On this day in movie and book history - Phantasm (1979)

Phantasm

directed and written by Don Coscarelli,

was released in the United States on March 28, 1979.

Music by Fred Myrow and Malcolm Seagrave.

Cast:

A. Michael Baldwin, Bill Thornbury, Reggie Bannister, Kathy Lester, Terrie Kalbus, Kenneth V. Jones, Susan Harper, Lynn Eastman-Rossi, David Arntzen, Ralph Richmond, Bill Cone, Laura Mann, Mary Ellen Shaw, Myrtle Scotton, Angus Scrimm, Dac Coscarelli, Kate Coscarelli.

Recommended reading:

Phantasm - The Novel

by Kate Coscarelli.

Based on the Original Screenplay by Don Coscarelli.

ASIN: B000NGVKQ4

Published by Pulp Xmachina.

Published 2002.

Description:

Young Mike Peterson has a problem.

His brother Jody is about to hit the road, two years after the tragic death of his parents. Terrified of being left alone by the one person he holds most dear, Mike becomes obsessed with shadowing his brother, peeping in on bar-hopping and midnight make-out sessions.

Until one gloomy morning, his snooping turns up more than he could have imagined: the horrifying, ancient secret of THE TALL MAN. And as the terrors mount, each unfolding like the twisted threads of some bizarre fever dream, the line between fantasy and reality blurs, setting Mike and Jody off on a desperate spiral of adventure and madness... until the final horror must be confronted within the darkest depths of a nightmare that never ends.

PHANTASM, is it a fantasy? An illusion? Whatever it is... if this novel doesn't scare you, you're already dead!

Liane Moriarty, on writing:

 

My real thinking and planning gets done when I'm doing something else,
like driving or walking or taking a shower.
- Liane Moriarty.

Born on this day – Grayce Hampton:

Grayce Hampton

Actress

March 28, 1876 – December 20, 1963

Credits:

A Kiss in the Dark (1949); Abroad with Two Yanks (1944); Almost Married (1932); Anna Lucasta (1949); April Showers (1948); Bride for Sale (1949); Broadminded (1931); Buccaneer's Girl (1950); Caged (1950); Confidential Agent (1945); Down to Earth (1947); Ex-Bad Boy (1931); Forever Female (1953); Fun on a Weekend (1947); Gigolette (1935); Harvey (1950); Heaven Can Wait (1943); Her Highness and the Bellboy (1945); Hold That Blonde! (1945); Johnny Comes Flying Home (1946); Kill the Umpire (1950); Lady Luck (1946); Looking Forward (1933); Love and Learn (1947); Love That Brute (1950); Ministry of Fear (1944); Nothing But Trouble (1944); Piccadilly Jim (1936); Rio (1939); Silver River (1948); Sitting Pretty (1948); Souls at Sea (1937); Standing Room Only (1944); Stepping Sisters (1932); The Bat Whispers (1930); The Champion (1931); The Comeback (1930); The Exile (1947); The Girl from Jones Beach (1949); The Lady Killer (1931); The Mating Season (1951); The Pursuing Vengeance (1916); The Shanghai Gesture (1941); The Snake Pit (1948); The Suspect (1944); The Unexpected Father (1932); The Women (1939); Three Sisters of the Moors (1944); Thru Thin and Thicket, or Who's Zoo in Africa (1933); Trouble Preferred (1948); Without Reservations (1946).

Born on this day – Nelson Algren:

Nelson Algren

Writer

March 28, 1909 – May 9, 1981

Credits:

Books:

A Walk on the Wild Side (1956); Chicago, a City On the Make (poems) (1951); Never Come Morning (1942); Somebody in Boots (1935); The Devil's Stocking (1983); The Last Carousel (1973); The Man with the Golden Arm (1949); The Neon Wilderness (1947); The Texas Stories of Nelson Algren (1995).

Movies and television:

Algren's Last Night (2003); America After Dark (1957); Book Beat (1963–1974); Calendar (1963); Danger (1951); Day at Night (1974); Down You Go (1951); Fearless Frank (1967); Goldstein (1964); Nelson Algren Live (2016); Nelson Algren: For Keeps and a Single Day (2001); NET Playhouse (1970); Schlitz Playhouse (1952); Shoestring Theatre (1960); The David Susskind Show (1963); The Man with the Golden Arm (1955); The Merv Griffin Show (1965); The New Deal for Artists (1976); Today (1965); Walk on the Wild Side (1962).

