don Winslow of the Coast Guard (1943); Keep 'Em Slugging (1943); Arabian Nights (1942); The Mummy's Tomb (1942); Top Sergeant (1942); Hay Foot (1942); Miss Polly (1941); All-American Co-Ed (1941); Tanks a Million (1941); Sheriff of Tombstone (1941); Footlight Fever (1941); Youth Will Be Served (1940); Yesterday's Heroes (1940); Girl from Avenue A (1940); Girl in 313 (1940); Lillian Russell (1940); Star Dust (1940); Free, Blonde and 21 (1940); Wake Up and Live (1937).

Born on this day – Agnes Fink:

Agnes Fink

Actress

December 14, 1919 – October 28, 1994

Credits:

24 Stunden aus dem Leben einer Frau (1965); Alle Macht der Erde (1962); Altmodische Komödie (1979); Begegnung in Singapur (1958); Bei tag und bei nacht oder der hund des gärtners (1957); Bei Tag und Nacht (1964); Bernarda Albas Haus (1957); Betrogene Liebe (1986); Briefe der Liebe (1964); Das falsche Gewicht (1971); Das kunstseidene Mädchen (1960); Das Lächeln der Gioconda (1966); Das Mädchen und der Staatsanwalt (1962); Der Berg (1990); Der Feind (1961); Der gläserne Himmel (1987); Der Kommissar (1970–1973); Der Mann aus England (1963); Der Misanthrop (1959); Der schöne Gleichgültige (1956); Derrick (1978–1982); Die Dame ist nicht fürs Feuer (1960); Die Frau mit den Karfunkelsteinen (1985); Die große Reise (1961); Die Herzogin von Langeais (1960); Die Preußen kommen (1970); Die Taube im Schaukelstuhl (1957); Don Giovanni (1957); Dreißig Silberlinge (1971); Ein Spiel von Tod und Liebe (1957); Ein Tag im April (1965); Ein Wintermärchen (1965); Eine Dummheit macht auch der Gescheiteste (1963); Es war einmal (1963); Graf Öderland (1968); Ich stelle mich (1980–1993); Interview mit der Geschichte (1970); Jedermann Remixed (2011); Jons und Erdme (1959); Karpfs Karriere (1971); Katja Rupé erzählt, Teil 1: Vom neuen Theater zum neuen Heimatfilm (2024); Langusten (1989); Macht der Finsternis (1959); Majestät auf Abwegen (1958); Maria Stuart (1963); Marie Octobre (1964); Marleneken (1990); Mütter (1992); Napoleon und Joghurt (1971); Persönlich vorgestellt (1960); Prisoners of Love (1954); Pygmalion (1956); Schinderhannes (1957); Schmutzige Hände (1956); Sheer Madness (1983); Sisters, or The Balance of Happiness (1979); So ist es - Wie es ihnen scheint (1988); Spider's Web (1989); Sternsteinhof (1976); Tatort (1978–1980); The Adventures of Dr. Bayer (1990); The Old Fox (1985–1988); Transit (1965); Unerwartet verschied... (1961); Unterm Birnbaum (1964); Was bin ich? (1965); Zwischen den Zügen (1961).

Born on this day – Lee Remick:

Lee Remick

Actress

Singer

December 14, 1935 – July 2, 1991

Credits:

Dark Holiday (1989); Around the World in 80 Days (1989); Bridge to Silence (1989); Jesse (1988); Screen Two (1985); Emma's War (1987); Nutcracker: Money, Madness & Murder (1987); American Playhouse (1985–1987); Of Pure Blood (1986); Great Performances (1986); Toughlove (1985); Faerie Tale Theatre (1985); Rearview Mirror (1984); Mistral's Daughter (1984); A Good Sport (1984); I Do! I Do! (1983); The Gift of Love: A Christmas Story (1983); The Letter (1982); Tribute (1980); The Competition (1980); The Women's Room (1980); Ike: The War Years (1980); Haywire (1980); The Europeans (1979); Ike: The War Years (1979); Torn Between Two Lovers (1979); Wheels (1978); The Medusa Touch (1978); Breaking Up (1978); Telefon (1977); BBC Play of the Month (1972–1977); The Omen (1976); Hennessy (1975); A Girl Named Sooner (1975); Hustling (1975); Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill (1974); QB VII (1974); A Delicate Balance (1973); The Blue Knight (1973); Of Men and Women (1973); And No One Could Save Her (1973); The Man Who Came to Dinner (1972); Touch Me Not (1972); Sometimes a Great Notion (aka Never Give an Inch) (1971); A Severed Head (1971); Loot (1970); Hard Contract (1969); The Detective (1968); No Way to Treat a Lady (1968); Damn Yankees! (1967); The Hallelujah Trail (1965); The Satan Bug (1965); Baby the Rain Must Fall (1965); The Wheeler Dealers (1963); The Running Man (1963); Days of Wine and Roses (1962); Experiment in Terror (1962); Theatre '62 (1962); The Farmer's Daughter (1962); Sanctuary (1961); Wild River (1960); The Tempest (1960); Anatomy of a Murder (1959); These Thousand Hills (1959); The Long, Hot Summer (1958); The Eighty Yard Run (Playhouse 90) (1957–1958); Kraft Theatre (1953–1957); A Face in the Crowd (1957); Robert Montgomery Presents (1954–1956); Studio One (1954–1956); Modern Romances (1954–1956); Mama (1949); Ponds Theater (1953); Armstrong Circle Theatre (1950).

