On this day in movie history - Gravity (2013):

Gravity

directed by Alfonso Cuarón,

written by Alfonso Cuarón and Jonás Cuarón,

was released in the United States on October 4, 2013.
Music by Steven Price.

Cast:

Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Ed Harris, Orto Ignatiussen, Phaldut Sharma, Amy Warren, Basher Savage.

On this day in movie history - Piano Blues (2003):

Piano Blues

documentary directed by Clint Eastwood,

written by Peter Guralnick,

part 7 of the documentary series The Blues,

produced by Martin Scorsese,

was released in the United States on October 4, 2003.

Cast:

Albert Ammons, Marcia Ball, Count Basie, Charles Brown, Dave Brubeck, Cab Calloway, Ray Charles, Nat 'King' Cole, Martha Davis, Willie Dixon, Fats Domino, Dorothy Donegan, Dr. John, Clint Eastwood, Duke Ellington, Henry Gray, Linda Hopkins, Pete Johnson, Pete Jolly, Meade 'Lux' Lewis, Jay McShann, Thelonious Monk, Phineas Newborn Jr., Ignacy Jan Paderewski, Pinetop Perkins, Oscar Peterson, André Previn, Jesse Price, Henry ‘Professor Longhair’ Byrd, Eugene Roberts, Gene Rodgers, Otis Spann, Art Tatum, Big Joe Turner, Muddy Waters.

On this day in movie history - The Addiction (1995):

The Addiction

directed by Abel Ferrara,

written by Nicholas St. John,

was released in the United States on October 4, 1995.
Music by Joe Delia.

Cast:

Lili Taylor, Christopher Walken, Annabella Sciorra, Edie Falco, Paul Calderon, Fredro Starr, Kathryn Erbe, Michael Imperioli, Jamel Simmons, Robert W. Castle.

On this day in music history - Rossini: Armida, by Renée Fleming and Daniele Gatti (1994):

The album Rossini: Armida,

by Renée Fleming and Daniele Gatti,

was released on October 4, 1994.

On this day in movie history - The Rapture (1991):

The Rapture

directed and written by Michael Tolkin,

was released in the United States on October 4, 1991.
Music by Thomas Newman.

Cast:

Mimi Rogers, Darwyn Carson, Patrick Bauchau, Marvin Elkins, David Duchovny, Stéphanie Menuez, Sam Vlahos, Rustam Branaman, Scott Burkholder, Carole Davis, Patrick Dollaghan, James Le Gros, Dick Anthony Williams, DeVaughn Nixon, Johnny Mask, Christian Benz, Kimberly Cullum, Victoria Williams, Terri Hanauer, Douglas Roberts, Denney Pierce, Will Patton, Joshua Farrell, Andrew Pressman, Kerry Leigh Michaels, Henry Kingi, Linda Albertano, Michael David Lally, Bojan Bazelli, James Ent, Joshua Farrell, Kane Hodder, Bill A. Jones.

On this day in movie history - Dogfight (1991):

Dogfight

directed by Nancy Savoca,

written by Bob Comfort,

was released in the United States on October 4, 1991.
Music by Sarah Class and Mason Daring.

Cast:

River Phoenix, Lili Taylor, Richard Panebianco, Anthony Clark, Mitchell Whitfield, Holly Near, Elizabeth Daily, Sue Morales, Christina Mastin, Christopher Shaw, John Lacy, Chris San Nicholas, Brian Gotta, Peg Phillips, Neal Allen, Ron Lynch, Dale Garman, Bruce Pearson, Angie Utt, Kenneth Utt, Julian Schembri, Barb Benedetti, Ivars Mikelson, Brendan Fraser, Matt Skerritt, Dion Williams, Jason Moore, Denise Williams, Kristie Gamer, David MacIntyre, Art Cahn, Robert Munns, Jessica Wallenfels, Bonnie Fox, Sandra Ellis Lafferty, Joseph Franklin, Frank Walters, Jacob Luft, Constance McCord, Laura Vetter, Krisha Fairchild, George Evans, Jillian Armenante, Anne Elizabeth Washburn, John Fry, Albert Farrar, Brett Baker, Don Berg, Dale Carman, Joe James, Dewayne Luckett, William Rossman, Sky Siewerski, Tom Stewart.

On this day in movie history - The Longest Day (1962):

The Longest Day

directed by Ken Annakin, Andrew Marton and Bernhard Wicki,

written by Cornelius Ryan, Romain Gary, James Jones, David Pursall and Jack Seddon,

based on the book by Cornelius Ryan,

was released in the United States on October 4, 1962.
Music by Maurice Jarre.

