Recommended reading - Twelve Angry Men, by Reginald Rose (1954)

Twelve Angry Men

Teleplay by Reginald Rose.

Introduction by David Mamet.

Filmed as:

12 Angry Men (1957), directed by Sidney Lumet.

12 Angry Men (1997), directed by William Friedkin.

Paperback.

Published by Penguin Classics.

First published 1954.

ISBN 13: 9780143104407

ISBN 10: 0143104403

ASIN: 0143104403

Description:

A blistering character study and an examination of the American melting pot and the judicial system that keeps it in check, Twelve Angry Men holds at its core a deeply patriotic faith in the U.S. legal system. The play centers on Juror Eight, who is at first the sole holdout in an 11-1 guilty vote. Eight sets his sights not on proving the other jurors wrong but rather on getting them to look at the situation in a clear-eyed way not affected by their personal prejudices or biases. Reginald Rose deliberately and carefully peels away the layers of artifice from the men and allows a fuller picture to form of them—and of America, at its best and worst.

After the critically acclaimed teleplay aired in 1954, this landmark American drama went on to become a cinematic masterpiece in 1957 starring Henry Fonda, for which Rose wrote the adaptation. More recently, Twelve Angry Men had a successful, and award-winning, run on Broadway.

On this day in movie history - Blackout (1954):

Blackout

aka Murder by Proxy,

directed by Terence Fisher,

written by Richard Landau,

based on the novel Murder by Proxy by Helen Nielsen,

was released in the United States on March 19, 1954.
Music by Ivor Slaney.

Cast:

Dane Clark, Belinda Lee, Betty Ann Davies, Eleanor Summerfield, Andrew Osborn, Harold Lang, Jill Melford, Alvys Maben, Michael Golden, Nora Gordon, Alfie Bass, Arnold Diamond, Norman Fisher, Ann Gow, Lindsay Hooper, Cleo Laine, Delphi Lawrence, Arthur Lovegrove, Joe Phelps, Olive Sloane.

On this day in movie history - Drive a Crooked Road (1954):

Drive a Crooked Road

directed by William Keighley,

written by Blake Edwards and Richard Quine,

based on a story by James Benson Nablo,

was released in the United States on March 10, 1954.
Music by George Duning.

Cast:

Mickey Rooney, Dianne Foster, Kevin McCarthy, Jack Kelly, Harry Landers, Jerry Paris, Paul Picerni, Dick Crockett, Irene Bolton, John Close, Richard H. Cutting, John Damler, Linda Danson, Diana Dawson, Jean Engstrom, Mike Mahoney, Peggy Maley, Patrick Miller, Mort Mills, George Paul, Jeffrey Stone, Amzie Strickland, Howard Wright.

Recommended reading - Adjustment Team, by Philip K. Dick (1954):

Adjustment Team

By Philip K. Dick.

Filmed as The Adjustment Bureau (2011), directed by George Nolfi.

Published by Read & Co. Classics.

First published 1954.

Illustrated edition.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 1473305543

ISBN-13: 978-1473305540

Description:

Posing the question of who truly controls our destiny, Adjustment Team is a remarkable short story by the prolific science fiction writer Philip K. Dick.

Ed Fletcher is a real estate salesman with a steady routine. When he leaves late for work one day, his entire life is thrust off-kilter. Arriving at his office, Ed realises the entire world has been transformed into a horrifying black-and-white nightmare. Rushing to get help, Ed begins to question the philosophy of life and, on the brink of a psychotic breakdown, he realises that he might not be in charge of his own fate.

First published in 1954, Adjustment Team was adapted into the science fiction romantic thriller The Adjustment Bureau in 2011.

On this day in movie history - Highway Dragnet (1954):

Highway Dragnet

directed by Nathan Juran,

written by Herb Meadow, Jerome Odlum, Fred Eggers and Tom Hubbard,

based on a story by U.S. Andersen and Roger Corman,

was released in the United States on February 7, 1954.
Music by Edward J. Kay.

Cast:

Richard Conte, Joan Bennett, Wanda Hendrix, Reed Hadley, Mary Beth Hughes, Iris Adrian, Harry Harvey, Tom Hubbard, Frank Jenks, Murray Alper, Zon Murray, House Peters Jr., Joseph Crehan, Charles Anthony Hughes.

On this day in movie history - Crime Wave (1953):

Crime Wave

aka The City Is Dark,

directed by Andre DeToth,

was released in the United States on January 12, 1954.
Based on the short story Criminal's Mark,

by John Hawkins and Ward Hawkins,

originally published in The Saturday Evening Post (1950).

Music by David Buttolph.

