Recommended reading - Sinful Woman (1948):

Sinful Woman

By James M. Cain.

Published in 1948.

ISBN 13: 9780887390890

ISBN 10: 0887390897

Description:

“Cleverly plotted.” – The New York Times.

“Swift and absorbing.” – The Wall Street Journal.

A starlet comes to Reno to start a new life – and end her old one forever. Sylvia Shoreham’s Hollywood dreams came true long ago. Critically beloved for her beauty, talent, and style, she was on her way to international stardom when a bad contract committed her to seven years of trashy comedies and half-baked melodramas. Her marriage to her producer husband has become a rotten, loveless sham, so Sylvia’s silver screen life verges on a nightmare. To escape her celluloid hell, she has only one option: Forget Hollywood. It’s time for a Reno vacation. She comes to Nevada hoping for a divorce from her husband, Vicki, and an end to her contract, but the ugly side of the business follows her. To protect herself from Vicki, she enlists Nevada’s biggest Sylvia Shoreham fan. He’s six feet tall, strong as a mule, and just happens to be Reno’s sheriff. When her divorce turns into a war, this Hollywood icon will be glad to have him on her side.

On this day in movie history - Bodyguard (1948):

Bodyguard

directed by Richard Fleischer,

written by Fred Niblo Jr. and Harry Essex,

based on a story by George W. George and Robert Altman,

was released in the United States on September 4, 1948.
Music by Paul Sawtell.

Cast:

Lawrence Tierney, Priscilla Lane, Phillip Reed, June Clayworth, Elisabeth Risdon, Steve Brodie, Frank Fenton, Charles Cane, Erville Alderson, Bobby Barber, Charles Bedell, Claire Carleton, Jack Carr, Russ Clark, Marcelle Corday, David Cota, Joe Devlin, Ray Dolciame, Jack Ellis, Dan Foster, Ben Frommer, Jack Gargan, Michael Harvey, Jimmy Hawkins, Pepe Hern, John Indrisano, William J. O'Brien, Lucien Prival, Dewey Robinson, Michael St. Angel, Brick Sullivan, David Thursby, Charles Wagenheim.

On this day in movie history – Pitfall (1948 movie & novel):

Pitfall

directed by André de Toth,

written by Karl Kamb, André de Toth and William Bowers,

based on the novel The Pitfall by Jay Dratler,

was released in the United States on August 24, 1948.
Music by Louis Forbes.

Cast:

Dick Powell, Lizabeth Scott, Jane Wyatt, Raymond Burr, John Litel, Byron Barr, Jimmy Hunt, Ann Doran, Selmer Jackson, Margaret Wells, Dick Wessel.

Recommended reading:

The Pitfall

By Jay Dratler.

Introduction by Jay Dratler Jr. & Timothy J. Lockhart.

Published by Stark House Press.

First published 1939.

ASIN: B0BGMFDDKV

ISBN-13: 979-8886010084

Description:

Jon Forbes is a happily married screenwriter in Hollywood when his cop friend Mac tells him about a gal named Mona he’s interested in. Her husband is in jail, and she knows that Mac is the cop who put him there. So, Mac asks Forbes to set her up for him. Take her out, introduce her to him as a friend.

But that’s where Forbes’s troubles begin. Because happily married or not, Mona gets into his blood immediately. And he into hers. And now he’s not only lying to his wife, but trying to avoid Mac as well. He and Mona have no idea where this will lead, but they both know it can’t end well. But neither of them figure just how far Mac will go to get Forbes out of the way once he discovers his friend’s betrayal. Nor what Forbes will do to protect his own.

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 - The Amazing Mr. X (1948):

The Amazing Mr. X

aka The Spiritualist,

directed by Bernard Vorhaus,

written by Crane Wilbur, Muriel Roy Bolton and Ian McLellan Hunter,

was released in the United States on July 29, 1948.
Music by Alexander Laszlo.

Cast:

Turhan Bey, Lynn Bari, Cathy O'Donnell, Richard Carlson, Donald Curtis, Virginia Gregg, Harry Mendoza, Norma Varden.

Born on this day – Leon Vitali:

Leon Vitali

Actor

Casting director

July 26, 1948 – August 19, 2022

Credits:

Arena: Making 'The Shining' (1980); Barry Lyndon (1975); Comedy Playhouse (1975); Crime of Passion (1973); Crown Court (1972–1973); Director's Commentary: Terror of Frankenstein (2015); Dixon of Dock Green (1975); Edge of Outside (2006); Eyes Wide Shut (1999); Filmworker (2017); Follyfoot (1973); Full Metal Jacket (1987); Hadleigh (1971); Hamlet (1985); Haunted, Horrifying Sounds from Beyond the Grave (2018); I Am What You Imagine (2023); In the Bedroom (2001); Inter Rail (1981); ITV Saturday Night Theatre (1973); Justice (1971); Kubrick Remembered (2014); Kubrick's Universe: The Stanley Kubrick Podcast (2018–2022); Little Children (2006); Long Voyage Out of War (1971); Love Story (1973); Mackan (1977); Mafia Junction (1973); Notorious Woman (1974); Please Sir! (1971); Prometheus: The Life of Balzac (1975); Public Eye (1971); Romeo & Juliet (2013); Room 237 (2012); Secrets of 'The Shining': Live from the First Annual Stanley Film Festival (2013); Shooting 'Full Metal Jacket' (1986); Softly Softly: Task Force (1970); Stanley and Us (1999); Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures (2001); Stanley Kubrick's Boxes (2008); TCM Remembers 2022 (2022); Terror of Frankenstein (1977); The Burning Cold (2022); The Fenn Street Gang (1971–1972); The Roads to Freedom (1970); The Shining (1980); Up the Workers (1973–1976); Van der Valk (1973); Z Cars (1971).

On this day in movie history - Blonde Ice (1948):

Blonde Ice

directed by Jack Bernhard,

written by Kenneth Gamet,

based on the novel Once Too Often by Whitman Chambers,

was released in the United States on July 24, 1948.
Music by Irving Gertz.

Cast:

Robert Paige, Leslie Brooks, Russ Vincent, Michael Whalen, James Griffith, James Griffith, Emory Parnell, Walter Sande, John Holland, Mildred Coles, Selmer Jackson, David Leonard.