Born on this day – Solveig Dommartin:

Solveig Dommartin

Actress

Writer

Director

May 16, 1961 – January 11, 2007

Credits:

Ciné star (1987); Cinéma cinémas / segment: Lettre de la Sierra Morena (1983); Commandant Nerval (1996); Eiffel Tower Trilogy: Height, Weight & Gravity (1997); Faraway, So Close! (1993); I Can't Sleep (1994); It Would Only Take a Bridge (1998); Je t'ai dans la peau (1990); Navarro (1995); No Fear, No Die (1990); Spécial cinéma (1987); The Prisoner of St. Petersburg (1989); Tokyo-Ga (1985); Until the End of the World (1991); Wings of Desire (1987).

On this day in movie history - Underworld U.S.A. (1961):

Underworld U.S.A.

aka Underworld USA,

directed and written by Samuel Fuller,

was released in the United States on May 13, 1961.
Based on articles written by Joseph F. Dinneen, published in The Saturday Evening Post (1956).
Music by Harry Sukman.

Cast:

Cliff Robertson, Dolores Dorn, Beatrice Kay, Paul Dubov, Robert Emhardt, Larry Gates, Richard Rust, Gerald Milton, Allan Gruener, David Kent, Tina Pine, Sally Mills, Robert P. Lieb, Neyle Morrow, Henry Norell, Alan Aaronson, James Bacon, Peter Brocco, Donald Douglas, David Fresco, Donald Gamble, Bernie Hamilton, Bob Hopkins, Tom London, Jerry Mann, William Meader, Joni Beth Morris, Cosmo Sardo, Rickie Sorensen, Charles Sterrett, Audrey Swanson.

Born on this day – Lar Park Lincoln:

Lar Park Lincoln

Actress

May 12, 1961 – April 22, 2025

Credits:

Ghost Party (2022); Rose Blood: A Friday the 13th Fan Film (2021); Autumn Road (2021); 13 Fanboy (2021); The Jimmy Star Show with Ron Russell (2021); Slasher Scotty (2021); Brain Burrow: Digging Deep into Psychology and Horror (2021); Black Easter (2021); CF3: Cult Fans, Films & Finds (2020); Assassin 33 A.D. (2020); Expulsion (2020); Sky Sharks (2020); Harvest (2019); Hollywood and Beyond with Steven Brittingham (2018); It's Getting Weirder! The Making of 'House II' (2017); The Pitch (2014); Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th (2013); The Dancer (2011); Texas Frightmare Weekend 2010 (2010); Jason's Destroyer: The Making of Friday the 13th Part VII - The New Blood (2009); His Name Was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13th (2009); Friday the 13th: The New Blood (2009); Gravestoned (2009); From the Dark (2009); Inspector Mom: Kidnapped in Ten Easy Steps (2007); Texas Frightmare Weekend 2006 (2006); ThanXgiving (2006); City of Justice (2005); Crystal Lake Victims Tell All (2004); Beverly Hills, 90210 (1995); Space: Above and Beyond (1995); The Knots Landing Block Party (1993); Murder, She Wrote (1992); Knots Landing (1987–1991); Fatal Charm (1990); Tour of Duty (1989); Freddy's Nightmares (1988); Friday the 13th: The New Blood (1988); Highway to Heaven (1987); Ohara (1987); House II: The Second Story (1987); The Princess Academy (1987); Outlaws (1986); Hunter (1987); Heart of the City (1986); Children of the Night (1985).

