On this day in movie history - Duel (1971 movie & novel):

Duel

directed by Steven Spielberg,

written by Richard Matheson,

based on the short story by Richard Matheson,

was released in the United States on November 13, 1971.
Music by Billy Goldenberg.

Cast:

Dennis Weaver, Jacqueline Scott, Eddie Firestone, Lou Frizzell, Gene Dynarski, Lucille Benson, Tim Herbert, Charles Seel, Shirley O'Hara, Alexander Lockwood, Amy Douglass, Dick Whittington, Carey Loftin, Dale Van Sickel, Shawn Steinman.

Recommended reading:

Duel

By Richard Matheson.

Introduction by Ray Bradbury.

Publisher by Tor Books.

Published 1971.

Paperback.

ISBN 13: 9780312878269

ISBN 10: 0312878265

ASIN: B00A2M37ZG

Description:

“Richard Matheson is worth our time, attention, and great affection.” – from the Appreciation by Ray Bradbury.

The late Richard Matheson's classic tale of highway terror.

He was heading west, en route to San Francisco. It was Thursday and unseasonably hot for April. He had his suitcoat off, his tie removed and shirt collar opened, his sleeve cuffs folded back. There was sunlight on his left arm and on part of his lap. He could feel the heat of it through his dark trousers as he drove along the two-lane highway. For the past twenty minutes, he had not seen another vehicle going in either direction.

Then he saw the truck ...

Remember that murderous semi chasing Dennis Weaver down a lonely stretch of desert highway?

Duel, Steven Spielberg's acclaimed first film, was adapted by Richard Matheson from his unforgettable story of the same name.

However, "Duel" is only one of the classic suspense tales in this outstanding collection of stories by the Grand Master of Horror. It also contains Matheson's legendary first story, "Born of Man and Woman," as well as several stunning shockers that inspired memorable episodes of The Twilight Zone, including "Little Girl Lost," "Steel," and "Third from the Sun."

Like Matheson's previous collection, Nightmare at 20,000 Feet, Duel is an indispensable treasure trove of terror from the New York Times bestselling author of I Am Legend and What Dreams May Come.

On this day in music history:

Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin (1971)

Christmas Picante – Remastered by Veeronna Ragone & Sherry Finzer (2019)

Stairway to Heaven

Song by Led Zeppelin,

released November 8, 1971.

Written by Robert Plant and Jimmy Page.

Christmas Picante – Remastered

Album by Veeronna Ragone & Sherry Finzer,

released November 8, 2019.

Track list: O Come All Ye Faithful / O Christmas Tree; Carol of the Bells; Hark the Herald Angels Sing / He is Born; Silent Night; Jingle Bells; O Come O Come Emmanuel; O Holy Night.

Born on this day – Andy Whitfield:

Andy Whitfield

Actor

October 17, 1971 – September 11, 2011

Credits:

18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2012); All Saints (2004); Be Here Now (2015); Chelsea Lately (2010); Gabriel (2007); Gabriel: Behind the Madness (2008); Infini (2015); McLeod's Daughters (2008); Out of the Blue (2008); Packed to the Rafters (2008); Project: Comic-Con (2010); Red Eye w/Tom Shillue (2010); Spartacus (2010); Special Collector's Edition (2011); The 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards (2011); The Clinic (2010); The Osiris Child: Virtual Sets (2017); The Strip (2008).

On this day in movie history - The French Connection (1971):

The French Connection

directed by William Friedkin,

written by Ernest Tidyman,

based on the book by Robin Moore,

was released in the United States on October 9, 1971.
Music by Don Ellis.

Cast:

Gene Hackman, Fernando Rey, Roy Scheider, Tony Lo Bianco, Marcel Bozzuffi, Frédéric de Pasquale, Bill Hickman, Ann Rebbot, Harold Gary, Arlene Farber, Eddie Egan, André Ernotte, Sonny Grosso, Benny Marino, Patrick McDermott, Alan Weeks, Al Fann, Irving Abrahams, Randy Jurgensen, William Coke, The Three Degrees, Frank Adonis, Gilda Albertoni, Robert Dahdah, Frank Durk, Rhina Ferrari, Sarina C. Grant, Joe Lo Grippo, Melonie Haller, Eric Jones, Gladys Lane, Jean Luisi, Doris McCarthy, Charles McGregor, Lora Mitchell, Maureen Mooney, Santos Morales, Silvano Nolemi, Burt Richards, Willy Switkes, Fat Thomas, Robert Weil.