Born on this day – Philip Gips:

Philip Gips

Artist

Movie poster designer

March 28, 1931 – October 3, 2019

Credits:

Absence of Malice (1981); Alien (1979); All That Jazz (1979); Arthur (1981); Chloe and Keith's Wedding (2009); Desperately Seeking Susan (1985); Downhill Racer (1969); Fatal Attraction (1987); Kramer vs. Kramer (1979); Loveless in Los Angeles (2007); No Way Out (1987); Rosemary's Baby (1968); Sophie's Choice (1982); That's Entertainment! (1974); The Front (1976); The Verdict (1982); Tommy (1975).

Born on this day – Mario Vargas Llosa:

 

Mario Vargas Llosa

Writer

Director

Actor

March 28, 1936 – April 13, 2025

Credits:

Awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 2010.

Books:

A Fish in the Water (1993); A Writer's Reality (1990); Andes (2004); Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter (1977); Book Of Latin American Plays (2004); Captain Pantoja and the Special Service (1973); Conversation in the Cathedral (1969); Death in the Andes (1993); Fonchito and The Moon (2022); Harsh Times (2021); In Praise of Reading and Fiction (2010); In Praise of the Stepmother (1988); Letters to a Young Novelist (1997); Making Waves (1996); Notes on the Death of Culture (2012); Sabers and Utopias (2009); The Bad Girl (2006); The Call of the Tribe (2018); The Children's Boat (2015); The Cubs and Other Stories (1967); The Discreet Hero (2013); The Dream of the Celt (2010); The Feast of the Goat (2000); The Green House (1965); The Language of Passion (2000); The Neighborhood (2016); The Notebooks of Don Rigoberto (1997); The Oxford Book of Latin American Short Stories (1997); The Perpetual Orgy (1975); The Real Life of Alejandro Mayta (1984); The Storyteller (1987); The Temptation of the Impossible (2004); The Time of the Hero (1962); The War of the End of the World (1981); The Way to Paradise (2003); Three Plays (1990); Touchstones (2007); Who Killed Palomino Molero? (1986).

Movies and television:

12h45 (2025); 28' (2018); 60 Minutes (1989); A Marcha do Tempo (1993); Ah! Quels titres (1995); Almorzando con Mirtha Legrand (1997–1998); Alturas de Macchu Picchu (1981); Ànima (2011); Apostrophes (1983–1990); Arte Journal (2025); Atención obras (2013–2020); Bibliothèque Médicis (2010–2016); Boda real (2004); Bookmark (1985); Bouillon de culture (1992–1996); Buitenhof (2013); Caiga quien caiga - CQC (2008–2011); Caiga quien caiga (1997); Campus, le magazine de l'écrit (2002); Caos, La Peste Chavista (2024); Captain Pantoja and the Special Services (1999); Ceremonia de clausura del festival de cine de San Sebastián (2004); Charlie Rose (2001); Chávez, La Peste Chavista (2024); Chavismo: la peste del siglo XXI (2018); Che: muerte de la utopia? (1999); Com Todas as Letras (1974–1976); Contact, l'encyclopédie de la création (2006–2010); Continuarà... (1999–2006); Corrupción, La Peste Chavista (2024); Cuando vivas conmigo (2017–2018); Cuba, La Peste Chavista (2024); Culture et dépendances (2002); Dani & Flo (2017); De jueves a Jueves (1986); De par en par (2008); Debate (1987); Democracia, La Peste Chavista (2024); Después de Trujillo (2014); Dictadura, La Peste Chavista (2024); Druckfrisch (2011); El Chivo (2014); El corazón del Teatro Real (2018); El lector (1994–1995); El loco de la colina (2006); El paraíso en la otra Esquina (2003); El primer café (2001); El programa de Carlos Herrera (1997); Entrevista a la carta (2012); Estravagario (2006); Frank Delaney (1983); Gente de primera (1993); Giganten (2007); Hemingway (2021); Hier is... Adriaan van Dis (1984); Horizonte Flutuante (2011); Iñaki (2011); Informe semanal (1998); Jesús de Polanco: el hombre que miraba lejos (2007); Jesús G. Maestro (2024); Journal de voyage (1964); Kirjailijan valta (1968); La Chunga (1993); La cláusula Balcells (2016); La fiesta del Chivo (2005); La grande librairie (2009); La imagen de tu vida (2006); La mandrágora (2005); La noche abierta (2000); La odisea de los Andes (1976); La Peste Chavista (2024); La tele de tu vida (2007); La tía julia y el escribidor (1981); La última lidia (2023); Lady Tamara (2022); Las tres puertas (2022); Le bateau livre (2007); Le cercle de minuit (1995); Le procès d'Emma Bovary (2021); L'illa del tresor (2006); L'invité (2005); Lo + plus (1996–2003); Los cachorros (1973); Los desayunos de TVE (1997–2003); Los libros (1998–2002); Los Siete Locos (1987); Lundi en histoires (2016); Madrid en el corazón (2004); Maduro, La Peste Chavista (2024); Mario y los perros (2019); MasterChef Celebrity (2019); Mein Leben (2008); Memòries de la tele (2010); Metrònom Ferrater (2009); Miradas 2 (2008); Nieuwsuur (2010); Nobel Minds (2010); Noche Hache (2006); Nulle part ailleurs (1997); Odio, La Peste Chavista (2024); Os Sertões e Os Sermões (2011); Página 2 (2008–2019); Pantaleon (1976); Pátria Educadora (2020); Peor es nada (1993); Persecución, La Peste Chavista (2024); Por Outro Lado (2003); Pozner (2017); Premios Goya 30 edición (2016); Quiebra, La Peste Chavista (2024); Sálvame Deluxe (2018); Sepa: Nuestro Señor de los milagros (1986); Skavlan (2010); Some Time Later (2018); Tatuajes en la memoria (2024); Teletrece (2017); The City and the Dogs (1985); Todo es mentira (2019); Travesuras de la Niña Mala (2022); Tune in Tomorrow... (1990); Two Catalonias (2018); Un paseo por el tiempo (1995); Una belleza nueva (2010); Vol de nuit (2003); Y quién es él (1994); Yaguar (1987).