Born on this day – Laurent Cantet:

Laurent Cantet

Writer

Director

Cinematographer

April 11, 1961 – April 25, 2024

Credits:

+ of cinema (2001); 120 BPM (2017); 2000 as seen by... An international collection (1998); 7 Days in Havana / Segment: La Fuente (2011); Arthur Rambo (2021); At the Movies (2008); C Tonight (2022); Tonight (or never!) (2008); Ceremonia of clausura - 57º San Sebastián International Film Festival (2009); Ceremonia de inauguración - 57º San Sebastián International Film Festival (2009); This night (1993); Charlotte Rampling, Cinema as an Essential (2022); Cinema 3 (2009–2015); Short Circuit (2001); Días de cine (2009–2024); Enzo (2025); Filmmelier Drops (2018); Filmoteca: Temas de Ciné (2013); Foxfire: Confessions of a Girl Gang (2012); Frankie (2019); Heading South (2005); Human Resources (1999); Games de plage (1995); Merry Christmas (1994); Katie Chats (2014); The gentle drift of a child of Petit-Goâve (2009); The Night of the 7 d'Or (2000); The Night of the Caesars (2001–2009); French cinema is on a business trip (2009); The Amazing Doc (2021); The bloodthirsty (1997); The Extended (1987); Memories of French Cinema, Libération à nos jours (2006); Pierrot le Fou / Cannes Film Festival (2008); Quan Arribin els Marcians (2018); Daily (2022); Return to Ithaca (2014); The 2008 European Film Awards (2008); The 2009 Independent Spirit Awards (2009); The Class (2008); The Workshop (2017); Time Out (2001); Tous à la manif (1994); Vigils of arms (1994); Vertical Living Made Easy (2008).

On this day in television history - The Asphalt Jungle (1961):

The Asphalt Jungle

directed by Herman Hoffman, Gerald Mayer and Joseph M. Newman,

was released in the United States on April 2, 1961 and ran for one season until June 25, 1961.
Inspired by The Asphalt Jungle (1950), directed by John Huston, based on the novel by W. R. Burnett.
Music by Calvin Jackson.

Cast:

Jack Warden, Arch Johnson, William Smith, Dallas Mitchell, George Kennedy, Bernard Kates, Terry Becker, Milton Selzer, Adam Williams, Barnaby Hale, Frank Maxwell, Ted Knight, Norma Crane, Douglas Odney, Robert Vaughn, John Ireland, Skip Homeier, Fritz Weaver, Philip Carey, Gerald S. O'Loughlin, Paul Stewart, Leo Penn, Edward Binns, Robert Douglas, Ellen Madison, Eric Berry, Vera Miles, Beverly Garland, Joyce Meadows, Virginia Christine, Linda Watkins, Ross Elliott, Paul Carr, Malcolm Atterbury, Robert F. Simon, Alexander Scourby, Leora Dana, Sydney Pollack, Lurene Tuttle, Ken Lynch, Eileen Ryan, Val Avery, Steve Brodie, Erin O'Brien, Paul Genge, Suzi Carnell, Carl Don, Gavin MacLeod, Morgan Woodward, Dabbs Greer, Robert H. Harris, Arthur Batanides, Jena Engstrom, Robert Sampson, Emile Meyer, Guy Raymond, Barry Russo, John Astin, Elizabeth MacRae, Josip Elic, Maxine Stuart, Nora Marlowe, Lew Gallo, James Bonnet, Robert Bailey, Jerry Wayne, Zolya Talma, Yvette Vickers, John Harmon, Than Wyenn, Jan Arvan, Hugh Sanders, Jack Reitzen, Mary Lawrence, Charles Cantor, Kay Doubleday, Pat Meikle, Michael Constantine, Ellen Corby, Robert Brubaker, Joan Tompkins, Will J. White, Jay Adler, Frank Behrens, Iphigenie Castiglioni, Ken Tilles, Frank Overton, Henry Beckman, James Seay, Warren J. Kemmerling, Gene Roth, Ollie O'Toole, Lou Krugman, Felix Deebank, Joan Staley, Everett Sloane, Frank Ferguson, Abraham Sofaer, Adrienne Marden, John Zaremba, Brad Morrow, Miriam Goldina, Marianne Stewart, Joseph Mell, Arny Freeman, Clegg Hoyt, David White, Joseph Ruskin, Natalie Trundy, William Keene, Dori Simmons, Michael Parks, Warren Parker, Joe Turkel, James Westerfield, Gene Coogan, Ken Berry, John Davis Chandler, Ian Wolfe, Robert Bice, Richard George.

