Steven Spielberg, on movies and stories:

 

The older I get, the more I look at movies as a moving miracle.
Audiences are harder to please if you're just giving them special effects ...
but they're easy to please if it's a good story.

- Steven Spielberg.

Recommended reading - Black Money

 

Black Money

by Ross Macdonald.
 
Vintage Crime/Black Lizard.
Published by Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.

First published 1966.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 0679768106
ISBN-13: 978-0679768104
 
Description:

“A Beautiful job … rich in plot and character…. The denouement is both surprising and shocking and the whole is up to Mr. Macdonald’s extraordinarily high standards.” – The New York Time Book Review.

When Lew Archer is hired to get the goods on the suspiciously suave Frenchman who's run off with his client's girlfriend, it looks like a simple case of alienated affections. Things look different when the mysterious foreigner turns out to be connected to a seven-year-old suicide and a mountain of gambling debts. Black Money is Ross Macdonald at his finest, baring the skull beneath the untanned skin of Southern California's high society.

“It was not just that Ross Macdonald taught is how to write; he taught us how to read, and how to think about life, and maybe in some small but mannered way, how to live.” – Robert B. Parker.

If any writer can be said to have inherited the mantle of Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler, it was Ross Macdonald. Between the late 1940s and his death in 1983, he gave the American crime novel a psychological depth and moral complexity that his predecessors had only hinted at. And in the character of Lew Archer, Macdonald redefined the private eye as a roving conscience who walks the treacherous frontier between criminal guilt and human sin.

Born on this day – Zero Mostel:

Zero Mostel

Actor

Comedian

Singer

Painter

February 28, 1915 – September 8, 1977

Credits:

Watership Down (1978); The Electric Company (1972–1977); The Little Drummer Boy Book II (1976); The Front (1976); Mastermind (1976); The CBS Festival of Lively Arts for Young People (1975); Journey Into Fear (1975); Foreplay (1975); Rhinoceros (1974); Marco (1973); Once Upon a Scoundrel (1973); Saga of Sonora (1973); Old Faithful (1973); The Hot Rock (1972); Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1970); The Angel Levine (1970); The Great Bank Robbery (1969); Great Catherine (1968); The White Bus / Ride of the Valkyrie (1967); Children of the Exodus (1967); The Producers (1967); A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966); Play of the Week (1959–1961); The World of Sholom Aleichem (1959); Zero Mostel (1959); The Model and the Marriage Broker (1951); The Guy Who Came Back (1951); Mr. Belvedere Rings the Bell (1951); Sirocco (1951); The Enforcer (1951); Panic in the Streets (1950); The Ford Theatre Hour (1949); Off the Record (1948); Du Barry Was a Lady (1943).

Born on this day – Odette Laure:

Odette Laure

Actress

Singer

Writer

Producer

February 28, 1917 – June 10, 2004

Credits:

Le prof (2000); L'histoire du samedi (1999); La dilettante (1999); Entre terre et mer (1997); Alice boit du petit lait (1995); Maigret (1994); Méprise d'otage (1992); Poivre et sel (1992); Le secret du petit milliard (1992); Les mamies (1992); Little Nothings (1992); Stranger in the House (1992); Un beau petit milliard (1992); Le bal des casse-pieds (1992); Mamie by Night: Marathon Girl (1991); Jealousy (1991); Bébé express (1991); Daddy Nostalgia (1990); Chillers (1990); Périgord noir (1989); Julien Fontanes, magistrat (1983–1989); L'homme à tout faire (1988); Le gerfaut (1987); La bague au doigt (1986); Madame et ses flics (1985–1986); Un garçon de France (1985); Les nanas (1985); La guerre de Troie n'aura pas lieu (1984); Bon anniversaire Juliette (1983); Le braconnier de Dieu (1983); Antoine et Julie (1981); L'atterrissage (1981); Les amours des années folles (1981); Le petit théâtre d'Antenne 2 (1978–1981); Les folies du samedi soir (1980); Les dames de coeur (1980); La plume (1980); Les amours de la belle époque (1979); Roméo et Baucis (1979); Au bout du bout du banc (1979); Les insulaires (1979); Le temps d'une République (1978); Lundi la fête (1978); Banlieue Sud-Est (1977–1978); Stop Calling Me Baby! (1977); Au théâtre ce soir (1973–1977); La vie de Marianne (1976); The Twelve Tasks of Asterix (1976); Le viager (1972); La visite de la vieille dame (1971); Boulevard des faits divers: 65-66 (1966); Quand on est deux (1962–1964); Vincent Scotto (1962); Guinguette (1959); L'école des cocottes (1958); Mitsou (1956); Flesh and the Woman (1954); La pocharde (1953); Jouons le jeu / La timidité (1952); Holiday for Henrietta (1952); Ce bon Monsieur Durand (1950); Lady Paname (1950); La Marie du Port (1950).