Cast:

Sterling Hayden, Gene Nelson, Phyllis Kirk, Ted de Corsia, Charles Bronson, Jay Novello, Ned Young, James Bell, Dub Taylor, Gayle Kellogg, Mack Chandler, Timothy Carey, Sandy Sanders, Richard Benjamin, James Hayward, Lyle Latell.

Born on this day – Ray Liotta:

Ray Liotta

Actor

Producer

December 18, 1954 – May 26, 2022

Credits:

Dangerous Waters (2023); Fool's Paradise (2023); Cocaine Bear (2023); Black Bird (2022); Broken Soldier (2022); Hanna (2021); The Many Saints of Newark (2021); No Sudden Move (2021); Syndrome K (2021); Hubie Halloween (2020); Fast Times at Ridgemont High Table Read (2020); Marriage Story (2019); Shades of Blue (2016–2018); The Simpsons (2018); Great News (2018); Young Sheldon (2017); Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2017); The Backup Dancer (2016); Flock of Dudes (2016); Modern Family (2016); Campus Code (2015); Blackway (2015); The Making of the Mob (2015); Texas Rising (2015); Ed Sheeran Feat. Rudimental: Bloodstream (2015); The Money (2014); Be Water (2014); Kill the Messenger (2014); Revenge of the Green Dragons (2014); Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (2014); David Guetta Feat. Sam Martin: Lovers on the Sun (2014); The Identical (2014); Better Living Through Chemistry (2014); Muppets Most Wanted (2014); Suddenly (2013); Pawn (2013); Mob of the Dead (2013); The Devil's in the Details (2013); Abominable Christmas (2012); NTSF:SD:SUV (2012); Dear Dracula (2012); Bad Karma (2012); Yellow (2012); The Place Beyond the Pines (2012); The Iceman (2012); Breathless (2012); Killing Them Softly (2012); Wanderlust (2012); Ticket Out (2012); The League (2011); The Entitled (2011); Field of Dreams 2: Lockout (2011); The River Murders (2011); Street Kings 2: Motor City (2011); All Things Fall Apart (2011); The Details (2011); The Son of No One (2011); Charlie St. Cloud (2010); Hannah Montana (2010); Chasing 3000 (2010); Snowmen (2010); Date Night (2010); Crazy on the Outside (2010); Youth in Revolt (2009); The Line (2009); Powder Blue (2009); Observe and Report (2009); Crossing Over (2009); SpongeBob SquarePants (2008); Hero Wanted (2008); Bee Movie (2007); Battle in Seattle (2007); Smith (2006–2007); In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale (2007); Wild Hogs (2007); Smokin' Aces (2006); Comeback Season (2006); Local Color (2006); Even Money (2006); Slow Burn (2005); Revolver (2005); Control (2004); ER (2004); The Last Shot (2004); Identity (2003); Ticker (2002); Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002); Point of Origin (2002); John Q (2002); Just Shoot Me! (2001–2002); Narc (2002); Family Guy (2001); Blow (2001); Heartbreakers (2001); Hannibal (2001); A Rumor of Angels (2000); Pilgrim (2000); Forever Mine (1999); Muppets from Space (1999); The Rat Pack (1998); Phoenix (1998); Cop Land (1997); Turbulence (1997); Unforgettable (1996); Frasier (1995); Operation Dumbo Drop (1995); Corrina, Corrina (1994); No Escape (1994); Unlawful Entry (1992); Article 99 (1992); Women & Men 2: In Love There Are No Rules (1991); Goodfellas (1990); Field of Dreams (1989); Dominick and Eugene (1988); Arena Brains (1987); Something Wild (1986); Our Family Honor (1985); The New Mike Hammer (1984); The Lonely Lady (1983); Casablanca (1983); St. Elsewhere (1983); Another World (1978–1981); Crazy Times (1981); Hardhat and Legs (1980).

Born on this day – Tony Todd:

Tony Todd

Actor

Producer

Director

December 4, 1954 – November 6, 2024

Credits:

21 Jump Street (1987); 24 (2004–2009); 24 in 24 (2009); 24: Redemption (2008); 84 Charing Cross Road (1987); A Night at the Silent Movie Theater (2012); Actors Entertainment (2015); Adam Green's Scary Sleepover (2016); Agoraphobia (2015); All Gone Wrong (2021); American Conjuring (2016); Andromeda (2002); Angel (2000); Are You Scared 2 (2009); Army of the Damned (2013); Artifact (2018); Babylon 5: A Call to Arms (1999); Back 4 Blood (2021); Bad Manners (2020); Badland (2019); Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2009); Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! (2017); Be My Victim (2018); Beastmaster III: The Eye of Braxus (1996); Beg (2011); Behind the Monsters (2021); Beverly Hills, 90210 (1996); Beyond the Game (2016); Bird (1988); Bitch Ass (2022); Bizarre Transmissions from the Bermuda Triangle (2016); Black Fox (1995); Black Fox: Good Men and Bad (1995); Black Fox: The Price of Peace (1995); Bleeding Hearts (2015); Boogeymen: The Killer Compilation (2001); Boston Legal (2007); Boston Public (2000); Bravest Warriors (2014); Broken Cross (2016); Bryan Loves You (2008); Bulletproof 2 (2020); Burnzy's Last Call (1995); Butter (1998); Call of Duty: Black Ops II (2012); Candy Corn (2019); Candyman (1992 / 2021); Candyman: Day of the Dead (1999); Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh (1995); Catfish Christmas (2022); Caught Up (1998); Celebrity Chatter and Things that Matter with Elijah (2023); Celluloid Wizards in the Video Wasteland: The Saga of Empire Pictures (2024); Central Bark (2020); Changing the Game (2012); Charmed (2002); Checking Out (2005); Chicago Massacre: Richard Speck (2007); Chiller 13: The Decade's Scariest Movie Moments (2010); Chuck (2007–2011); Cold Case (2008); Colors (1988); Contamination: A Convention Story (2012); Control Factor (2003); Cop Rock (1990); Cowboy's Girl (2016); Criminal Justice (1990); Criminal Minds (2005); Crossing Jordan (2002); CSI: Miami (2002); Dark Assassin (2005); Dark Reel (2008); Dead in Love (2009); Dead Meat Horror Awards 2022 (2022); Dead of Summer (2016); Dead of the Nite (2013); Death House (2017); Destination Marfa (2021); Devilreaux (2023); Digging Up the Marrow (2014); Disciples (2014); Dixieland (2023); Dockweiler (2008); Dota 2 (2013); Dota Underlords (2020); Dota: Dragon's Blood (2021–2022); Double Toasted (2022); Dream in American (2011); Drive Me to Vegas and Mars (2018); Driven (1996 / 2015); Dust of War (2013); Eli Roth's History of Horror (2018); Enemy Territory (1987); Entertainment Tonight (2022); Excessive Force (1993); Falling Away (2012); Fatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery (1991); Fate Upside Down (2019); Film Pigs (2014); Final Destination (2000); Final Destination 2 (2003); Final Destination 3 (2006); Final Destination 5 (2011); First Look: Hatchet II (2011); Frankenstein (2015); FRO Thizzle Reviews (2022); From Jennifer (2017); Game Shop (2012); GeekRockTV (2019); Greatest Ever 80s Movies (2007); Greatest Ever Disaster Movies (2007); Greatest Ever Scary Movies (2006–2007); Groovey.TV's Celebration of Badassery Interview Series (2014); H.P. Lovecraft's Celephaïs (2023); Half-Life 2: Episode Two (2007); Half-Life: Alyx (2020); Halloween Wars (2013); Hatchet (2006); Hatchet II (2010); Hatchet II: Behind the Screams (2011); Hatchet II: Meet the FX Team (2011); Hawaii Five-0 (2012); Heads Will Roll (2019); Heart of the Beholder (2005); Hell Fest (2018); Hellblazers (2022); Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1995–1998); Holliston (2012); Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story (2022); Homicide: Life on the Street (1994); Horror Noire (2021); Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror (2019); Horrors of the Zone (2009); House of Grimm (2005); HypaSpace (2005); I Am Fear (2020); I.O.U (2005); Immortal (2019); IMTK (2018); iMurders (2008); Inglorious Treksperts (2023); Insight (2021); Invisible Threads - From Wireless to War (2021); Ivory Hunters (1990); Jack the Reaper (2011); Jake and the Fatman (1990–1991); Joe Bob's Drive-In Theater (1995); Justice League Dark: Apokolips War (2020); Karma's a Bitch (2024); Kate & Allie (1989); Keeper of the City (1991); Kill Her, Not Me (2013); Law & Order (1994); Layers of Fear 2 (2019); Lean on Me (1989); Leap of Faith (2019); Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League vs. Bizarro League (2015); Lego DC Super Heroes: Justice League - Attack of the Legion of Doom! (2015); Live Evil (2015); Love and Curses... And All That Jazz (1991); MacGyver (1989); Made in