Thursday, January 1, 2026

Born on this day – Kimble Rendall:


Kimble Rendall


Director

Writer

Musician

January 1, 1954 – April 20, 2025

Credits:
7 Guardians of the Tomb (2018); Bait (2012); Behind the Scenes of Cut (2000); Better Than Sex (2000); Boom Crash Opera: Hands Up in the Air (1986); Casanova (2005); Cold Chisel: Flame Trees (1984); Consolation Prize (1980); Counting the Beat (1997); Cut (2000); Cut: Cast and Crew Interviews (2000); Day Out of Days: The 'I, Robot' Production Diaries (2004); Enter the Matrix (2003); Garage Days (2002); Genre Summit (2016); Ghost Rider (2007); Gods of Egypt (2016); Hayride to Hell (1995); Hoodoo Gurus: Leilani (1982); I, Robot (2004); Johnny Diesel & The Injectors: Cry in Shame (1989); Killer Elite (2011); Knowing (2009); Mental As Anything: Live It Up (1985); Paul Kelly: Careless (1989); Popbot (2025); Shark's Paradise (1986); Spirit of Vengeance: The Making of 'Ghost Rider' (2007); Territory (2024); The Applicant (1982); The Burly Man Chronicles (2004); The Challenge (1986–1987); The Jesters (2009); The Making of 'Bait' (2013); The Matrix Reloaded (2003); The Matrix Revolutions (2003); The Matrix Revolutions: Crew (2004); The Tourist (2022); Three Chords and a Wardrobe (1998); Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009).

On this day in movie history - The Outlaw and His Wife (1918)

 

The Outlaw and His Wife


Swedish title: Berg-Ejvind och hans hustru,

directed by Victor Sjöström,

written by Victor Sjöström and Sam Ask,

based on the 1911 play by Jóhann Sigurjónsson.

Based on the true 1760 case of Eyvind of the Mountains.

Released in Sweden on January 1, 1918.

Orchestra music by Röda Kvarns Orkester and Rudolf Sahlberg.

Cast:
Victor Sjöström, Edith Erastoff, John Ekman, Nils Aréhn, Jenny Tschernichin-Larsson, William Larsson, Artur Rolén, Sigurd Wallén, Emil Fjellström, Hildur Carlberg, Edith Wallén, Harald Wehlnor, Thure Holm, Gucken Cederborg, Nils Elffors, Olof Ås, Herman Lantz, Walerie Alexandrow-Höök.

On this day in movie (1921) and book (1912) history - The Phantom Carriage and Thy Soul Shall Bear Witness


The Phantom Carriage

a.k.a. The Stroke of Midnight & Thy Soul Shall Bear Witness,

directed and written by Victor Sjöström,

based on the novel Thy Soul Shall Bear Witness, original Swedish title: Körkarlen, by Selma Lagerlöf,

released in Sweden on January 1, 1921.

Music by Eric Westberg.

 
Cast:
Victor Sjöström, Hilda Borgström, Tore Svennberg, Astrid Holm, Concordia Selander, Lisa Lundholm, Tor Weijden, Einar Axelsson, Olof Ås, Nils Aréhn, Simon Lindstrand, Nils Elffors, Algot Gunnarsson, Hildur Lithman, Josua Bengtson, Emmy Albiin, Helga Brofeldt, Mona Geijer-Falkner, Signe Wirff, Anna-Lisa Baude, Arthur Natorp, Carl Harald, Fridolf Rhudin, Elof Ahrle, Julia Cæsar, Edvin Adolphson, John Ekman.

Recommended reading:

Thy Soul Shall Bear Witness

by Selma Lagerlöf.

Translated by William Frederick Harvey.
Published by e-artnow.
First published 1912.

ISBN-10: 8027340209
ISBN-13: 9788027340200

Description:
 
Thy Soul Shall Bear Witness is a result of a collaboration between Selma Lagerlöf and the Swedish association. The novel was written as a means of public education about tuberculosis. It is set in a small town in Sweden at the beginning of the 20th century. Edith, a young "Slum Sister" (social worker) in the service of the Salvation Army is on her death bed dying of tuberculosis. She requests that before she dies, she would like to again see David Holm, one of her charges. It becomes apparent that the two have a special relationship.