Born on this day – Dolores O'Riordan:

Dolores O'Riordan

Singer

Musician

Songwriter

September 6, 1971 – January 15, 2018

On this day in movie history - Play Misty for Me (1971 movie & novel):

Play Misty for Me

directed by Clint Eastwood,

written by Jo Heims and Dean Riesner,

based on a story by Jo Heims,

was released in the United States on August 4, 1971.
Music by Dee Barton.

Cast:

Clint Eastwood, Jessica Walter, Donna Mills, John Larch, Jack Ging, Irene Hervey, James McEachin, Clarice Taylor, Don Siegel, Duke Everts, George Fargo, Mervin W. Frates, Tim Frawley, Otis Kadani, Britt Lind, Paul E. Lippman, Jack Kosslyn, Ginna Patterson, Malcolm Moran, Cannonball Adderley, Boyd Cabeen, Barbara Chrysler, Don Hamilton, William J. Hanzelka, Robert S. Holman, Johnny Otis, James Rodriguez, Walter Scott, Walter Spear, William Tomlinson.

Recommended reading:

Play Misty for Me

By Paul J. Gillette.

Novelization of the movie Play Misty for Me (1971), directed by Clint Eastwood,

written by Jo Heims and Dean Riesner, based on a story by Jo Heims.

Published by Star Books.

Published 1978.

ISBN-10: 0352302739

ISBN-13: 9780352302731

Description:

A Hitchcockian psychological thriller. – Evening Standard.

The trap is baited …

A beautiful, lonely, possessive girl; a successful, popular disc-jockey.

The trap is set …

A night of casual lust – no complications, no strings attached.

The trap begins to close …

Jealousy and revenge boil over in a nightmare of terror.

Born on this day – Amanda Peterson:

Amanda Peterson

Actress

July 8, 1971 – July 3, 2015

Credits:

A Year in the Life (1986–1988); And the Children Shall Lead (1985); Annie (1982); Best Kept Secrets (1984); Boone (1983–1984); Can't Buy Me Love (1987); Carly Mills (1986); Doogie Howser, M.D. (1990); E! True Hollywood Story (2007); Entertainment Tonight (2015); Explorers (1985); Fatal Charm (1990); Father Murphy (1982); Hell Hath No Fury (1991); Jack's Place (1993); Listen to Me (1989); Love and Betrayal (1989); Posing: Inspired by Three Real Stories (1991); Silver Spoons (1982); TCM Remembers 2015 (2015); The Doctors (2015); The Lawless Land (1988); Windrunner (1994).

On this day in movie history - The Last Run (1971):

The Last Run

directed by Richard Fleischer,

written by Alan Sharp,

was released in the United States on July 7, 1971.
Music by Jerry Goldsmith.

Cast:

George C. Scott, Tony Musante, Trish Van Devere, Colleen Dewhurst, Aldo Sambrell, Antonio Tarruella, Robert Coleby, Pat Zurica, Rocky Taylor, Robert Rietty.

On this day in movie history - Carnal Knowledge (1971):

Carnal Knowledge

directed by Mike Nichols,

written by Jules Feiffer,

was released in the United States on June 30, 1971.

Cast:

Jack Nicholson, Candice Bergen, Art Garfunkel, Ann-Margret, Rita Moreno, Cynthia O'Neal, Carol Kane, Ray Cass.

On this day in movie history - Klute (1971):

Klute

directed by Alan J. Pakula,

written by Andy and Dave Lewis,

was released in the United States on June 25, 1971.
Music by Michael Small.

Cast:

Jane Fonda, Donald Sutherland, Charles Cioffi, Roy Scheider, Dorothy Tristan, Rita Gam, Nathan George, Vivian Nathan, Morris Strassberg, Barry Snider, Betty Murray, Jane White, Shirley Stoler, Robert Milli, Anthony Holland, Fred Burrell, Richard B. Shull, Mary Louise Wilson, Marc Malvin, Rosalind Cash, Jean Stapleton, Jan Fielding, Antonia Rey, Robert Ronan, Richard Russell Ramos, Garrett Cassell, Jerome Collamore, Candy Darling, Kevin Dobson, Veronica Hamel, Richard Jordan, Margaret Linn, Tony Major, Harry Reems, Joe Silver, Ellen Stretton, Lee Wallace.