Born on this day – Barbara Leigh-Hunt:

 

Barbara Leigh-Hunt

Actress

December 14, 1935 – September 16, 2024

Credits:

A Merry War (1997); A Midsummer Night's Dream (1959); A Perfect Hero (1991); All for Love (1983); An Evening with... (1968); Anna Lee: Headcase (1993); As Time Goes By (1995); BBC Play of the Month (1979); BBC2 Playhouse (1979–1980); Bertie and Elizabeth (2002); Billy Elliot (2000); Bird's-Eye View (1969–1971); Call Oxbridge 2000 (1962); Callan (1969); Charlie Chalk (1988–1989); E! True Hollywood Story (1999); Emergency-Ward 10 (1962); Frenzy (1972); Full House (1972); George Eliot: A Scandalous Life (2002); Henry VIII and His Six Wives (1972); Inheritance (1967); Inspector Morse (1990); ITV Play of the Week (1966); ITV Playhouse (1967–1980); ITV Saturday Night Theatre (1969–1970); ITV Sunday Night Drama (1971); Justice (1973); Kavanagh QC (1999–2001); Longitude (2000); Love's Labour's Lost (1965); Macbeth (1970); Midsomer Murders (2002); Mrs. Mouse, Are You Within? (1971); My Name Is Alfred Hitchcock (2022); No Hiding Place (1965); Oh Heavenly Dog (1980); Paper Mask (1990); Play for Today (1973–1979); Playing Shakespeare (1982); Pride and Prejudice (1995); Pride and Prejudice Revisited (2005); Pride and Prejudice: Lasting Impressions (2006); 'Pride and Prejudice': The Making of... (1999); Public Eye (1965); Ruth Rendell Mysteries (1990); Ryan International (1970); Screen Two (1995); Screenplay (1986); Seeing and Believing (1971–1975); Six Days of Justice (1973); Special Branch (1969); Sunburn (1999); Sunday Premiere (1988); Suspicion (1971); The Afternoon Play (1984); The Bestest BBC Children's Video Ever! (1996); The Brontës of Haworth (1973); The Echo (1998); The Inside Man (1969); The Martins (2001); The Nelson Affair (1973); The Old Crowd / One Fine Day (1979); The Plague Dogs (1982); The Recording Angells (1956); The Saturday Play: Separate Tables (2002); The Search for the Nile (1971); The Siegfried Idyll (1969); Theatre 625 (1966); Thirty-Minute Theatre (1971); Thriller (1974); Vanity Fair (2004); Villains (1972); Wagner (1983); Who Killed Lamb? (1974); Wives and Daughters (1999).

Born on this day – Alessandra Panaro:

Alessandra Panaro

Actress

December 14, 1939 – May 1, 2019

Born on this day – Jane Birkin:

Jane Birkin

Singer

Actress

December 14, 1946 – July 16, 2023

On this day in movie history - Side Street (1949)

Side Street

directed by Anthony Mann,

written by Sydney Boehm,

was released in the United States on December 14, 1949.

Music by Lennie Hayton.

 
Cast:

Farley Granger, Cathy O’Donnell, James Craig, Paul Kelly, Jean Hagen, Paul Harvey, Edmon Ryan, Charles McGraw, Edwin Max, Adele Jergens, Harry Bellaver, Whit Bissell, John Gallaudet, Esther Somers, Harry Antrim, Ben Cooper, King Donovan, David Bauer, Anthony Dexter, Herb Vigran.

On this day in movie history - The Seven-Ups (1973)

The Seven-Ups

directed by Philip D'Antoni,

written by Albert Ruben and Alexander Jacobs,

based on a story by Sonny Grosso,

was released in the United States on December 14, 1973.

Music by Don Ellis.

Cast:

Roy Scheider, Tony Lo Bianco, Larry Haines, Richard Lynch, Bill Hickman, Jerry Leon, Victor Arnold, Ken Kercheval, Lou Polan, Matt Russo, Joe Spinell, Robert Burr.

