On this day in movie and book history - The Asphalt Jungle (1950 and 1949)

The Asphalt Jungle

directed by John Huston,

written by Ben Maddow and John Huston,

based on the novel by W. R. Burnett,

was released in the United States on May 12, 1950.

Music by Miklós Rózsa.

Cast:

Sterling Hayden, Louis Calhern, Jean Hagen, James Whitmore, Sam Jaffe, John McIntire, Marc Lawrence, Barry Kelley, Anthony Caruso, Teresa Celli, Marilyn Monroe, William Davis, Dorothy Tree, Brad Dexter, John Maxwell, Mary Anderson, Ray Bennett, David Bond, Chet Brandenburg, Benny Burt, Harry G. Butcher, Frank Cady, Jean Carter, Mack Chandler, David Clarke, John Cliff, Harry Cody, Gene Coogan, Henry Corden, Chuck Courtney, John Crawford, Ralph Dunn, Gene Evans, Pat Flaherty, Alex Gerry, Sol Gorss, Fred Graham, William Haade, Don Haggerty, Eloise Hardt, Thomas Browne Henry, Wesley Hopper, George Lynn, Ethel Lyons, Fred Marlow, Strother Martin, Patricia Miller, Howard M. Mitchell, Ralph Montgomery, Alberto Morin, Kerry O’Day, Raymond Roe, Henry Rowland, Tim Ryan, James Seay, Jack Shea, Charles Sherlock, J. Lewis Smith, J.J. Smith, Joseph Darr Smith, Helene Stanley, Jack Stoney, Ray Teal, Leah Wakefield, Harlan Warde, Jack Warden, William Washington, Constance Weiler, Judith Wood, Victor Wood, Wilson Wood, Jeff York.

Recommended reading:

The Asphalt Jungle

by W. R. Burnett.

Filmed as The Asphalt Jungle (1950), directed by John Huston.

Published by Prion Books Ltd

First published 1949.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 1853753467

ISBN-13: 978-1853753466

Description:

So successful in evoking [the city's] aura that the reader breathes the air of menace that emanates from its implacable personality and shivers at the unmistakeable evidence that blind chance plays a considerable part in determining the course of every life within the city's confines. – New York Times.

The Asphalt Jungle is a gripping tale of the planning and execution of a jewellery store heist in a dark and corrupt Midwestern metropolis. Set amid a seedy urban wasteland of crooks, killers and con-artists, the various members of the gang are steadily undone by personal obsessions, double-crossing and cruel fate.

First published in 1949, W.R. Burnett's hardboiled classic was made into the definitive heist movie by John Huston in 1950, starring Sterling Hayden, Sam Jaffe and Marilyn Monroe. Its screenplay, co-written by Huston was nominated for an Oscar.

A master and pioneer of the gangster genre, W.R. Burnett is the author of over thirty novels - including Little Caesar and High Sierra - and sixty screenplays. He was twice nominated for Academy Awards.

 

The Asphalt Jungle: A Screenplay

by Ben Maddow & John Huston.

Screenplay Library.

Published by Southern Illinois University Press.

Published 1980.

First Edition.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 0809309467

ISBN-13: 978-0809309467

Description:

Dore Schary, then head of production at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, bought The Asphalt Jungle while it was still in manu­script in an effort to match the success Warner Brothers had enjoyed with Burnett’s Little Caesar and High Sierra. The choice of Ben Maddow and John Huston as screenwriters assured the artistic success of the screenplay, for few writer/directors could have matched Huston’s ability to develop these characters cinematically.

It was a case of strength building upon strength. Burnett’s fully developed characters were transformed by Maddow and Huston into a screenplay of impressive immediacy. Indeed, the portrayal of the criminals in splendid performances from Louis Calhern, Sam Jaffe, Sterling Hayden, James Whitmore, and Jean Hagen, led Bosley Crowther to lament, “If only it all weren’t so corrupt!” But the characters of Burnett, Maddow and Huston, don’t permit us to romanticize about them or their activities. We share their professional pride in a robbery well planned and are silent accomplices to their mutual treachery.

On this day in movie history - Capone (2020)

Capone

directed and written by Josh Trank,

was released in the United States on May 12, 2020.

Music by El-P.

