On this day in movie history - The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (1972):

The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean

directed by John Huston,

written by John Milius,

was released in the United States on December 18, 1972.
Music by Maurice Jarre.

Song: Marmalade, Molasses and Honey by Marilyn Bergman and Alan Bergman, sung by Andy Williams.

Cast:

Paul Newman, Victoria Principal, Anthony Perkins, Ned Beatty, Roddy McDowall, Jacqueline Bisset, Tab Hunter, John Huston, Ava Gardner, Dick Farnsworth, Stacy Keach, Michael Sarrazin, Anthony Zerbe, Mark Headley, Frank Soto, Jim Burk, Matt Clark, Bill McKinney, Steve Kanaly, Francesca Jarvis, Karen Carr, Lee Meza, Dolores Clark, Neil Summers, June Towner, Jack Colvin, Howard Morton, Billy Pearson, Stan Barrett, Dean Casper, Don Starr, Alfred G. Bosnos, John Hudkins, Ken Freehill, Duncan Inches, Rusty Lee, Roy Jenson, Gary Combs, Fred Brookfield, Bennie E. Dobbins, Leroy Johnson, Fred Krone, Terry Leonard, Dean Smith, Margo Epper, Jeannie Epper, Stephanie Epper, Barbara J. Longo, Bruno (as Watch Bear).

On this day in movie history - The Getaway (1972 movie & novel):

The Getaway

directed by Sam Peckinpah,

written by Walter Hill,

based on the novel by Jim Thompson,

was released in the United States on December 13, 1972.
Music by Quincy Jones.

Cast:

Steve McQueen, Ali MacGraw, Ben Johnson, Sally Struthers, Al Lettieri, Slim Pickens, Richard Bright, Jack Dodson, Dub Taylor, Bo Hopkins, Roy Jenson, John Bryson.

Recommended reading:

The Getaway

By Jim Thompson.

First published 1958.

Published by Mulholland Books.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 0316403970

ISBN-13: 978-0316403979

Description:

Doc McCoy is the most skilled criminal alive. But when for the first time in Doc's long criminal career, his shot doesn't hit the mark, everything begins to fall apart. And Doc begins to realize that the perfect bank robbery isn't complete without the perfect getaway to back it up.

THE GETAWAY is the classic story of a bank robbery gone horribly wrong, where the smallest mistakes have catastrophic consequences, and shifting loyalties lead to betrayals and chaos. The basis for the classic Steve McQueen film of the same name, as well as a 1994 remake with Alec Baldwin, Thompson's novel set the bar for every heist story that followed - but as Thompson's proved time and again, nobody's ever done it better than the master.

The Telephone Box (1972) - it’s enough to give you phone phobia!

La Cabina / The Telephone Box (1972)

Shortly before New Year, we watched Phone Booth (2002) again, a great thriller starring Colin Farrell, Forest Whitaker, Katie Holmes, Radha Mitchell, and Kiefer Sutherland.

Farrell plays an unscrupulous New York publicist who answers a ringing phone in a booth he’s standing next to.

The caller warns him he’ll be killed if he attempts to leave the booth … and … the story develops from there.

The claustrophobic atmosphere of Phone Booth reminded me of a 1972 Spanish short movie I saw on TV during the mid-‘80’s called La Cabina (aka The Telephone Box).

A unfortunate guy (José Luis López Vázquez), in a world long before the invention of the cell phone, attempts to make a call in a street booth.

The door closes on him as he discovers the phone doesn’t work.

He tries to leave, but the door is locked tight.

He’s trapped in there a long time as a crowd of onlookers gather … and … the story develops from there.

La Cabina is quirky and dated, but still worth the half-hour to watch, with an original story that delivers a surreal and scary twist.

Although street booths have mostly disappeared, La Cabina is a great reason to own a cell phone … but then you have to consider what happened in Stephen King’s novel: Cell.

Yikes!

I read that folks in Spain, shortly after La Cabina was released on December 13, 1972, took to preventing the door in phone booths from shutting completely by keeping their foot in the gap.

I can’t imagine why.

Born on this day – Kimberly Ann Hébert Gregory:

Kimberly Ann Hébert Gregory

Actress

December 7, 1972 – October 3, 2025

Credits:

All Rise (2019); Arizona (2018); Baby Daddy (2016); Barry (2023); Better Call Saul (2017); Blood Weed (2023); Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2017); Carol & The End of the World (2023); Cartoon Network: Every Time Our Shows Reference Each Other (2021); Celebrity Page (2017); Continuing Fred (2013); Craig Before the Creek (2023); Craig of the Creek (2018–2025); Creek Shorts (2019); Darksiders Genesis (2019); Devious Maids (2014); Do It Yourself (2014); Dollface (2019); Every Other Weekend (2018); Five Feet Apart (2019); Future Man (2020); Genius (2021); Gossip Girl (2007); Grey's Anatomy (2014); Hollywood Today Live (2016); I Didn't Do It (2014); I Think I Love My Wife (2007); Independent Lens (2013); Jessica's Big Little World (2023); John Henry (2020); Kevin (Probably) Saves the World (2017–2018); Law & Order (2010); Medical Police (2020); Miss Virginia (2019); Modern Love (2017); Mother's Milk (2021); New Amsterdam (2008); No Activity (2021); Private Practice (2013); Red Hook Summer (2012); Shameless (2014); Splitting Up Together (2019); Stanistan (2015); Stumptown (2019); The Act (2019); The Big Bang Theory (2014); The Black Donnellys (2007); The Chi (2019); The Guest Book (2017); The Soul Man (2015); Two and a Half Men (2013); Unit Zero (2017); Vice Principals (2016–2017); White Alligator (2012); Winnie Taylor's 4th & Inches (2024).