On this day in movie history - The Hurricane (1999)

The Hurricane

directed by Norman Jewison,

written by Armyan Bernstein and Dan Gordon,

was released in the United States on December 14, 1999.

Based on the books:

The Sixteenth Round by Rubin “Hurricane” Carter

and

Lazarus and the Hurricane by Sam Chaiton and Terry Swinton.

Music by Jeremy Sweet and Christopher Young.

Cast:

Denzel Washington, Vicellous Shannon, Deborah Kara Unger, Liev Schreiber, John Hannah, Dan Hedaya, Debbi Morgan, Clancy Brown, David Paymer, Harris Yulin, Rod Steiger, Badja Djola, Al Waxman, David Lansbury, Garland Whitt, Chuck Cooper, Brenda Denmark, Marcia Bennett, Beatrice Winde, Mitchell Taylor Jr., Bill Raymond, Merwin Goldsmith, John A. MacKay, Donnique Privott, Moynan King, Gary DeWitt Marshall, John Christopher Jones, Gwendolyn McCann, Richard M. Davidson, George T. Odom, Tonye Patano, Fulvio Cecere, Phillip Jarrett, Rodney ‘Bear’ Jackson, Judi Embden, Terry Claybon, Ben Hernandez Bray, Mike Justus, Kenneth McGregor, Frank Proctor, Peter Wylie, David Wm Gray, Joe Matheson, Bill Lake, Robin Ward, Harry Davis, Pippa Pearthree, Jean Daigle, Rob Evans, Scott Gibson, Ann Holloway, Bruce McFee, Conrad Bergschneider, Satori Shakoor, Zoran Radusinovic, Stephen Lee Wright, Michael Bodnar, Carson Manning, Debrah Ellen Waller, Richard Litt, Adam Large, Peter Graham, George Masswohl, Lawrence Sacco, David Frisch, Ralph Brown, Dyron Holmes, Ryan Williams, Bruce Vavrina, Brenda Braxton, Christopher Riordan, Guy Ale, Muhammad Ali, Ellen Burstyn, Kevin Carrigan, Rubin ‘Hurricane’ Carter, Bob Dylan, Joe Frazier, Vinson German, Matt Graver, Michael Harkins, David Headon, Robert Mauzell, Alex Oliveira, Craig Snoyer, David Sparrow, Michael Stevens.

On this day in movie history - Vanilla Sky (2001)

 

Vanilla Sky

directed and written by Cameron Crowe,

was released in the United States on December 14, 2001.

Based on Open Your Eyes (1997), Spanish title: Abre los ojos, directed by Alejandro Amenábar.

Music by Nancy Wilson.

Cast:

Tom Cruise, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Kurt Russell, Jason Lee, Noah Taylor, Timothy Spall, Tilda Swinton, Michael Shannon, Delaina Hlavin, Shalom Harlow, Oona Hart, Ivana Milicevic, Johnny Galecki, Jhaemi Willens, Armand Schultz, Cameron Watson, Robertson Dean, W. Earl Brown, Ray Proscia, Tim Hopper, Alicia Witt, Ken Leung, Carolyn Byrne, Mark Pinter, Jeff Weiss, Conan O’Brien, James Murtaugh, Mark Kozelek, John Fedevich, Bobby Walsh, Stacey Sher, Fred Schruers, Jessica Siemens, Julia Carothers Hughes, Holly Raye, Marty Collins, Mark Bramhall, Jack Hall, David Lewison, Jennifer Griffin, Adam LeGrant, John Kepley, Robin Van Sharner, Laurel Wiley, Nicole Taylor Hart, Julia Decker, Jennifer Marie Kelley, Erin McElmurry, Alice Marie Crowe, Jonathan Sanger, Tommy Lee, Ana Maria Quintana, Paul Haggar, Randy Woodside, Robert F. Harrison, Carly Starr Brullo Niles, Jane Pratt, Patrick McMullen, Steven Colvin, Cindy Crowe, The Great John Sypolt, Michael G. Kehoe, Danielle Wolf, Scotch Ellis Loring, Brent Sexton, Curt Skaggs, Jennifer Gimenez, Lori Lezama, Todd Harrison, Blossom (Benny the Dog), Laura Fraser, Jennifer Aspen, Celina Belizan, Craig Callow, Christie Campagna, Jean Carol, Tony Collucci, Jimmy Federico, Shane Fenton, Janine Foster, Aracelli Frias, Zach Hudson, Marko Jankovic, Ryan Keating, Zachary Lee, Roger Lim, Tara Lipinski, Lucio Luciano, William Mapother, Christy Meyers, Arnold Montey, Jan Munroe, Marie Paquim, Ronald Rand, Louis E. Rosas, Steven Spielberg, Andrei Sterling, Tasha Tae, Bryan Todd, Michael J. Tomaso, Christie Will Wolf.