Born on this day – Olivia Hussey:

Olivia Hussey

Actress

April 17, 1951 – December 27, 2024

Credits:

2008 Camie Awards (2008); Acting in the Sixties (1967); All the Right Noises (1970); An Audience with Mel Brooks (1983); Bad English I: Tales of a Son of a Brit (1995); Batman Beyond (2000); Black Christmas (1974); Black Christmas Legacy (2015); Boy Meets World (1997); Chinaman's Chance: America's Other Slaves (2008); Clarkworld (2009); Cup Fever (1965); Dead Man's Island (1996); Death on the Nile (1978); Death on the Nile: Making of Featurette (1978); Distortions (1988); Drama 61-67 (1964); E! True Hollywood Story (1998); El grito (2000); Entertainment Tonight (1986); Fractured Skulls: The Making of Headspace (2006); Greatest Ever Christmas Movies (2013); Halloween: 25 Years of Terror (2006); H-Bomb (1976); Headspace (2005); Hour Magazine (1984); I Married a Princess (2005); Ice Cream Man (1995); Into the Night (1990); Island Prey (2001); It (1990); Ivanhoe (1982); Jesus of Nazareth (1977); Lonesome Dove: The Series (1994); Lost Horizon (1973); Miss Hollywood 1986 (1986); Mother Teresa (2003); Murder, She Wrote (1985); Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation! (2008); Now and Then (1967–1968); Our World (1967); Pinky and the Brain (1998); Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990); Quest of the Delta Knights (1993); Romeo and Juliet (1968); Royal Film Performance 1968: "Romeo and Juliet" by Franco Zeffirelli. London (1968); Sammy LaBella: The Real Skip E. Lowe (2025); Save Me (1994); Seven Days of Grace (2006); Shame, Shame, Shame (1999); Social Suicide (2015); Star Wars: Force Commander (2000); Star Wars: Rogue Squadron (1998); Star Wars: The Old Republic (2011); Superman: The Animated Series (1999); Take a Sapphire (1966); Tax Shelter Terrors (2017); That Was the Week We Watched (2004); The 100 Scariest Movie Moments (2004); The 12 Days of 'Black Christmas' (2006); The 21st Annual Genesis Awards (2007); The Actor's Journey (2011); The Actor's Journey for Kids (2011); The Bastard (1978); The Battle of the Villa Fiorita (1965); The Cat and the Canary (1978); The Corsican Brothers (1985); The Donald O'Connor Show (1968); The Gardener (1998); The Girl on the Balcony: The Life and Work of Actress Olivia Hussey (2025); The Great Christmas Movies (1998); The Jeweller's Shop (1988); The Kid Stays in the Picture (2002); The Last Days of Pompeii (1984); The Lord Protector (1996); The Man with Bogart's Face (1980); The Merv Griffin Show (1971); The Pirate (1978); The Psycho Legacy (2010); The Summertime Killer (1972); The Teen-Age Lovers of Verona (1968); The Thirteenth Day: The Story of Esther (1979); The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1963–1973); Three Priests (2008); Today (1984); Tortilla Heaven (2007); Turkey Shoot (1982); Undeclared War (1990); US Against the World (1977); Virus (1980); Welcome to the Basement (2015–2016); Yesterday and Today (1973).

Born on this day – Tom Noonan:

Tom Noonan

Actor

Director

Writer

April 12, 1951 – February 14, 2026

Credits:

