On this day in movie history - The Bishop Murder Case (1929):

The Bishop Murder Case

directed by David Burton and Nick Grinde,

written by S.S. Van Dine and Lenore J. Coffee,

based on the novel by S.S. Van Dine,

was released in the United States on December 31, 1929.
Music by William Axt.

Cast:

Basil Rathbone, Leila Hyams, Roland Young, Alec B. Francis, George F. Marion, Zelda Sears, Bodil Rosing, Carroll Nye, Charles Quatermaine, James Donlan, Sidney Bracey, Clarence Geldart, Delmer Daves, Nellie Bly Baker.

Born on this day – John Denver:

John Denver

Singer

Songwriter

Guitarist

Actor

December 31, 1943 – October 12, 1997

Born on this day – Rosalind Cash:

Rosalind Cash

Actress

December 31, 1938 – October 31, 1995

Credits:

227 (1990); A Dangerous Affair (1995); A Different World (1989–1991); A House Divided: Denmark Vesey's Rebellion (1982); A Killing Affair (1977); Afros, Macks & Zodiacs (1995); Amazing Grace (1974); American Playhouse (1983–1985); Barney Miller (1978); Benson (1981); Black Hollywood (1984); Black Journal (1969); Cagney & Lacey (1987); Ceremonies in Dark Old Men (1975); China Beach (1990); Circle of Pain (1996); Cornbread, Earl and Me (1975); Day of Absence (1971); Death Drug (1978); Death Spa (1988); Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde (1976); Falcon Crest (1989); Family Ties (1989); Flashpoint (1979); Forced March (1989); Frank's Place (1988); From a Whisper to a Scream / Segment: Lovecraft's Traveling Amusements (1987); General Hospital (1994–1995); Go Tell It on the Mountain (1985); Good Times (1976); Great Performances (1971); Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones (1980); Hardcastle and McCormick (1984); Harry O (1974); Head of the Class (1990); Hickey & Boggs (1972); Highway to Heaven (1987); Hill Street Blues (1985); Insight (1982); Just an Overnight Guest (1983); Klute (1971); Knight Rider (1986); Knightwatch (1988–1989); Knots Landing (1991); Kojak (1977); L.A. Law (1987); Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993); Melinda (1972); Police Woman (1977); Riptide (1985); Roc (1992–1993); Sister, Sister (1982); Special Bulletin (1983); Starsky and Hutch (1977); Sundance: A Matter of Process (1986); Tales from the Hood (1995); Tequila and Bonetti (1992); The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984); The All-American Boy (1973); The Class of Miss MacMichael (1978); The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1993); The Golden Girls (1988); The Last Man Alive (1971); The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1974); The Merv Griffin Show (1969); The Mighty Pawns (1987); The Monkey Hu$tle (1976); The New Centurions (1972); The Omega Man (1971); The Second Coming (1992); The Sophisticated Gents (1981); The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1969); Thirtysomething (1987–1989); This Is the Life (1985); Tilmon Tempo (1972–1976); Trapper John, M.D. (1982–1984); Uptown Saturday Night (1974); Welcome to the Basement (2018); What's Happening!! (1976–1977); Wrong Is Right (1982); You Must Remember This (1992).

Born on this day – Rex Allen:

Rex Allen

Actor

Singer

Songwriter

December 31, 1920 – December 17, 1999

Born on this day – Suzy Delair:

Suzy Delair

Actress

Comedian

Vaudevillian

December 31, 1917 – March 15, 2020

Credits:

