Born on this day – Hugh Wilson:

 

Hugh Wilson

Director

Writer

August 21, 1943 – January 14, 2018

Born on this day – Jessie Jones:

 

Jessie Jones

Actress

Writer

August 21, 1950 – March 20, 2026

Credits:

Books / plays:

A Doublewide, Texas Christmas (2018); Always a Bridesmaid (2013); Buddy Bro Bubba Dude: Men in Twisted Shorts (2022); Christmas Belles (2007); Dearly Beloved (2005); Dearly Departed: A Comedy (1992); Deliver Us from Mama! (2020); Doublewide, Texas (2016); Farce of Habit (2017); Farce of Nature (2014); Funny Little Thing Called Love (2014); Honey Sugar Lady Doll: Women in Bodacious Shorts (2022); Honky Tonk Hissy Fit (2021); Last Round-up of the Guacamole Queens (2015); Lickety Split: Women and Men in Outrageous Shorts (2022); Mama Won't Fly (2012); Rex's Exes (2012); Sitting Ducks (2025); Southern Hospitality (2008); The Dixie Swim Club (2008); The Hallelujah Girls (2010); The Red Velvet Cake War (2010); The Savannah Sipping Society (2016); The Second-To-Last Chance Ladies League (2025); The Sweet Delilah Swim Club (2020); The Wild Women of Winedale (2019); 'Til Beth Do Us Part: (a Marital Confection) (2010).

Movies and television:

Backfield in Motion (1991); Border Line (1999); Caroline in the City (1996); Caught in the Act (1993); Cold Case (2005); Designing Women (1990); Ed and His Dead Mother (1993); Everybody's Baby: The Rescue of Jessica McClure (1989); For Their Own Good (1993); For Your Love (2002); Fudge (1995); Grace Under Fire (1995); Hooperman (1989); Judging Amy (2004); Jury Duty: The Comedy (1990); Kingdom Come (2001); Melrose Place (1997); Murphy Brown (1990); My Brother's Keeper (1995); Newhart (1989); Night Court (1990); Perfect Strangers (1990); Switch (1991); Teacher's Pet (2001–2002); The Crew (1995); The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom (1993); Unhappily Ever After (1997); Voices Within: The Lives of Truddi Chase (1990); Weird Science (1996); Who's the Boss? (1991); Wife, Mother, Murderer (1991); You're the One (1998).

On this day in movie history - L'amore a.k.a. Love (1948 movie & play):

L'amore

a.k.a. Love

directed by Roberto Rossellini,

written by Federico Fellini, Roberto Rossellini, Anna Benvenuti, Tullio Pinelli,

based on the play The Human Voice by Jean Cocteau,

released at the Venice Film Festival in Italy on August 21, 1948.

Music by Renzo Rossellini.

Cast: Anna Magnani, Federico Fellini, Peparuolo, Amelia Robert.

Recommended reading:

The Human Voice

Play by Jean Cocteau.

Translated by Daniel Raggett.

Published by Oberon Books.

Oberon Modern Plays.

First published 1929.

ISBN-10: 1786826542

ISBN-13: 978-1786826541

Description:

'I'm whispering into your ear – and we couldn't be further apart.'

A woman, a phone call, a final conversation. In this extraordinary and prophetic monologue, a woman fights for the person she loves. Jean Cocteau's iconic play explores our desperate need for human relationships – and the machine that has changed them forever. 

On this day in movie history - Wanda (1970)

Wanda

directed and written by Barbara Loden,

released at the Venice Film Festival in Italy on August 21, 1970.

Music by Dave Mullaney.

Cast: Barbara Loden, Michael Higgins, Dorothy Shupenes, Peter Shupenes, Jerome Their, Marian Their, Anthony Rotell, M.L. Kennedy, Gerald Grippo, Milton Gittleman, Lila Gittleman, Arnold Kanig, Joe Dennis, Charles Dosinan, Jack Ford, Rozamond Peck, Susan Clark, Linda Clark, Bill Longworth, Frank Jourdano, Valerie Mamches, Pete Richman, Ed Somavitch. 

On this day in movie history - The Longest Yard (1974)

The Longest Yard

a.k.a. The Mean Machine

directed by Robert Aldrich,

written by Tracy Keenan Wynn,

based on a story by Albert S. Ruddy,

was released in the United States on August 21, 1974.