12 Monkeys (2015–2018); A Buck's Worth (2005); A Constant Forge (2000); An Unpredictable Thing (2001); Animals. (2018); Anomalisa (2015); Bar Karma (2011); Behind the scenes with Last Action Hero (1993); Best Defense (1984); Bone Daddy (1991); Bright Falls (2010); Bullet in the Brain (2001); Celebrity Chatter and Things that Matter with Elijah (2023); Cinemassacre's Monster Madness (2007); Collision Course (1989); Corporate Wars: The Making of 'RoboCop 2' (2017); CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2002); Damages (2009–2011); Dimension 404 (2017); Early Edition (1996); Easy Money (1983); Eddie Macon's Run (1983); Eight Legged Freaks (2002); F/X (1986); Fan Expo vs. Comicon (2021); Follow the Prophet (2009); Gloria (1980); Hair High (2004); Heat (1995); Heaven's Gate (1980); Hell on Wheels (2011–2014); Horace and Pete (2016); How and Why (2014); Ice Cream Ants (2006); Inside 'Manhunter' (2001); It's an Invasion! The Making of Eight Legged Freaks (2021); Jonny Zero (2005); June Weddings (2007); Kidnapped (2007); Knockaround Guys (2001); Last Action Hero (1993); Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2003); Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2008); Les Chroniques du Mea (2015); Louie (2010); Madness and Genius (2003); Magritte Moment (2008); Manhunter (1986); Manhunter: Francis Is Gone Forever - An Interview with Tom Noonan (2016); Mercy Seed (2006); Monster Squad Forever! (2007); Monsters (1990 / 1991); Mystery Train / Segment: A Ghost (1989); Night of the Wolf (2014); North & South: Book 3, Heaven & Hell (1994); Pedalfoot (2005); Phoenix (1998); Quarry (2016); Rage! (1980); Red Wind (1991); Roadside Picnic (2016); RoboCop 2 (1990); RoboDoc: The Creation of RoboCop (2023); Seraphim Falls (2006); Siskel & Ebert (1995); Skinhead Requiem (2012); Snow Angels (2007); Stoney (2010); Synecdoche, New York (2008); Tales from the Darkside (1984); The 2009 Independent Spirit Awards (2009); The Alphabet Killer (2008); The Astronaut's Wife (1999); The Beat (2000); The Blacklist (2013); The Cape (2011); The Egoists (2003); The Equalizer (1989); The House of the Devil (2009); The Jury (2004); The Leftovers (2014); The Making of 'Heat' (2005); The Man with One Red Shoe (1985); The Monster Squad (1987); The Opportunists (1999); The Pesky Suitor (1995); The Photographer (2000); The Pilgrim & the Private Eye (2012); The Pledge (2001); The Rendezvous (2010); The Roost (2005); The Shape of Something Squashed (2014); The Ten Million Dollar Getaway (1991); The Wife (1995); The X-Files (1996); They're Made Out of Meat (2005); Tom Goes to the Bar (1985); Tom Works Nights (2012); Top 10 Best Animated Films of the 2010 Decade (2019); Uncovering Wolfen (2025); Wang Dang (1999); What Happened Was... (1994); Where the Wild Things Are (2009); Willie & Phil (1980); Without Your Head (2015); Wolfen (1981); Wonderstruck (2017).

On this day in movie history - The Scarf (1951):

The Scarf

directed and written by Ewald André Dupont,

based on a story by Arthur St. Claire and Lawrence Taylor,

based on a story by Isadore Goldsmith and E.A. Rolfe,

was released in the United States on April 6, 1951.
Music by Herschel Burke Gilbert.

Cast:

John Ireland, Mercedes McCambridge, James Barton, Emlyn Williams, Lloyd Gough, Basil Ruysdael, David Bauer, Harry Shannon, Celia Lovsky, David McMahon, Chubby Johnson, Frank Jenks, Emmett Lynn, Dick Wessel, Frank Jaquet, Iris Adrian.

On this day in movie history - The Enforcer (1951):

The Enforcer

aka Murder, Inc.,

directed by Bretaigne Windust,

written by Martin Rackin,

based on the Murder, Inc. trials (1929 – 1941),

was released in the United States on February 24, 1951.
Music by David Buttolph.

Cast:

Humphrey Bogart, Zero Mostel, Ted de Corsia, Everett Sloane, Roy Roberts, Michael Tolan, King Donovan, Bob Steele, Adelaide Klein, Don Beddoe, Tito Vuolo, John Kellogg, Jack Lambert, Patricia Joiner.

On this day in movie history - Under the Gun (1951):

Under the Gun

directed by Ted Tetzlaff,

written by George Zuckerman,

based on a story by Daniel B. Ullman,

was released in the United States on January 26, 1951.
Music by Milton Rosen.

Cast:

Richard Conte, Audrey Totter, John McIntire, Sam Jaffe, Shepperd Strudwick, Gregg Martell, Phillip Pine, Donald Randolph, Royal Dano, Richard Taber, Dabbs Greer.