Hollywood (2018); Marvel Super Hero Squad Online (2011); Masters of Horror (2006); Masters of the Universe: Revelation (2021); Masters of the Universe: Revolution (2024); Matlock (1990); Mercy Street (2006); Minotaur (2006); Murder, She Wrote (1996); Murder-Set-Pieces (2004); New York Undercover (1996); Night Court (1989); Night Night (2021); Night of the Living Dead (1990); Night of the Living Dead: Darkest Dawn (2015); Night Stalker (2005); Nite Tales: The Movie (2008); No me olvidaré de ti (2019); Norman's Corner (1988); NYPD Blue (1997); One for the Fire: The Legacy of 'Night of the Living Dead' (2008); Overdue Rentals (2022); Penance (2009); Peng! Du bist tot! (1987); Platoon (1986); Platoon: Brothers in Arms (2018); Prelude to Axanar (2014); Psych (2009); Radio Nowhere (2024); Realm of Shadows (2024); Red Carpet Report (2012); Reign of the Supermen (2019); Requiem (2018); Riverdale (2017); Room 104 (2017); Sabotage (1996); Sabotage: A Conversation with Tony Todd (2024); Sam Dew: Gone (2020); Scarecrow Slayer (2003); Scary Stories: Dark Web (2020); Scream at the Devil (2015); Scream Awards 2006 (2006); Scream Awards 2007 (2007); Scream Queen Stream (2016–2017); Scream: The TV Series (2019); Shadow Builder (1998); Shadow Puppets (2007); Shadow: Dead Riot (2006); Sidney J. Furie: Fire Up the Carousel! (2024); Silence (2002); Simon & Simon (1987); Sky Sharks (2020); Sleepwalk (1986); Smallville (2001); Smoke and Mirrors: The Story of Tom Savini (2015); Só Visto (2009); Soldier of Fortune, Inc. (1997); Spider-Man 2 (2023); Splatter (2009); Standing in the Shadows of Shadow (2006); Star Trek Online (2010); Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1995–1996); Star Trek: Elite Force II (2003); Star Trek: The Next Generation - Klingon Honor Guard (1998); Star Trek: The Next Generation (1990–1991); Star Trek: Voyager (1995); Stargate SG-1 (2005–2006); Stir (1997); Stoker Hills (2020); Stream (2024); Sunset Heat (1992); Sushi Girl (2012); Sushi Girl: A Documentary (2013); Svengoolie (2006); Sweets to the Sweet: The Candyman Mythos (2004); Sym-Bionic Titan (2010); Tales from the Hood 3 (2020); Ten Dead Men (2008); Terrordrome: Rise of the Boogeymen (2015); The 100 Scariest Movie Moments (2004); The 101 Scariest Horror Movie Moments of All Time (2022); The Absence of Light (2006); The Activated Man (2023); The Angry Geeks Show (2016); The Bride in Black (1990); The Bunker (2024); The Candyman Legacy with Tony Todd (2015); The Changed (2021); The Crow (1994); The Debt Collector (2018); The District (2002–2003); The Dogwalker (1999); The Eden Formula (2006); The Event (2010); The Eyes of Samir (2007); The Family (2011); The Final Wish (2018); The Flash (2015–2023); The Graves (2009); The Horrorhound (2007); The House Next Door: Meet the Blacks 2 (2021); The Legend of Dragoon (1999); The Lockdown Hauntings (2021); The Man from Earth (2007); The Mannsfield 12 (2007); The Nana Project (2023); The Oath: Outbreak (2024); The Orange Box (2007); The Orville (2019); The Pandora Project (1998); The Prophecy: Forsaken (2005); The Quiet Ones (2010); The Reenactment (2021); The Rock (1996); The Secret (2000); The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (2006); The Sun Devil and the Princess (2014); The Thirst: Blood War (2008); The X-Files (1994); The Young and the Restless (2013); Them (1996); Three Chris's (2010); Tom Cool (2009); Tournament of Dreams (2007); Transformers Prime (2012); Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009); Traveling Light (2021); True Women (1997); Turntable (2005); Two Faced (2017); UC: Undercover (2001); Underground Entertainment: The Movie (2011); Univers'l (1997); Vampire in Vegas (2009); VANish (2015); VH-1 Where Are They Now? (1999); Victor Crowley (2017); Voodoo Dawn (1990); Werewolf (1987); West of Hell (2018); Winnie Taylor's 4th & Inches (2024); Wishmaster (1997); Without a Trace (2007); Without Your Head (2020); Worth (2018); Xena: Warrior Princess (1997); Young Justice (2012–2013); Zombie Family (2012); Zombies (2016).

On this day in movie history - Down Three Dark Streets (1954):

Down Three Dark Streets,

directed by Arnold Laven,

written by Gordon Gordon and Bernard C. Schonefeld,

based on the novel Case File: FBI by Mildred Gordon,

was released in the United States on September 3, 1954.
Music by Paul Sawtell.

Cast:
Broderick Crawford, Ruth Roman, Martha Hyer, Marisa Pavan, Max Showalter, Kenneth Tobey, Gene Reynolds, William Johnstone, Harlan Warde, Jay Adler, Claude Akins, Suzanne Alexander, Myra Marsh, Joe Basselt, William Schallert.