Actor studio (1986); Tabarin's Farewell (1966); Love, laugh and sing: Jacques Offenbach (1957); Antenne 2 Midi (1981); Au cinéma ce soir (1970–1971); At Théâtre ce soir (1974); Aujourd'hui Madame (1970); Botta e risposta (1950) Casanova (1934); Champs-Elysées (1989); Certified copy (1947); Daisy Jones & The Six (2023); Dédé (1934); Défense d'aimer (1942); Chickweed for small birds (1963); Emily in Paris (2020); Ferdinand le noceur (1935); Fernandel the Dressmaker (1956); Gervaise (1956); Henri-Georges Clouzot: The Enlightened Tyrant (2004); Ici Paris (1947); Is Paris Burning? (1966); Jenny Lamour (1947); The crisis is over (1934); The Lady from Maxim's (1933); La joie de vivre (1953–1970); La vie de bohème (1945); Lady Paname (1950); The Vermeil Age (1984); Money by the windows (1972); Le bal des Petits Lits blancs (1949); The last of the six (1941); Le fil à la patte (1954); The Lovers' Riding School (1965); The mythomaniac (1981); Le palmarès des chansons (1965); The Song Chart (1966); The creatures of God (1967); The San Francisco Regatta (1960); The Sisters Hortensia (1935); Gold in the Street (1934); Lost Memories (1950); Cinema Tuesday (1987); Oublie-moi, Mandolin (1976); Through the Window (1948); Poliche (1934); Take The Road (1936); Professor Cupid (1933); Rocco and His Brothers (1960); The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob (1973); The Murderer Lives at Number 21 (1942); Touch du bois (1933); Toute la chanson (1961); Thirty-six Candles (1957–1958); Three... six... new (1937); Un caprice de la Pompadour (1931); Utopia (1950); Violets imperial (1932); White Paws (1949).

Born on this day – Arletta Duncan:

Arletta Duncan

Actress

December 31, 1914 – October 28, 1985

Credits:

Damaged Goods (1937); Mile a Minute Love (1937); Hook and Ladder (1935); Menace (1934); Unknown Blonde (1934); The Gallant Fool (1933); The Fighting Champ (1932); Back Street (1932); Fast Companions (1932); Night World (1932); Frankenstein (1931).

Born on this day – Janet Chandler:

Janet Chandler

Actress

Model

December 31, 1911 – March 16, 1994

Credits:

Rough Riding Ranger (1935); Now or Never (1935); Million Dollar Haul (1935); The Drunkard (1935); Cyclone of the Saddle (1935); Cowboy Holiday (1934); The Great Gamble (1934); Born to Fight (1932); The Golden West (1932); She Wanted a Millionaire (1932); Inez from Hollywood (1924); The Three Musketeers (1921).

Born on this day – Roy Rowland:

Roy Rowland

Director

December 31, 1910 – June 29, 1995

Born on this day – Charles Lederer:

Charles Lederer

Writer

Director

December 31, 1910 – March 5, 1976

Credits:

Ocean's Eleven (2001); Kiss of Death (1995); Kismet (1967); Destry (1964); A Global Affair (1964); Mutiny on the Bounty (1962); Follow That Dream (1962); Ocean's Eleven (1960); Can-Can (1960); It Started with a Kiss (1959); Never Steal Anything Small (1959); The Fiend Who Walked the West (1958); Tip on a Dead Jockey (1957); Matinee Theatre (1957); The Spirit of St. Louis (1957); Gaby (1956); Kismet (1955); TV de Vanguarda (1955); Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953); Monkey Business (1952); Fearless Fagan (1952); O. Henry's Full House (1952); The Thing from Another World (1951); On the Loose (1951); Wabash Avenue (1950); Red, Hot and Blue (1949); I Was a Male War Bride (1949); The Lady from Shanghai (1947); Her Husband's Affairs (1947); Ride the Pink Horse (1947); Kiss of Death (1947); Slightly Dangerous (1943); The Youngest Profession (1943); Fingers at the Window (1942); Love Crazy (1941); Comrade X (1940); I Love You Again (1940); His Girl Friday (1940); Eternally Yours (1939); Broadway Serenade (1939); Within the Law (1939); Double or Nothing (1937); Mountain Music (1937); Baby Face Harrington (1935); Cock of the Air (1932); The Front Page (1931).