Born on this day – Kim Manners:

Kim Manners

Producer

Director

Actor

January 13, 1951 – January 25, 2009

Credits:

21 Jump Street (1987–1990); Alaska (2003); Automan (1983–1984); Baywatch (1989); Booker (1989–1990); Breaking Bad (2009); Broken Badges (1990); Can't Be Stopped (2022); Charlie's Angels (1977–1981); Delta County, U.S.A. (1977); Divorce Wars: A Love Story (1982); Empire (2005); Finder of Lost Loves (1985); Fortune Hunter (1995); Greyhounds (1994); Halls of Anger (1970); Hardcastle and McCormick (1985–1986); Harsh Realm (2000); Hart to Hart (1981); Hawaiian Heat (1984); Headmaster (1970); Hunter (1986–1987); Implanted Memories: 25 Years of the X-Files (2018); J.J. Starbuck (1987–1988); K-9000 (1990); Kate McShane (1975); Locusts (1974); M.A.N.T.I.S. (1994–1995); Matt Houston (1982–1985); Mission: Impossible (1988); Over There (2005); Paradise (1988); Riptide (1985–1986); Scared Silly (1982); Sidekicks (1986–1987); Simon & Simon (1984–1986); Sledge Hammer! (1986); Star Trek: The Next Generation (1988); Stingray (1986–1987); Street Hawk (1985); Supernatural (2005–2009); The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage (1991); The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. (1993–1994); The Cigarette Smoking Man Revealed (1999); The Commish (1991–1994); The Hat Squad (1992–1993); The Killer Who Wouldn't Die (1976); The Pride of Jesse Hallam (1981); The Return of Mod Squad (1979); The Unseen (2016); The Users (1978); The X-Files (1995–2004); Valdez Is Coming (1971); Wiseguy (1988).

On this day in movie history - On Dangerous Ground (1951 movie & novel):

On Dangerous Ground

directed by Nicholas Ray and Ida Lupino,

written by A. I. Bezzerides and Nicholas Ray,

based on the novel Mad with Much Heart by Gerald Butler,

was released in the United States on December 12, 1951.
Music by Bernard Herrmann.

Cast:

Ida Lupino, Robert Ryan, Ward Bond, Charles Kemper, Anthony Ross, Ed Begley, Ian Wolfe, Sumner Williams, Gus Schilling, Frank Ferguson, Cleo Moore, Olive Carey.

Mad with Much Heart

By Gerald Butler.

First published 1945.
ASIN: B0006AQZEY
Published by: Rinehart & company, inc.
Hardcover.

Description:

Filmed as On Dangerous Ground (1951), directed by Nicholas Ray and Ida Lupino.

Born on this day – Treat Williams:

Treat Williams

Actor

Writer

Aviator

December 1, 1951 – June 12, 2023

Born on this day – Jack Vettriano:

Jack Vettriano

Painter

November 17, 1951 – March 1, 2025

Credits:

Books:

A Man's World (2009); Fallen Angels (1999); Jack Vettriano: A Life (2004 / 2007); Lovers and Other Strangers (2003); Studio Life (2008); Women in Love (2009).

Movies and television:

Artworks Scotland (2009); Billy Connolly: Portrait of a Lifetime (2017); Breakfast (2004–2010); Breakfast with Frost (2004); Nighthawks (2014); Sunday AM (2007); The South Bank Show (2004); This Is Your Life (2001); What Do Artists Do All Day? (2013).

Born on this day – Dean Paul Martin:

Dean Paul Martin

Singer

Actor

Pilot

November 17, 1951 – March 21, 1987

Credits:

A Boy... a Girl (1969); Ann-Margret: Hollywood Movie Girls (1980); Backfire (1987); Boys in Blue (1984); California My Way (1974); Dem Tinseltown Homiez, the Hollywood Guys (2023); Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024); Headliners & Legends with (1998–2008); Heart Like a Wheel (1983); Hell Ride (2008); King of Cool (2021); Made in U.S.A. (1987); Misfits of Science (1985–1986); Murderers' Row (1966); Name Droppers (1970); Once Upon a Wheel (1971); Players (1979); Rough Night in Jericho (1967); Shivaree (1965); The Alan Thicke Show (1980); The All New Truth or Consequences (1961); The Dean Martin Show (1967–1971); The Ed Sullivan Show (1965); The Hitchhiker (1987); The Hollywood Palace (1964–1968); The Hollywood Squares (Daytime) (1970); The Joey Bishop Show (1968–1969); The Love Boat (1984); The Merv Griffin Show (1971); The Mike Douglas Show (1979); Today (1985); Where the Action Is (1966–1967).

On this day in movie history - The Racket (1951 movie & books):

The Racket

directed by John Cromwell,

written by William Wister Haines and W.R. Burnett,

based on the play by Bartlett Cormack,

was released in the United States on October 25, 1951.
Music by Paul Sawtell.