Music by Frank De Vol.

Cast:

Burt Reynolds, Eddie Albert, Ed Lauter, Michael Conrad, James Hampton, Harry Caesar, John Steadman, Charles Tyner, Mike Henry, Jim Nicholson, Bernadette Peters, Pervis Atkins, Tony Cacciotti, Anitra Ford, Michael Fox, Joe Kapp, Richard Kiel, Pepper Martin, Mort Marshall, Ray Nitschke, Tony Reese, Sonny Sixkiller, Robert Tessier, Dino Washington, Ernie Wheelwright, Joe Dorsey, Gus Carlucci, Jack Rockwell, Sonny Shroyer, Ray Ogden, Don Ferguson, Chuck Hayward, Alfie Wise, Steve Wilder, George A. Jones, Wilbur Gillian, Wilson Warren, Joe Jackson, Howard Silverstein, Donald Hixon.

On this day in movie history - An American Werewolf in London (1981)

An American Werewolf in London

directed and written by John Landis,

was released in the United States on August 21, 1981.

Music by Elmer Bernstein.

Cast:

David Naughton, Griffin Dunne, David Schofield, Joe Belcher, Brian Glover, Lila Kaye, Rik Mayall, Sean Baker, Paddy Ryan, Jenny Agutter, Anne-Marie Davies, John Woodvine, Frank Oz, Don McKillop, Paul Kember, Colin Fernandes, Albert Moses, Jim Henson, Michele Brisigotti, Mark Fisher, Gordon Sterne, Paula Jacobs, Claudine Bowyer, Johanna Crayden, Nina Carter, Geoffrey Burridge, Brenda Cavendish, Christopher Scoular, Mary Tempest, Cynthia Powell, Sydney Bromley, Frank Singuineau, Will Leighton, Michael Carter, Elizabeth Bradley, Rufus Deakin, Lesley Ward, George Hilsdon, Gerry Lewis, Dennis Fraser, Alan Ford, Peter Ellis, Denise Stephens, Christine Hargreaves, Linzi Drew, Lucien Morgan, Dave Cooper, Susan Spencer, Bob Babenia, Ken Sicklen, John Salthouse, John Altman, Keith Hodiak, John Owens, Roger Rowland, Lewis Alexander, Jack Armstrong, Vic Armstrong, Alan Austen, Roy Beck, Kevin Brennan, John Cannon, Ina Clare, Simon van Collem, Harry Fielder, Noel Flanagan, Alan Flyng, Ryan Folsey, Laurie Goode, Dave Griffiths, Brendan Hughes, John Ketteringham, John Landis, Dave Lanning, Aileen Lewis, Tommy Little, Derek Lyons, Lou Morgan, Ralph G. Morse, James Muir, Terence Mustoo, George Oliver, James Payne, Quentin Pierre, Jack Ross, Terry Sach, Alecia St Leger, David Stone, John Timberlake, Terry Walsh.

On this day in movie history - The Big Easy (1987)

The Big Easy

directed by Jim McBride, and written by Daniel Petrie, Jr.,

was released in the United States on August 21, 1987.

Music by Brad Fiedel.

Cast:

Dennis Quaid, Ellen Barkin, Ned Beatty, John Goodman, Lisa Jane Persky, Ebbe Roe Smith, Tom O'Brien, Charles Ludlam, Grace Zabriskie, Marc Lawrence, Solomon Burke, Gailard Sartain, Jim Chimento, Edward Saint Pe, Robert Lesser, Cheryl Starbuck, Margie O'Dair, Arden Lo, Rickey Pierre, Nick Krieger, Gary Anthony Sturgis, Byron Nora, Archie Sampier, Jeff Hollis, Joy N. Houck Jr., Steve Broussard, Eliott Keener, August Krinke, John Schluter, Zephirin Hymel IV, Jack Harris, George Dureau, Patrick Frederic, Lane Trippe, Nik Hagler, Don Lutenbacher, Carol Sutton, Peter Gabb, Jim Garrison, Dave Petitjean, Buddy Quaid, Dennis Curren, Rico Wheat, Robert Kearney, Joe Catalanotto, Terrance Simien, Gene Chambers, Popp Esprite, Earl Sally, Rudy Chambers, Phillip V. Caruso, Duane Delco.