Cast:

Eddie Albert, Paul Anka, Arletty, Jean-Louis Barrault, Richard Beymer, Hans Christian Blech, Bourvil, Richard Burton, Wolfgang Büttner, Red Buttons, Pauline Carton, Sean Connery, Ray Danton, Irina Demick, Fred Dur, Fabian, Mel Ferrer, Henry Fonda, Steve Forrest, Gert Fröbe, Leo Genn, John Gregson, Paul Hartmann, Peter Helm, Werner Hinz, Donald Houston, Jeffrey Hunter, Karl John, Curd Jürgens, Alexander Knox, Peter Lawford, Fernand Ledoux, Christian Marquand, Dewey Martin, Roddy McDowall, Michael Medwin, Sal Mineo, Robert Mitchum, Kenneth More, Richard Münch, Edmond O'Brien, Leslie Phillips, Wolfgang Preiss, Ron Randell, Madeleine Renaud, Georges Rivière, Norman Rossington, Robert Ryan, Tommy Sands, George Segal, Jean Servais, Rod Steiger, Richard Todd, Tom Tryon, Peter van Eyck, Robert Wagner, Richard Wattis, Stuart Whitman, Georges Wilson, John Wayne.

Born on this day – Meg Bennett:

Meg Bennett

Writer

Actress

Model

October 4, 1948 – April 11, 2024

Credits:

After Hours: Getting to Know Us (1977); Camera Three (1971); Celebrity Page (2018); General Hospital (1993–2011); General Hospital: Night Shift (2007); Generations (1989–1991); Hour Magazine (1983); Live on Bowen (2013); Match Game PM (1973–1977); Santa Barbara (1991–1993); Search for Tomorrow (1975–1977); SoapTalk (2005); Sunset Beach (1997–1998); The $10,000 Pyramid (1984–1986); The $100,000 Pyramid (1986–1988); The $25,000 Pyramid (1984–1988); The Bold and the Beautiful (1987–2004); The Paper Chase (1986); The Young and the Restless (1980–2020); You Are the Jury (1987).

Born on this day – Anne Rice:

Anne Rice

Writer

October 4, 1941 – December 11, 2021

Credits:

Interview with the Vampire (1976); The Vampire Lestat (1985); The Queen of the Damned (1988); The Tale of the Body Thief (1992); Memnoch the Devil (1995); The Vampire Armand (1998); Merrick (2000); Blood and Gold (2001); Blackwood Farm (2002); Blood Canticle (2003); Prince Lestat (2014); Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis (2016); Blood Communion (2018); The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty (1983); Beauty's Punishment (1984); Beauty's Release (1985); Beauty's Kingdom (2015); The Complete Vampire Chronicles (1989); The Vampire Chronicles Collection (1992); The Vampire Chronicles: Books 1-3 (2003); The Complete Vampire Chronicles 12-Book Bundle (2013); The Mummy (1989); The Passion of Cleopatra (2017); The Reign of Osiris (2022); The Witching Hour (1990); Lasher (1993); Taltos (1994); Pandora (1998); Vittorio the Vampire (1999); Out of Egypt aka The Young Messiah (2005); The Road to Cana (2008); Angel Time (2009); Of Love and Evil (2010); The Wolf Gift (2012); The Wolves of Midwinter (2013); The Feast of All Saints (1979); Cry to Heaven (1982); Exit to Eden (1985); Belinda (1986); Servant of the Bones (1996); Violin (1997); The Anne Rice Reader (1997); The Master of Rampling Gate (1991); Interview with the Vampire: Claudia's Story (2012); The Wolf Gift: The Graphic Novel (2014); Called Out of Darkness (2008); Anne Rice-Boxed Set (1993); Belinda / Exit to Eden (2010); Into the Mummy's Tomb (1989); The New Gothic (1991); The Ultimate Zombie (1993); The Vampire Omnibus (1995); The Vampire Hunters' Casebook (1996); American Gothic Tales (1996); Vampires, Wine and Roses (1997); Blood Thirst (1997); Freniere (1976); Interview with the Vampire (excerpt) (1976); The Master of Rampling Gate (1984); The Vampire Lestat (excerpt, part 1) (1985); The Vampire Lestat (excerpt, part 2) (1985); Doctor (1990); Ballad of the Sad Rat (1995).

Movies and television:

20/20 / Segment: Vampire Empire (2003); A Place Among the Dead (2020); Ancient Mysteries (1994); Anne Rice's the Talamasca (2025); Biography (2000); Bookmark (1993); CBS News Sunday Morning with Jane Pauley (2006); Charlie Rose (1994–2005); Crossing Over with John Edward (2002); Earth Angels (2001); Eli Roth's History of Horror (2018); Ellen (1996); Entertainment Tonight (2021); Exit to Eden (1994); Great Books (1993–1999); Interview with the Vampire (1994 / 2011); Interview with the Vampire / TV Series (2022–2024); Interview with the Vampire: In the Shadow of the Vampire (2001); ITW ThrillerFest Banquet Awards (2014); La galerie France 5 (2018); Larry King Live (2003); Les Carnets de route de François Busnel (2012); Lestat (2006); Lestat, Louis, and the Vampire Phenomenon (2014); Mayfair Witches (2023 / 2025); MsMojo (2023); Night Bites: Women and Their Vampires (2003); Prisoners of Gravity (1993–1994); Queen of the Damned (2002); Rag and Bone (1998); Scarborough Country (2005); SexTV (2001–2002); Talk Stoop (2016); The 700 Club (2010); The Book Show (2011); The Colbert Report (2012); The Factor (2005); The Feast of All Saints (2001); The Future of Fear (2011); The Hour (2012); The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2012–2013); The Oprah Winfrey Show (1991); The Queen of the Damned (2011); The Real Vampire Files (2010); The Rosie O'Donnell Show (1996–2000); The Undead Series (2016); The Vampire Lestat (2011); The Young Messiah (2016); Tom Cruise: An Eternal Youth (2020); Without Walls (1993).