Born on this day – Alf Clausen:

Alf Clausen

Composer

March 28, 1941 – May 29, 2025

Credits:

1941 (1979); A Love Letter to Jack Benny (1981); A Very Retail Christmas (1990); Airplane II: The Sequel (1982); ALF (1986–2004); Bette (2000–2001); Career Opportunities (1991); Channel 99 (1988); Charmed (2003); Chip 'n' Dale Rescue Rangers (1989–1990); Christine Cromwell (1989–1990); Dads (1986–1987); Diminishing Returns (2018–2019); Donny and Marie (1977); Dragnet (1987); Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man (1994); Face the Music (1980–1981); Fame (1984); Fast-Walking (1982); Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986); Forced Vengeance (1982); Half Baked (1998); Harry (1987); Hey Arnold! (1996–2004); Hey Arnold! The Movie (2002); Hey Arnold!: 24 Hours to Live (1994); Hey Arnold: The Jungle Movie (2017); Homer's Sugar Mound (2011); Into the Night (1985); Level Seven (2025); Lime Street (1985–1986); Los Cuentos de Cri Cri (1984); Lots of Luck (1985); Maude (1975); May the 12th Be with You (2024); Memories of Moonlighting (2006); Micki + Maude (1984); Mirrors (1985); Miss All-American Beauty (1982); Moonlighting (1985–1989); Morning Joe (2021); Morning Joe Weekend (2025); Mr. Mom (1983); Murder in Three Acts (1986); Mutts (1988); My First Love (1988); My Life and Times (1991); My Science Project (1985); Nostalgia Critic (2009); Now and Again (1999); Number One with a Bullet (1987); Omnibus (1980); Partners in Crime (1984); Police Story: The Watch Commander (1988); Rogue Not Quite One (2023); Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997); Scrat's Continental Crack-Up (2010); She Knows Too Much (1989); Spacecats (1991); SparkShorts (2019); Splash (1984); Stranded (1986); The Beastmaster (1982); The Critic (1994–2001); The Eiger Sanction (1975); The Force Awakens from Its Nap (2021); The Interviews: An Oral History of Television (2015); The Last Starfighter (1984); The Magical World of Disney (1987); The Mary Tyler Moore Hour (1979); The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (2024); The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991); The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988); The Simpsons (1990–2025); The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special: In 3-D! On Ice! (2010); The Simpsons Have Landed (1996); The Simpsons Take the Bowl (2014); The Simpsons: Access All Areas (2010); 'The Simpsons': America's First Family (2000); The Simpsons: Cartoon Studio (1996); The Simpsons: Wrestling (2001); The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974); The Undefeated (1969); The Wickedest Witch (1989); This Is Kate Bennett... (1982); Three Days of the Condor (1975); Time Walkers (2025); Too Young to Die (2015); Up the Creek (1984); WatchMojo (2017); Weird Science (1985); Wise Guys (1986); Wizards and Warriors (1983).