Born on this day – Jason Robards:

Jason Robards

Actor

December 31, 1892 – April 4, 1963

Credits:

A Bird in the Hand (1929); A Game of Death (1945); A Likely Story (1947); A Night of Adventure (1944); A Strange Adventure (1932); Abraham Lincoln (1930); Acapulco (1961); Alaska Patrol (1949); All of Me (1934); Badman's Territory (1946); Banjo (1947); Bedlam (1946); Bermuda Mystery (1944); Betrayal from the East (1945); Born to Kill (1947); Break of Hearts (1935); Broadway Bill (1934); Broken Arrow (1958); Burn 'Em Up Barnes (1934); Burn 'Em Up Barnes (1934); Carnival Lady (1933); Casey Jones (1927); Caught Plastered (1931); Charlie Chan Carries On (1931); Cimarron City (1958); Cipher Bureau (1938); Clipped Wings (1937); Cockeyed Cavaliers (1934); Code of the West (1947); Colt .45 (1958); Corruption (1933); Crazy That Way (1930); Criminal Court (1946); Crimson Romance (1934); Damaged Lives (1933); Dance Hall Hostess (1933); Danger Flight (1939); Deadline at Dawn (1946); Desperate (1947); Dick Tracy (1945); Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome (1947); Dick Tracy vs. Cueball (1946); Dick Tracy's Dilemma (1947); Ding Dong Williams (1946); Discarded Lovers (1932); Do or Diet (1947); Docks of San Francisco (1932); Double Decoy (1931); Dynamite (1949); Employees' Entrance (1933); Ex-Bad Boy (1931); Feudin' Rhythm (1949); Fighting Father Dunne (1948); Flight to Fame (1938); Footloose Widows (1926); Gangs of Chicago (1940); General Electric Theater (1958–1961); George White's Scandals (1945); Give Out, Sisters (1942); Guns of Hate (1948); Hills of Kentucky (1927); His Exciting Night (1938); Horsemen of the Sierras (1949); Hurry, Charlie, Hurry (1941); I Live My Life (1935); I Love You Again (1940); I Stole a Million (1939); If You Knew Susie (1948); I'll Build It Myself (1946); I'll Take Milk (1946); Impact (1949); Irish Hearts (1927); Isle of the Dead (1945); It Shouldn't Happen to a Dog (1945); Jaws of Steel (1927); Joan of Ozark (1942); Johnny Angel (1945); Juarez (1939); Klondike (1932); Ladies Courageous (1944); Ladies Crave Excitement (1935); Laramie (1960); Laughing at Trouble (1936); Leave It to Beaver (1961); Let 'em Have It (1935); Let's Go Stepping (1945); Lightnin' (1930); Little Tough Guy (1938); Long Shot (1939); Looking for Trouble (1934); Mademoiselle Fifi (1944); Mama Loves Papa (1945); Man Alive (1945); Man of Conquest (1939); Manhunt (1960); Masked Raiders (1949); Massacre River (1949); Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948); Music in Manhattan (1944); Mystery Plane (1939); Nurse from Brooklyn (1938); On Trial (1928); One Exciting Adventure (1934); Only Yesterday (1933); Paris (1929); Peacock Alley (1930); Polly of the Movies (1927); Post Office Investigator (1949); Prison Break (1938); Public Stenographer (1934); Race Street (1948); Radio Hams (1939); Radio Stars on Parade (1945); Range War (1939); Return of the Bad Men (1948); Riders of the Whistling Pines (1949); Riffraff (1947); Rimfire (1949); Risky Business (1939); Riverboat Rhythm (1946); Robin Hood of El Dorado (1936); Salvation Nell (1931); San Antonio Rose (1941); San Francisco (1936); Scouts to the Rescue (1939); Servant of the People: The Story of the Constitution of the United States (1937); Seven Keys to Baldpate (1947); Shed No Tears (1948); Sherlock Holmes in Washington (1943); Ship of Wanted Men (1933); Silver Queen (1942); Sing a Jingle (1944); Sinners in Paradise (1938); Sisters (1930); Sky Patrol (1939); Slightly Married (1932); Smoky Mountain Melody (1948); Some Mother's Boy (1929); Son of God's Country (1948); South of Death Valley (1949); Stella