Born on this day – Stan Dragoti:

Stan Dragoti

Director

Writer

October 4, 1932 – July 13, 2018

Credits:

Necessary Roughness (1991); She's Out of Control (1989); The Man with One Red Shoe (1985); Mr. Mom (1983); Love at First Bite (1979); McCoy (1975); Dirty Little Billy (1972).

Born on this day – George Sidney:

George Sidney

Director

Producer

October 4, 1916 – May 5, 2002

Born on this day – Buster Keaton:

Buster Keaton

Actor

Comedian

Director

Stuntman

October 4, 1895 – February 1, 1966

Born on this day – Damon Runyon:

Damon Runyon

Writer

October 4, 1880 – December 10, 1946

Credits:

The Tents of Trouble (1911); Rhymes of the Firing Line (1912); Guys and Dolls (1932); Little Miss Marker (1934); Money From Home (1935); More Than Somewhat (1937); Furthermore (1938); Take It Easy (1938); My Wife Ethel (1939); The Best of Runyon (1940); Damon Runyon Favorites (1942); Runyon a la Carte (1944); In Our Town (1946); The Three Wise Guys and Other Stories (1946); Poems for Men (1947); More Guys and Dolls (1950); Runyon On Broadway (1950); The Turps (1951); From First to Last (1954); A Treasury of Damon Runyon (1958); Slow Horses and Fast Women (1979); Guys and Dolls of Broadway (1986); Romance in the Roaring Forties and Other Stories (1986); Stories of Damon Runyan (1988); The Bloodhounds of Broadway and Other Stories (1990); Trials and Other Tribulations (1991); The Damon Runyon Omnibus (2001); Guys and Dolls and Other Writings (2008); The Informal Execution of Soupbone Pew (2010); A Slight Case of Murder (1940); My Old Man (1939); Short Takes (1946).

Movies and television:

40 Pounds of Trouble (1962); A New York State of Mind: Written by Damon Runyon (2007); A Slight Case of Murder (1938); A Very Honorable Guy (1934); Arm, aber Ehrlich (1964); At the Round Table (1930); At the Stroke of Twelve (1941); Bloodhounds of Broadway (1952 / 1989); Breslin and Hamill: Deadline Artists (2018); Broadway Stories (1994); Butch Minds the Baby (1942 / 1979); Butch passt aufs Baby auf (1961); Continental Showcase (1966); Daisy Kenyon (1947); Damon Runyon Theater (1955); Die Gräfin vom Naschmarkt (1980); George White's 1935 Scandals (1935); Guys and Dolls (1955); Hold 'Em Yale (1935); Irish Eyes Are Smiling (1944); It Ain't Hay (1943); Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President (1939); Johnny One-Eye (1950); Just a Cute Kid (1940); Lady for a Day (1933); Little Miss Marker (1934 / 1980); Madison Square Garden (1932); Midnight Alibi (1934); Million Dollar Ransom (1934); Miracles: The Canton Godfather (1989); Money from Home (1953); No Ransom (1934); Oh, Baby! (1926); Pocketful of Miracles (1961); Princess O'Hara (1935); Professional Soldier (1935); Racing Lady (1937); Sorrowful Jones (1949); Stop, You're Killing Me (1952); Straight Place and Show (1938); Suspense (1950); Talisman (1968); The 3 Wise Guys (1936); The Big Street (1942); The Ed Sullivan Show (1953); The Ford Television Theatre (1954); The Great White Way (1924); The Lemon Drop Kid (1934 / 1951); The Pride of the Yankees (1942); Three Wise Guys (2004); Tight Shoes (1941).

Recommended reading - The Longest Day: The Classic Epic of D-Day (1959):

The Longest Day: The Classic Epic of D-Day

By Cornelius Ryan.

First published 1959.

Published by Simon & Schuster.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 0671890913

ISBN-13: 978-0671890919

Description:

The unparalleled, classic work of history that recreates the battle that changed World War II – the Allied invasion of Normandy.

The Longest Day is Cornelius Ryan’s unsurpassed account of D-Day, a book that endures as a masterpiece of military history. In this compelling tale of courage and heroism, glory and tragedy, Ryan painstakingly recreates the fateful hours that preceded and followed the massive invasion of Normandy to retell the story of an epic battle that would turn the tide against world fascism and free Europe from the grip of Nazi Germany.

This book, first published in 1959, is a must for anyone who loves history, as well as for anyone who wants to better understand how free nations prevailed at a time when darkness enshrouded the earth.

Betsy Byars, on writing:

Writing is like anything – baseball playing, piano playing, sewing, hammering nails.

The more you work on it, the better you get.

But it seems to take a longer time to get better at writing than hammering nails.

- Betsy Byars.