Cast:

Tom Hardy, Linda Cardellini, Matt Dillon, Al Sapienza, Kathrine Narducci, Noel Fisher, Gino Cafarelli, Mason Guccione, Jack Lowden, Kyle MacLachlan, Rose Bianco, Manny Fajardo, Christopher Bianculli, Edgar Arreola, Jhemma Ziegler, CG Lewis, David Wachs, Tilda Del Toro, Wayne Pére, Josh Trank, Neal Brennan, Jason Edwards, Caiden Acurio, Mason Rozas, Emma Kathryn Coleman, Tara Marie Foy, Reed Luckett Wiley, Troy Anderson, Andreanna L Jenson, Tony Beard, Silas Borelly, Patti Brindley, Rebecca Chulew, Samantha Czosnek, Macey DePaula, Julia Holt, Bruce Jesse Mattson, Michael McQuillan, Christopher Morris, Carl Anthony Nespoli,Jack Reeder, Candace Reuter, Ivan Salvatore, Natalie Sibille, Cameron Stout, Sue-Lynn.

On this day in movie history - The Jane Mysteries: Inheritance Lost (2023)

The Jane Mysteries: Inheritance Lost

directed by Marco Deufemia,

written by Neale Kimmel,

based on the Jane da Silva series of novels by K. K. Beck,

was released in the United States on May 12, 2023.

Music by Steph Copeland.

Cast:

Jodie Sweetin, Stephen Huszar, Paris Jefferson, Rob Stewart, Martin Roach, Danielle Smith, Rebecca Lamarche, Brian Cook, Jas Dhanda, Tonjha Richardson, Angelo Grey, Bebsabe Duque, Patrick Dussault, Michael Morrone, Kari Wong, Laiko Foroughi.

On this day in the Star Trek universe - The Next Generation, Voyager, Enterprise:

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1990)
Star Trek: Voyager (1999)
Star Trek: Enterprise (2004)
 

Star Trek: The Next Generation
Season 3. Episode 23.

Episode entitled: Sarek.

Released May 12, 1990.

Directed by Les Landau.

Written by Peter S. Beagle, Marc Cushman, Jake Jacobs, Ronald D. Moore.

Created by Gene Roddenberry.

Music by Dennis McCarthy.

Cast: Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, Brent Spiner, Wil Wheaton, Mark Lenard, Joanna Miles, William Denis, Rocco Sisto, Colm Meaney, John H. Francis, Marston Smith, Rachen Assapiomonwait, Joe Baumann, Michael Braveheart, Gilbert B. Combs, Nyra Crenshaw, Robert Daniels, Christopher Doyle, Eben Ham, Randy James, Mark Lentry, Ken Lesco, Buck McDancer, James McElroy, Denise Lynne Roberts, Joyce Robinson, Rick Sandford, Richard Sarstedt, K. Uchizono.

 

Star Trek: Voyager
Season 5. Episode 23.

Episode entitled: Relativity.

Released May 12, 1999.

Directed by Allan Eastman.

Created by Rick Berman, Michael Piller, Jeri Taylor.

Written by Bryan Fuller, Nick Sagan, Michael Taylor.

Based on Star Trek, created by Gene Roddenberry.

Music by Dennis McCarthy.

Cast: Kate Mulgrew, Robert Beltran, Roxann Dawson, Robert Duncan McNeill, Ethan Phillips, Robert Picardo, Tim Russ, Garrett Wang, Jeri Ryan, Bruce McGill, Dakin Matthews, Jay Karnes, Josh Clark, John Austin, Majel Barrett, Marvin De Baca, Tarik Ergin, Sylvester Foster, Matt Hanson, Linda Harcharic, Peter Scott Harmyk, Kerry Hoyt, Heather Rattray, Richard Sarstedt, Linnea Soohoo, Pablo Soriano, Phoenix Wong.

 

Star Trek: Enterprise
Season 3. Episode 22.

Episode entitled: The Council.

Released May 12, 2004.

Directed by David Livingston.

Written by Manny Coto, André Bormanis.

Created by Rick Berman, Brannon Braga.

Based on Star Trek, created by Gene Roddenberry.

Opening theme song: Faith of the Heart, performed by Russell Watson.

Closing theme: Archer's Theme, by Dennis McCarthy.

Music by Velton Ray Bunch.

Cast: Scott Bakula, John Billingsley, Jolene Blalock, Dominic Keating, Anthony Montgomery, Linda Park, Connor Trinneer, Randy Oglesby, Tucker Smallwood, Rick Worthy, Scott MacDonald, Josette Di Carlo, Sean McGowan, Bruce Thomas, Andrew Borba, Mary Mara, Ruth Williamson, Eric Brandon/Lemler, Alexandrea Ortiz, Solomon Burke Jr., Tarik Ergin, Hilde Garcia, Glen Hambly.

On this day in music history - The album For Birds, Planes & Cello, by Joan Jeanrenaud, with Miya Masaoka (2005)

For Birds, Planes & Cello

by Joan Jeanrenaud, with Miya Masaoka

was released on May 12, 2005.

Ann Patchett, on writing:

Writing is a job, a talent, but it's also the place to go in your head.
It is the imaginary friend you drink your tea with in the afternoon.
- Ann Patchett.