Born on this day – Lisa Spoonauer:

Lisa Spoonauer

Actress

December 6, 1972 – May 20, 2017

Credits:

Clerks (2001); Bartender (1997); Clerks (1994).

On this day in movie history - The Valachi Papers (movie & book):

The Valachi Papers

directed by Terence Young,

written by Stephen Geller, Massimo De Rita and Dino Maiuri,

based on the book by Peter Maas,

was released in the United States on October 27, 1972.
Music by Armando Trovajoli and Riz Ortolani.

Cast:

Charles Bronson, Lino Ventura, Jill Ireland, Walter Chiari, Joseph Wiseman, Gerald S. O'Loughlin, Amedeo Nazzari, Fausto Tozzi, Pupella Maggio, Angelo Infanti, Guido Leontini, María Baxa, Mario Pilar, Franco Borelli, Alessandro Sperli, Natasha Chevelev, Anthony Dawson, Fred Valleca, John Alarimo, Calogero Azzaretto, Joe Don Baker, Steve Belloise, Angelo Boscariol, Nestore Cavaricci, Massimo Ciprari, Giacomo De Michelis, Bruno Di Luia, Gianni Di Segni, Richard Dunne, Arny Freeman, Alfonso Giganti, Ron Gilbert, Frank Gio, Syl Lamont, Imelde Marani, Isabelle Marchall, Jason McCallum, Franco Ressel, Sabine Sun, Robert Trout, Steve Vignari.

Recommended reading:

The Valachi Papers

By Peter Maas.

Published by Harper Perennial.

First published 1968.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 006050742X

ISBN-13: 978-0060507428

Description:

“As fascinating as fiction, a bloody history of the Mafia as lived by one of its members." – New York Times Book Review.

The First Inside Account of the Mafia.

The Valachi Papers is a biography written by Peter Maas, telling the true story of former mafia member Joe Valachi, a low-ranking member of the New York based Genovese crime family, was the first ever government witness coming from the American Mafia itself. His account of his criminal past revealed many previously unknown details of the Mafia. The book was made into a film (The Valachi Papers), released in 1972, starring Charles Bronson as Valachi. In October 1963, Valachi testified before Senator John L. McClellan's congressional committee on organized crime, the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the U.S. Senate Committee on Government Operations. In the so-called Valachi hearings he gave the American public a firsthand account of Mafia activities in the United States.

In the 1960s a disgruntled soldier in New York's Genovese Crime Family decided to spill his guts. His name was Joseph Valachi. Daring to break the Mob's code of silence for the first time, Valachi detailed the organization of organized crime from the capos, or bosses, of every Family, to the hit men who "clipped" rivals and turncoats. With a phenomenal memory for names, dates, addresses, phone numbers – and where the bodies were buried – Joe Valachi provided the chilling facts that led to the arrest and conviction of America's major crime figures.

The rest is history.

Never again would the Mob be protected by secrecy. For the Mafia, Valachi's name would become synonymous with betrayal. But his stunning exposé broke the back of America's Cosa Nostra and stands today as the classic about America's Mob, a fascinating tale of power and terror, big money, crime. . . and murder.

The bloody history of the Mafia as lived by one of its members.

“A highly readable narrative…. A story littered with bodies and unsolved crimes, betrayals and beatings, oaths, ritual, and revenge.” – Newsweek.

“A classic on crime.” – Life.

On this day in movie history - Un Flic (1972):

Un Flic

English translation: A Cop, aka Dirty Money,

directed and written by Jean-Pierre Melville,

was released in France on October 25, 1972.
Music by Michel Colombier.

Cast:

Alain Delon, Richard Crenna, Catherine Deneuve, Riccardo Cucciolla, Michael Conrad, Paul Crauchet, Simone Valère, André Pousse, Jean Desailly, Valérie Wilson, Henri Marteau, Catherine Rethi, Louis Grandidier, Philippe Gasté, Dominique Zentar, Jako Mica, Jo Tafanelli, Stan Dylik, Georges Florian, Léon Minisini, Roger Fradet, Jacques Galland, Jean-Pierre Posier, Jacques Leroy, Michel Fretault, Gene Moyle, Nicole Témime, Pierre Vaudier.

Born on this day – Jan Schwieterman:

Jan Schwieterman

Actor

September 30, 1972 – February 28, 2025

Credits:

Along the Way (2007); American Intellectuals (1999); Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction / Segment: Rock & Roll Ears (1998); ER (1994); Fallen Arches (1998); Felicity (1998–1999); Forever (1996); Good Burger (1997); Good Burger 2: Good Burger 1 Movie Recap (2024); McKenna (1994); NightMan (1998); Undressed (1999); Warlock III: The End of Innocence (1999); Wasted (1996).

On this day in television history - M*A*S*H (1972 – 1983):

M*A*S*H

developed by Larry Gelbart,

based on the novel MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors by Richard Hooker,

was originally aired in the United States on CBS and ran for eleven seasons,

from September 17, 1972 – February 28, 1983.
Theme music by Johnny Mandel.

Cast:

Alan Alda, Wayne Rogers, McLean Stevenson, Loretta Swit, Larry Linville, Gary Burghoff, Jamie Farr, William Christopher, Mike Farrell, Harry Morgan, David Ogden Stiers, G. W. Bailey, Kellye Nakahara, Jeff Maxwell, Johnny Haymer, Allan Arbus, Edward Winter.