Born on this day – Charles Durning:

Charles Durning

Actor

February 28, 1923 – December 24, 2012

Credits:

Bleeding Hearts (2015); Scavenger Killers (2014); Rogue Assassin (2012); Rescue Me (2004–2011); The Life Zone (2011); The Great Fight (2011); Naked Run (2011); No Clean Break (2010); Three Chris's (2010); An Affirmative Act (2010); The Waiter (2010); Family Guy (1999–2009); Shannon's Rainbow (2009); A Bunch of Amateurs (2008); The Golden Boys (2008); iMurders (2008); Break (2008); The Drum Beats Twice (2008); Deal (2008); Good Dick (2008); Polycarp (2007); Monk (2007); Family Guy (2006); Everwood (2006); Desperation (2006); Forget About It (2006); Local Color (2006); Unbeatable Harold (2006); Miracle Dogs Too (2006); Descansos (2006); River's End (2005); Jesus, Mary and Joey (2005); Dirty Deeds (2005); Resurrection: The J.R. Richard Story (2005); The L.A. Riot Spectacular (2005); Detective (2005); A Very Married Christmas (2004); A Boyfriend for Christmas (2004); NCIS (2004); One Last Ride (2004); Death and Texas (2004); Dead Canaries (2003); Touched by an Angel (2003); Pride & Loyalty (2002); The Naked Run (2002); The Last Man Club (2002); Mr. St. Nick (2002); Mother Ghost (2002); Turn of Faith (2002); Everybody Loves Raymond (1998–2002); First Monday (2002); Citizen Baines (2001); Bleacher Bums (2001); L.A.P.D.: To Protect and to Serve (2001); Arli$$ (2001); The Judge (2001); Never Look Back (2000); State and Main (2000); The Last Producer (2000); Very Mean Men (2000); Early Edition (1997–2000); O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000); Now and Again (1999–2000); Lakeboat (2000); The Practice (1998–2000); The Hoop Life (2000); Hard Time: Hostage Hotel (1999); Chicken Soup for the Soul (1999); Justice (1999); Hard Time: The Premonition (1999); Hard Time (1998); A Chance of Snow (1998); Hi-Life (1998); Cybill (1998); The Secret Life of Algernon (1998); Homicide: Life on the Street (1998); Jerry and Tom (1998); Shelter (1998); Orleans (1997); Sesame Street: Elmo Saves Christmas (1996); One Fine Day (1996); Mrs. Santa Claus (1996); The Land Before Time IV: Journey Through the Mists (1996); Recon (1996); Spy Hard (1996); Home for the Holidays (1995); The Grass Harp (1995); The Last Supper (1995); A Woman of Independent Means (1995); I.Q. (1994); The American Revolution (1994); In Search of Dr. Seuss (1994); Leslie's Folly (1994); Texan (1994); Roommates (1994); Evening Shade (1990–1994); The Hudsucker Proxy (1994); Harlan & Merleen (1993); Shania Twain: Dance with the One That Brought You (1993); When a Stranger Calls Back (1993); The Music of Chance (1993); Performance (1992); The Water Engine (1992); The Story Lady (1991); The Return of Eliot Ness (1991); V.I. Warshawski (1991); Fatal Sky (1990); Dick Tracy (1990); The Kennedys of Massachusetts (1990); It Nearly Wasn't Christmas (1989); Dinner at Eight (1989); The Butter Battle Book (1989); Cat Chaser (1989); Prime Target (1989); Brenda Starr (1989); Ballet (1989); Unholy Matrimony (1988); Far North (1988); Case Closed (1988); Cop (1988); Kenny Rogers as The Gambler, Part III: The Legend Continues (1987); The Man Who Broke 1, 000 Chains (1987); I Would Be Called John: Pope John XXIII (1987); The Rosary Murders (1987); A Tiger's Tale (1987); Happy New Year (1987); Solarbabies (1986); Meatballs III: Summer Job (1986); Amazing Stories (1985–1986); Where the River Runs Black (1986); Tough Guys (1986); Big Trouble (1986); Eye to Eye (1985); Stand Alone (1985); Tall Tales & Legends (1985); Death of a Salesman (1985); The Man with One Red Shoe (1985); Comedy Factory (1985); Stick (1985); Mass Appeal (1984); P.O.P. (1984); Good Evening, He Lied (1984); Mister Roberts (1984); To Be or Not to Be (1983); Two of a Kind (1983); Scarface (1983); Hadley's Rebellion (1983); Tootsie (1982); The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982); BBC2 Playhouse (1982); American Playhouse (1982); Sharky's Machine (1981); Dark Night of the Scarecrow (1981); True Confessions (1981); Great Performances / The Monument (1981); The Best Little Girl in the World (1981); Crisis at Central High (1981); A Perfect Match (1980); The Final Countdown (1980); Die Laughing (1980); Attica (1980); Starting Over (1979); When a Stranger Calls (1979); North Dallas Forty (1979); The Muppet Movie (1979); Tilt (1979); Studs Lonigan (1979); The Greek Tycoon (1978); An Enemy of the People (1978); The Fury (1978); Special Olympics (1978); The Choirboys (1977); Visions (1977); Twilight's Last Gleaming (1977); The Cop and the Kid (1975–1976); New York (1976); Captains and the Kings (1976); Harry and Walter Go to New York (1976); The Ashes of Mrs. Reasoner (1976); The Hindenburg (1975); Breakheart Pass (1975); The Rivalry (1975); Hawaii Five-O (1975); Baretta (1975); Barnaby Jones (1975); Dog Day Afternoon (1975); Cannon (1975); Switch (1975); Queen of the Stardust Ballroom (1975); The Trial of Chaplain Jensen (1975); The Front Page (1974); The Sting (1973); Rx for the Defense (1973); All in the Family (1973); The Connection (1973); Sisters (1972); Another World (1972); Madigan (1972); Doomsday Voyage (1972); Look Homeward, Angel (1972); Dealing: Or the Berkeley-to-Boston Forty-Brick Lost-Bag Blues (1972); Deadhead Miles (1972); The Pursuit of Happiness (1971); Sticky My Fingers... Fleet My Feet (1970); I Walk the Line (1970); There Was a Crooked Man... (1970); Hi, Mom! (1970); The High Chaparral (1970); Stiletto (1969); N.Y.P.D. (1967–1968); Hawk (1966); Harvey Middleman, Fireman (1965); The Doctors and the Nurses (1965); East Side / West Side (1963); The Defenders (1963); Armstrong Circle Theatre (1963); The Password Is Courage (1962); You Are There (1953).

Born on this day – Maura McGiveney:

 

Maura McGiveney

Actress

February 28, 1939 – November 10, 1990

Credits:

Adam-12 (1969); Cain's Hundred (1961); Days of Our Lives (1969); Death Valley Days (1968–1969); Destination America (1987); Do Not Disturb (1965); Dr. Kildare (1963); Family Affair (1969); Hawaii Five-O (1968–1971); Hawaiian Eye (1960); Laredo (1966); McHale's Navy (1965–1966); My Three Sons (1966); North by Northwest (1959); Once You Kiss a Stranger... (1969); Perry Mason (1959–1963); Peter Gunn (1961); Straightaway (1962); The Danny Thomas Hour (1967); The Flying Nun (1968); The Fugitive (1964); The Hollywood Palace (1967); The Invaders (1967); The Name of the Game (1969); The New Breed (1961); The Second Hundred Years (1967); The Virginian (1965); Thriller (1960); Turn-on (1969); Turn-on (1969); Twist Around the Clock (1961); W.I.A. Wounded in Action (1966).