On this day in television history - M Squad (1960)

 

M Squad

Season 3. Episode 15.

Episode entitled: The Twisted Way.

Released January 1, 1960.

Directed by Marc Lawrence.

Written by Adam Williams.

Music by Benny Carter.


Cast:
Lee Marvin, Paul Newlan, Joanna Barnes, Charles Cooper, Walter Coy, Virginia Christine, Tetsu Komai, S. John Launer, Eddie Parker, Don Turner.

On this day in the Star Trek universe - The Next Generation (1990)

Star Trek: The Next Generation
Season 3. Episode 10.

Episode entitled: The Defector.

Released January 1, 1990.

Directed by Robert Scheerer.

Written by Sam Rolfe, Richard Danus.

Created by Gene Roddenberry.

Music by Ron Jones.

Cast:
Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Marina Sirtis, Brent Spiner, Wil Wheaton, Gates McFadden, James Sloyan, Andreas Katsulas, John Hancock, Simon Templeman, Rachen Assapiomonwait, Majel Barrett, Jeremy Doyle, James McElroy, Oliver Theess, Natalie Wood.

On this day in music history:


Woodlands by Eric Tingstad, Nancy Rumbel & David Lanz (1987)

Mozart Requiem (1991)

Nightscenes by Michael Whalen (1996)

Cecilia Bartoli: Live in Italy (1998)

Cecilia Bartoli Sings Haydn (2001)

Wayfaring Stranger - A Spiritual Songbook by Kristin Asbjørnsen (2006)

Wildfire by Rachel Platten (2016)


Woodlands

Album by Eric Tingstad, Nancy Rumbel & David Lanz,

released January 1, 1987.

Track list:

Willow; Magnolia; Oaks; Cypress; Cottonwood; Deodora; Sequoia; Woodlands; Bamboo; Madrona.

 

Mozart Requiem

Directed by Humphrey Burton, Michael Weinmann.

Cast: Georg Solti, Arleen Augér, Cecilia Bartoli, Vinson Cole, René Pape, Chor der Wiener Staatsoper / Konzertvereinigung Wiener, Wiener Philharmoniker.

Released January 1, 1991.

 


Nightscenes

Album by Michael Whalen,

released January 1, 1996.

Track list:

Evening Blurs Into The Neon; Close Your Eyes, The Right Approaches; Acquainted With The Night; Part One: Light-Sky-Stars; Part Two: Passages; Part Three: Faces; Part Four: Love; Into The Darkness Part One: The Heart Of Midninght; Into The Darkness Part Two: Journey Towards The Sunrise; It Happened On A Sunday.


Cecilia Bartoli: Live in Italy

Directed by Brian Large.

Cast: Cecilia Bartoli, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Sonatori de la Gioiosa Marca.

Released January 1, 1998.


Cecilia Bartoli Sings Haydn

Directed by Brian Large.

Cast: Cecilia Bartoli, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Concentus musicus Wien.

Released January 1, 2001.


Wayfaring Stranger - A Spiritual Songbook

Album by Kristin Asbjørnsen,

Released January 1, 2006.

Track list:

Trying To Get Home; I'm On My Way; Ride Up In The Chariot; Now We Take This Feeble Body; In That Morning; Come Go With Me; Wish I Was In Heaven Sitting Down; Going Up; Don't Be Weary Traveler; I Am A Poor Wayfaring Stranger / Going Over Jordan; Oh Glory.


Wildfire

Album by Rachel Platten,

released January 1, 2016.

Track list:

Stand by You; Hey Hey Hallelujah (feat. Andy Grammar); Speechless; Beating Me Up; Fight Song; Better Place; Lone Ranger; You Don't Know My Heart; Angels in Chelsea; Astronauts; Congratulations; Superman.

Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Roberto Bolano, on reading:

Reading is like thinking,

like praying,

like talking to a friend,

like expressing your ideas,

like listening to other people's ideas,

like listening to music,

like looking at the view,

like taking a walk on the beach.

- Roberto Bolano.