Born on this day – Annie Wersching:

Annie Wersching

Actress

...as the Borg Queen in Star Trek: Picard

Credits:

24 (2009–2010); 24 in 24 (2009); Angel (2003); Anthem (2019); Below the Beltway (2010); Birds of Prey (2002); Blue Bloods (2014); Blue-Eyed Butcher (2012); Body of Proof (2013); Bosch (2014–2021); Boston Legal (2006); Bruce Almighty (2003); Castle (2013–2015); Charmed (2004); Code Black (2016); Cold Case (2006); Company Man (2007); CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2010); Dallas (2013); Doubt (2017); E-Ring (2005); Extant (2014); Frasier (2003); General Hospital (2007); Grounded: Making the Last of Us (2013); Harry's Law (2012); Hawaii Five-0 (2011); Hell's Kitchen (2018); Intelligence (2014); Journeyman (2007); Killer Instinct (2005); Lopez Tonight (2010); Major Crimes (2016); NCIS (2010); No Ordinary Family (2011); Out of Practice (2005); Partners (2011); Revolution (2013); Rizzoli & Isles (2011); Runaways (2017–2019); Star Trek: Enterprise (2002); Star Trek: Picard (2020); Supernatural (2007); That Guy... Who Was In That Thing 3: Trek Stars (2019); The 34th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards (2007); The Bonnie Hunt Show (2010); The Catch (2016); The Last of Us - The Definitive Playthrough (2019); The Last of Us (2013); The Last of Us: One Night Live (2014); The Other Mother (2017); The Ready Room (2022); The Rookie (2019–2022); The Showdown (2006); The Surrogate (2013); The Vampire Diaries (2015–2016); Timeless (2017–2018); Touch (2013).

On this day in movie history - The Blue Gardenia (1953)

The Blue Gardenia

directed by Fritz Lang,

written by Charles Hoffman,

based on the novella The Gardenia by Vera Caspary,

was released in the United States on March 28, 1953.

Music by Raoul Kraushaar.

Cast:

Anne Baxter, Richard Conte, Ann Sothern, Raymond Burr, Jeff Donnell, Richard Erdman, George Reeves, Ruth Storey, Ray Walker, Nat King Cole, Dolores Fuller.

On this day in movie history - The Big Caper (1957)

The Big Caper

directed by Robert Stevens,

written by Martin Berkeley,

based on the novel by Lionel White,

was released in the United States on March 28, 1957.

Music by Albert Glasser.

Cast:

Rory Calhoun, Mary Costa, James Gregory, Robert H. Harris, Roxanne Arlen, Corey Allen, Paul Picerni, Patrick McVey, Florenz Ames, Louise Arthur, Roscoe Ates, Valentin de Vargas, Melody Gale, Terry Kelman, James Nolan, Voltaire Perkins, Jack Shea, Ray Teal, Rusty Wescoatt.

On this day in movie and book history - The Birds (1963)

The Birds

directed by Alfred Hitchcock,

written by Evan Hunter,

based on the short story by Daphne du Maurier,

was released in the United States on March 28, 1963.

Cast:

Rod Taylor, Jessica Tandy, Suzanne Pleshette, Tippi Hedren, Veronica Cartwright, Ethel Griffies, Charles McGraw, Ruth McDevitt, Lonny Chapman, Joe Mantell, Doodles Weaver, Malcolm Atterbury, John McGovern, Karl Swenson, Richard Deacon, Elizabeth Wilson, Bill Quinn, Doreen Lang, Morgan Brittany, Darlene Conley, Valerie Ferdin, Betsy Hale, Alfred Hitchcock, Dal McKennon, Mike Monteleone, Bob Morgan, Renn Reed, Arnold Roberts, Jeannie Russell, Bill Scully, Rory Stevens, Tomm Wells, Mitch Zanich.

Recommended reading:

The Birds and Other Stories

by Daphne du Maurier.

Filmed as The Birds (1963), directed by Alfred Hitchcock.

Published by Time Warner Books.
First published 1952.
Paperback.

ASIN: 1844080870
ISBN-10: 9781844080878
ISBN-13: 978-1844080878
 
Description:

'How long he fought with them in the darkness he could not tell, but at last the beating of the wings about him lessened and then withdrew . . . '

A classic of alienation and horror, 'The Birds' was immortalised by Hitchcock in his celebrated film. The five other chilling stories in this collection echo a sense of dislocation and mock man's sense of dominance over the natural world.

The mountain paradise of 'Monte Verità' promises immortality, but at a terrible price; a neglected wife haunts her husband in the form of an apple tree; a professional photographer steps out from behind the camera and into his subject's life; a date with a cinema usherette leads to a walk in the cemetery; and a jealous father finds a remedy when three's a crowd . . .