Recommended reading - Candyleg, by Ovid Demaris (1961):

Candyleg

By Ovid Demaris.

Filmed as Machine Gun McCain (1969), directed by Giuliano Montaldo.

Published by Gold Medal Books.

First published 1961.

ASIN: B002M39644

Mass Market Paperback.

Description:

Irene was damaged goods, passed along by the gang and used according to its whims. No one took her seriously, and her life story read like one long dirty joke. She was blonde dynamite, so they gave her the job of warming up Hank McCain, the master thief who'd just spent 20 years cooling his heels in Alcatraz.

On this day in movie history - Blast of Silence (1961):

Blast of Silence

directed and written by Allen Baron,

was released in the United States on March 20, 1961.
Narrated by Lionel Stander.
Music by Meyer Kupferman.

Cast:

Allen Baron, Molly McCarthy, Larry Tucker, Peter Clune, Danny Meehan, Howard Mann, Charles Creasap, Bill DePrato, Milda Memenas, Joe Bubbico, Ruth Kaner, Gil Rogers, Jerry Douglas, Don Saroyan, Dean Sheldon, Bill Chadney, Ernest Jackson, Erich Kollmar, Betty Kovac, Mel Sponder, Lionel Stander, Bob Taylor.

Born on this day – Dana Reeve:

Dana Reeve

Singer

Actress

March 17, 1961 – March 6, 2006

Credits:

13th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2007); ABC News Breakfast (2024); Above Suspicion (1995); Autopsy: The Last Hours of (2019); Christopher Reeve: A Celebration of Hope (1998); Corazón de... (2005 / 2006); Entertainment Tonight (2006–2024); Everyone's Hero (2006); Feds (1997); Freedom: A History of US (2003); Hope in Motion (2007); Howard Stern (2002); In the Gloaming (1997); Larry King Live (2002); Law & Order (1990–1997); Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001); Lifestories: Families in Crisis (1996); Oz (2000); Smallville (2006–2007); Steel Magnolias (1990); Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (2024); Superman Reborn (2025); Superman Returns (2006); The 56th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1999); The Brooke Ellison Story (2004); The GQ Men of the Year Awards (1997); The Most Fascinating Women of 1996 (1996); The New Medicine (2006); The Oprah Winfrey Show (2005); Vietnam Long Time Coming (1998); Working in the Theatre (1998); You Will Believe: The Cinematic Saga of Superman (2006).

On this day in music history - Runaway, by Del Shannon (1961):

The song Runaway,

by Del Shannon,

was released on February 18, 1961.

Recommended reading - Image of Hell by Steve Fisher (1961):

Image of Hell

By Steve Fisher.

ASIN: B000K0C0GM
Published by Dutton.
First Edition
First published 1961.
Hardcover.

Description:

A psychiatrist takes his revenge on a Hollywood actress for rejecting his advances.

On this day in movie history - La Notte (1961):

La Notte

aka The Night,

directed by Michelangelo Antonioni,

written by Michelangelo Antonioni, Ennio Flaiano and Tonino Guerra,

was released in Italy on January 24, 1961.
Music by Giorgio Gaslini.

Cast:

Marcello Mastroianni, Jeanne Moreau, Monica Vitti, Bernhard Wicki, Rosy Mazzacurati, Maria Pia Luzi, Guido A. Marsan, Vittorio Bertolini, Vincenzo Corbella, Ugo Fortunati, Gitt Magrini, Giorgio Negro, Roberta Speroni, Valentino Bompiani, Roberto Danesi, Umberto Eco, Giansiro Ferrata, Giorgio Gaslini, Alceo Guatelli, Odile Jean, Ottiero Ottieri, Salvatore Quasimodo, Ettore Univelli, Eraldo Volonté.