On this day in movie history - Straight Time (1978):

Straight Time

directed by Ulu Grosbard and Dustin Hoffman,

written by Alvin Sargent, Edward Bunker and Jeffrey Boam,

based on the novel No Beast So Fierce by Edward Bunker,

was released in the United States on March 17, 1978.
Music by David Shire.

Cast:

Dustin Hoffman, Theresa Russell, Gary Busey, Harry Dean Stanton, M. Emmet Walsh, Rita Taggart, Kathy Bates, Sandy Baron, Jake Busey, Tina Menard, Stephanie Ericsson, Dave Kelly, Don Sommese, Kit Jee Wong, Peter Kwong, Jane Howard, Ronald L. Mellinger, Michael Blakley, John Colton, Edward Bunker, Corey Rand, John Gilgreen, Mary Craven, Peter Jurasik, Enid Hendershot, James Ray, Stuart I. Berton, Barry Cahill, Susan Sherman, Francesca Drown, Emily Le Rue, Ernest Taylor III, Fran Ryan, Bob Jarvis, Mark F. Hill, Mags Kavanaugh, Daniel Nunez, John McKinley Robertson, Mary Margaret Robinson, Deborah Sahagun.

On this day in movie history - The Big Sleep (1978):

The Big Sleep

directed and written by Michael Winner,

based on the novel by Raymond Chandler,

was released in the United States on March 13, 1978.
Narrated by Robert Mitchum.
Music by Jerry Fielding.

Cast:

Robert Mitchum, Sarah Miles, Richard Boone, Candy Clark, Joan Collins, Edward Fox, John Mills, James Stewart, Oliver Reed, Harry Andrews, Colin Blakely, Richard Todd, Diana Quick, James Donald, John Justin, Simon Fisher Turner, Martin Potter.

Recommended reading - The Walton Experience, by Travis Walton (1978):

The Walton Experience

By Travis Walton.

Filmed as Fire in the Sky (1993), directed by Robert Lieberman.

Published by A BERKLEY/MEDALLION BOOK.

First Edition.

Published 1978.

Mass Market Paperback.

ISBN-10: 0425036758

ISBN-13: 978-0425036754

Description:

The Walton Experience.

Seven no-nonsense men. They had just finished a day's work cutting trees in Arizona's Apache Sitgreaves National Forest. As the old pickup maneuvered the dark mountain road, they all saw the brilliant glow suspended in the trees.

Travis Walton got out to investigate. But when the other six went to look for him … he was gone.

Now Travis Walton reveals what happened during the 5 harrowing days of his disappearance.

Recommended reading - The Black Marble, by Joseph Wambaugh (1978):

The Black Marble

By Joseph Wambaugh.

Published by Delacorte Press.

Published 1978.

Hardcover.

ISBN-10: 044000523X

ISBN-13: 978-0440005230

Description:

He is a damned good cop – a burned-out homicide detective wrapped around a Smith & Wesson .38 and a vodka bottle.

She is his partner – twice divorced, nursing a grudge against men, obsessed by the awful temptation of love.

“Terrifying … romantic … beautifully constructed.” – Los Angeles Times.

“Wambaugh sidesteps all the clichés … He has the ability to portray women as flesh-and-blood, thinking human beings.” – The Sun (Baltimore).

“First-rate … Fast, colorful, and gripping … as touching as it is breathlessly entertaining.” – Cosmopolitan.

“Superb . . . his best book!” – St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

On this day in music history - Midnight Believer, by B.B. King (1978):

Midnight Believer

Album by B.B. King,

released February 16, 1978.

Track list:

When It All Comes Down; Midnight Believer; I Just Can't Leave Your Love Alone; Hold on (I Feel Our Love Is Changing); Never Make a Move Too Soon; World Full of Strangers; Let Me Make You Cry a Little Longer; Better Not Look Down; Same Old Story (Same Old Song); Happy Birthday Blues; I've Always Been Lonely; Second Hand Woman; Tonight I'm Gonna Make You a Star; Beginning of the End; Story Everybody Knows; Take It Home.

On this day in movie history - Blue Collar (1978):

Blue Collar

directed by Paul Schrader,

written by Paul Schrader and Leonard Schrader,

based on an article by Sydney A. Glass,

was released in the United States on February 10, 1978.
Music by Jack Nitzsche.

Cast:

Richard Pryor, Harvey Keitel, Yaphet Kotto, Ed Begley Jr., Harry Bellaver, George Memmoli, Lucy Saroyan, Lane Smith, Cliff De Young, Borah Silver, Chip Fields, Harry Northup, Leonard Gaines, Milton Selzer, Sammy Warren, Jimmy Martinez, Jerry Dahlmann, Denny Arnold, Rock Riddle, Stacey Baldwin, Steve Butts, Stephen P. Dunn, Speedy Brown, Davone Florence, Eddie Singleton, Ava Singleton, Vermettya Royster, Jaime Carreire, Victoria McFarland, Gloria Delaney, Rosa Flores, Crystal McCarey, Debra Fay Walker, Gino Ardito, Sean Fallon Walsh, Jerry Snider, Colby Chester, Donl Morse, William Pelt, Tracey Walter, Almeria Quinn, Lee McDonald, Rodney Lee Walker, Jeannine Oppewall, Jimmy Williams.