On this day in movie history - The Johnstown Flood (1926)

The Johnstown Flood

directed by Irving Cummings,

written by Edfrid Bingham and Robert Lord,

was released in the United States on February 28, 1926.

Cast:

George O'Brien, Florence Gilbert, Janet Gaynor, Anders Randolf, Paul Nicholson, Paul Panzer, George Harris, Max Davidson, Walter Perry, Sid Jordan, Elmo Billings, Gary Cooper, Kay Deslys, Clark Gable, Florence Lawrence, Carole Lombard, George Reed, Dick Rush, Fred Warren, Jim Welch.

On this day in movie history - The Green Glove, a.k.a. The White Road (1952)

The Green Glove
a.k.a. The White Road

directed by Jack Smight,

written by and based on a story by Charles Bennett,

was released in the United States on February 28, 1952.

Narrated by John Dehner.

Music by Joseph Kosma.

Cast:

Glenn Ford, Geraldine Brooks, Cedric Hardwicke, George Macready, Gaby André, Jany Holt, Roger Tréville, Juliette Gréco, Georges Tabet, Meg Lemonnier, Paul Bonifas, Jean Bretonnière, Edmond Ardisson, Maurice Bénard, Daniel Cauchy, Jacques Clancy, John Dehner, Guy Henry, Roger Legris, Frédéric O'Brady, Michel Seldow.

On this day in movie history - Los Angeles: City of Film Noir (2015)

 

Los Angeles: City of Film Noir
a.k.a. Los Angeles: Cité du Film Noir

documentary directed and written by Clara Kuperberg and Julia Kuperberg,

was released in France on February 28, 2015.

 
Cast:
James Ellroy, Eddie Muller, Alain Silver.

On this day in television history - M Squad (1958)

 

M Squad
Season 1. Episode 23.

Episode entitled: The Black Mermaid.

Released February 28, 1958.

Directed by David Rich.

Written by James Edward Grant and Harry W. Junkin.

Music by Stanley Wilson.

 
Cast:
Lee Marvin, Marcia Henderson, Biff Elliot, Paul Newlan, Harry Bartell, Arthur Hanson, Stanley Adams, Eddie Ryder, Elizabeth Harrower.

On this day in television history - Justified (2012)

 

Justified
Season 3. Episode 7.

Episode entitled: The Man Behind the Curtain.

Released February 28, 2012.

Directed by Peter Werner.

Written by Graham Yost, Ryan Farley, Nichelle Tramble Spellman, Ingrid Escajeda, Ryan Farley and Jon Worley.

Based on the short story Fire in the Hole by Elmore Leonard.

Music by Steve Porcaro.
 
Cast:

Timothy Olyphant, Nick Searcy, Joelle Carter, Jacob Pitts, Erica Tazel, Natalie Zea, Walton Goggins, Raymond J. Barry, Jere Burns, David Andrews, Jim Beaver, David Meunier, Max Perlich, William Ragsdale, Stephen Tobolowsky, Demetrius Grosse, Jenn Lyon, Cleavon McClendon, Mykelti Williamson, Neal McDonough, David Atkinson, Michael Boucher, LaQuita Cleare, Kathleen M. Darcy, Elena Evangelo, Brandon Ford Green, Audra Griffis, Steven Helmkamp, Jonathan Kowalsky, William Gregory Lee, Brendan McCarthy, Van White, Garland Whitt, Chaz Maas.

On this day in music history - The album Transcendence, by Sherry Finzer (2020)

Transcendence

by Sherry Finzer

was released on February 28, 2020.

Track list:

The Ascent; Third Eye Opening; Veil of the Unknown; Inner Awakening; Meditative, relaxing, soothing, contemplative, cinematic, flutes, calming, relaxing - Ancient Roots; Evening Prayer; Winds of Intuition; Elements of Light.