On this day in movie history - Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Million Dollar Baby

directed by Clint Eastwood,

written by Paul Haggis,

based on the book Rope Burns: Stories from the Corner by F.X. Toole,

was released in the United States on December 15, 2004.

Narrated by Morgan Freeman.

Music by Clint Eastwood.

Cast:

Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, Morgan Freeman, Jay Baruchel, Mike Colter, Lucia Rijker, Brían F. O'Byrne, Anthony Mackie, Margo Martindale, Riki Lindhome, Michael Peña, Benito Martinez, Bruce MacVittie, David Powledge, Joe D'Angerio, Marcus Chait, Tom McCleister, Erica Grant, Naveen, Morgan Eastwood, Jamison Yang, Dean Familton, Louis Moret, Jon D. Schorle II, Marty Sammon, Steven M. Porter, Ray Corona, Ming Lo, Miguel Pérez, Jim Cantafio, Ted Grossman, Ned Eisenberg, Marco Rodríguez, Roy Nugent, Don Familton, Mark Thomason, Brian T. Finney, Spice Williams-Crosby, Kim Strauss, Rob Maron, Kirsten Berman, Susan Krebs, Sunshine Chantal Parkman, Kim Dannenberg, Eddie Bates, Minerva Adams, Jimmy Alioto, Nina Avetisova, Michael Bentt, Tamara Bossett, Bruce Gerard Brown Jr., John Eric Brown, Jude Ciccolella, Marc De'Antone, Daniele Doobenen, Kimberly Estrada, Christopher Gilbertson, Rosine 'Ace' Hatem, Adolfo Jimenez, Guillermo Jorge, Michael Keyes, Mimi Lesseos, Sean LoGrasso, Paul McMichael, Robert McMurrer, Arnold Montey, Sean O'Kane, Ricky Pak, Mar Party, Cynthia Prouder, Vladimir Rajcic, Bridgett Riley, Ernie Rivera, Grant Roberts, Michael Saglimbeni, Bobby Silva, Nikky Smedley, Rick Solis, Mikee Stafford, McKay Stewart, Jaerin Washington, Jason Williams, Boni Yanagisawa.

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).