Maris (1925); Step by Step (1946); Streets of Shanghai (1927); Studio One (1958); Stunt Pilot (1939); Subway Express (1931); Sugarfoot (1958–1960); Sweetheart of the Navy (1937); Swingtime Johnny (1943); Take the Stand (1934); Tales of Wells Fargo (19632); The Adventures of Marco Polo (1938); The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1963); The Bamboo Blonde (1946); The Barbara Stanwyck Show (1961); The Cohens and Kellys (1926); The Conquerors (1932); The Crusades (1935); The Death Ship (1928); The Deputy (1961); The Devil's Mate (1933); The Ed Sullivan Show (1959); The Falcon in San Francisco (1945); The Falcon's Adventure (1946); The Falcon's Alibi (1946); The Farmer's Daughter (1947); The Fatal Hour (1940); The Fighting Marines (1935); The Firefly (1937); The Flying Marine (1929); The Gamblers (1929); The Gilded Lily (1921); The Green Hornet Strikes Again! (1940); The Heart of Maryland (1927); The Howards of Virginia (1940); The Isle of Lost Ships (1929); The Jazz Cinderella (1930); The Judge Steps Out (1948); The Kansan (1943); The Land of Hope (1921); The Last Dance (1930); The Last Days of Pompeii (1935); The Law of the Tong (1931); The Luckiest Girl in the World (1936); The Mad Empress (1939); The Man Who Cried Wolf (1937); The Master Race (1944); The Merry Widow (1934); The Miracle Rider (1935); The Notorious Mr. Monks (1958); The President Vanishes (1934); The Pride of the Legion (1932); The Purple Vigilantes (1938); The Rage of Paris (1938); The Second Woman (1950); The Storm (1938); The Super Snooper (1934); The Third Degree (1926); The Threat (1949); The Way to Love (1933); The Woman Condemned (1934); Thunder Mountain (1947); Torture Money (1937); Tracked by the Police (1927); Traffic with the Devil (1946); Trail Street (1947); Trapped (1931); Trial Marriage (1929); Trifles (1930); Twin Husbands (1946); Under the Tonto Rim (1947); Unholy Love (1932); Union Depot (1932); Vacation in Reno (1946); Vagabond Lady (1935); Variety Time (1948); Vogues of 1938 (1937); Wagon Train (1961); Wagons Westward (1940); Wanderer of the Wasteland (1945); West of the Pecos (1945); Western Heritage (1948); Western Pacific Agent (1950); What a Blonde (1945); What, No Cigarettes? (1945); White Eagle (1932); White Flannels (1927); White Legion (1936); Wild Geese (1927); Wild Horse Mesa (1947); Wild in the Country (1961); Woman Against Woman (1938); Woman Unafraid (1934); Zombies on Broadway (1945); Zorro Rides Again (1937); Zorro's Fighting Legion (1939).

Born on this day – Henri Matisse:

Henri Matisse

Artist

December 31, 1869 – November 3, 1954

Recommended reading - The Bishop Murder Case (1929):

The Bishop Murder Case

By S.S. Van Dine.

# 4 in the Philo Vance mystery series.

Published by Scribners.

First published 1929.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 0684179776

ISBN-13: 978-0684179773

Description:

Master sleuth Philo Vance is baffled by a series of grisly murders committed by the sinister “Bishop,” who uses Mother Goose rhymes for inspiration. The killings are the handiwork of genius gone awry, and the suspects are all distinguished intellectuals of the highest order: a physicist, a mathematician, an astronomer, a chess master. Set against the rich tapestry of New York City in the gilded 1920s, this is a brilliant mystery featuring the debonaire, aristocratic sleuth who was America’s first classic detective.

“So Philo Vance will be darting around again. Good!” – Rex Stout.

“A nightmarish shocker, a dazzling deductive work… Vance’s greatest triumph.” – Chris Steinbrunner.

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.