Cast:

Robert Mitchum, Lizabeth Scott, Robert Ryan, William Talman, Ray Collins, Joyce MacKenzie, Robert Hutton, Virginia Huston, William Conrad, Walter Sande, Les Tremayne, Don Porter, Walter Baldwin, Brett King, Richard Karlan, Tito Vuolo, Milburn Stone.

Recommended reading:

The Racket

By Bartlett Cormack.

A play in three acts.
ASIN: B0BPM49P6T
Published by Samuel French.
Published 1928.

Adapted to film in 1928 and 1951.

The play The Racket is also available in the following anthology:

Strictly Dishonorable and Other Lost American Plays

Edited by Richard Nelson.

Paperback.
Published 1993.
Published by Theatre Communications Group.
ISBN 13: 9780930452551
ISBN 10: 0930452550
ASIN: 0930452550

Contents: Strictly Dishonorable by Preston Sturges; The Racket by Bartlett Cormack; The Ghost of Yankee Doodle by Sidney Howard and A Slight Case of Murder by Howard Lindsay and Damon Runyon.

On this day in movie history - Detective Story (1951 movie & play):

Detective Story

directed by William Wyler,

written by Robert Wyler and Philip Yordan,

based on the play by Sidney Kingsley,

was released in the United States on October 24, 1951.
Music composed by Miklós Rózsa and Victor Young.

Cast:

Kirk Douglas, Eleanor Parker, William Bendix, Cathy O'Donnell, George Macready, Horace McMahon, Gladys George, Joseph Wiseman, Lee Grant, Gerald Mohr, Frank Faylen, Craig Hill, Michael Strong, Luis Van Rooten, Bert Freed, Warner Anderson, Grandon Rhodes, William 'Bill' Phillips, Russell Evans, Charles Campbell, Edmund Cobb, Ann Codee, Catherine Doucet, Pat Flaherty, Harper Goff, Howard Joslin, Donald Kerr, George Magrill, Mike Mahoney, James Maloney, Lee Miller, Ralph Montgomery, Burt Mustin, Jack Perry, Robert S. Scott, Jack Shea, Kay Wiley.

Recommended reading:

Detective Story

A play in three acts

By Sidney Kingsley.

First published 1949.

Published by Legare Street Press.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 1022892851

ISBN-13: 978-1022892859

Description:

Sidney Kingsley's classic play, first performed on Broadway in 1949, is a gripping and intense drama that explores the seedy underbelly of crime and punishment in New York City. The play's intricate plot, complex characters, and dark themes make it a timeless classic of American theater.

The scene is the squad room and office in a New York police station. The playwright presents a fascinatingly realistic picture of routine cases brought into a metropolitan police station in the course of a day. Out of the welter of human misery, vice and stupidity there emerges the tragic and moving case of a decent young fellow who has stolen money from his employer. Though a woman who is in love with him comes to his help and the employer is offered everything that has been taken from him, the case has fallen into the hands of McLeod, a hardworking detective whose experience in police work has developed in him a mania for punishing all law breakers, whom he regards as incorrigibles. Nothing will satisfy him but brutal punishment. He is at work at the same time on a case involving an abortionist whose attorney, failing to move him by other means, forces McLeod's wife to confess to her husband that she had herself some years before made use of the services of the abortionist in question. Since McLeod worships his wife and finds in her the only happiness of his existence, his world collapses about him. The climax comes when McLeod gets involved with another prisoner who attempts to escape from the squad room with the aid of a revolver taken from one of the detectives. McLeod is shot and killed. This climax is a fitting end to McLeod's career. To the last, he had been bent upon doing what he considered his duty in seeing that criminals obeyed the letter of the law at no matter what cost."

On this day in movie history - The Mob (1951):

The Mob

directed by Robert Parrish,

written by William Bowers,

based on the novel Waterfront by Ferguson Findley,

was released in the United States on September 21, 1951.
Music by George Duning.

Cast:

Broderick Crawford, Betty Buehler, Richard Kiley, Otto Hulett, Matt Crowley, Neville Brand, Ernest Borgnine, Walter Klavun, Frank DeKova, Lynn Baggett, Jean Alexander, Ralph Dumke, John Marley, Charles Bronson, Jay Adler, Emile Meyer, Duke Watson, Carleton Young.