Recommending reading - The Switch (1978):

The Switch

By Elmore Leonard.

Published by Mariner Books.

First published 1978.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 0062206133

ISBN-13: 978-0062206138

Description:

“My favorite Leonard book….He writes the way Hammett and Chandler might write today, if they sharpened their senses of ironic humor and grew better ears for dialogue.” – Dallas Morning News.

“The best writer of crime fiction alive.” – Newsweek.

“The greatest crime writer of our time, perhaps ever!” – The New York Times Book Review.

“An absolute master.” – The Detroit News.

Dangerously eccentric characters, razor-sharp black humor, brilliant dialog, and suspense all rolled into one tight package – that’s The Switch, Elmore Leonard’s classic tale of a kidnapping gone wrong…or terribly right, depending on how you look at it. The Grand Master whom the New York Times Book Review calls, “the greatest crime writer of our time, perhaps ever,” has written a wry and twisting tale that any of the other all-time greats – Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, John D. MacDonald, James M. Cain, Robert Parker…every noir author who ever walked a detective, cop, or criminal into a shadowy alley – would be thrilled to call their own. Leonard, the man who has given us U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens (currently starring in TV’s Justified) is at his storytelling best, as a spurned wife decides to take a rightful – and profitable – revenge on her deceiving hubby by teaming up with the two thugs he hired to abduct her.

Ordell Robbie and Louis Gara hit it off in prison, where they were both doing time for grand theft auto. Now that they're out, they're joining forces for one big score. The plan is to kidnap the wife of a wealthy Detroit developer and hold her for ransom. Looks good until they learn the lowlife husband doesn't want his wife back. So it's time for Plan B and the opportunity to make a real killing – with the unlikely help of a beautiful, ticked-off housewife who's hungry for a large helping of sweet revenge.

Recommended reading - The Stand (1978):

The Stand

By Stephen King.

First published 1978.

Published by Doubleday.

Hardcover.

ISBN-10: 0385199570

ISBN-13: 978-0385199575

Description:

Stephen King’s apocalyptic vision of a world blasted by plague and tangled in an elemental struggle between good and evil remains as riveting – and eerily plausible – as when it was first published.

One of The Atlantic’s Great American Novels of the Past 100 Years! This edition includes all of the new and restored material first published in The Stand: The Complete and Uncut Edition.

A patient escapes from a biological testing facility, unknowingly carrying a deadly weapon: a mutated strain of super-flu that will wipe out 99 percent of the world’s population within a few weeks. Those who remain are scared, bewildered, and in need of a leader. Two emerge – Mother Abagail, the benevolent 108-year-old woman who urges them to build a peaceful community in Boulder, Colorado; and Randall Flagg, the nefarious “Dark Man,” who delights in chaos and violence. As the dark man and the peaceful woman gather power, the survivors will have to choose between them – and ultimately decide the fate of all humanity.

On this day in movie history - The Brink’s Job (1978):

The Brink’s Job

directed William Friedkin,

written by Walon Green,

based on the book Big Stick-Up at Brinks by Noel Behn,

was released in the United States on December 8, 1978.
Music by Richard Rodney Bennett.

Cast:

Peter Falk, Peter Boyle, Allen Garfield, Warren Oates, Gena Rowlands, Paul Sorvino, Sheldon Leonard, Gerard Murphy, Kevin O'Connor, Claudia Peluso, Patrick Hines, Malachy McCourt, Walter Klavun, Randy Jurgensen, John Brandon, Robert Prosky.

On this day in music history - Dog & Butterfly, by Heart (1978):

The album Dog & Butterfly,

by Heart,

was released on October 7, 1978.

On this day in movie history - Midnight Express (1978):

Midnight Express

directed by Alan Parker,

written by Oliver Stone,

based on the book by Billy Hayes and William Hoffer,

was released in the United States on October 6, 1978.
Music by Giorgio Moroder.

Cast:

Brad Davis, Irene Miracle, Bo Hopkins, Paolo Bonacelli, Paul L. Smith, Randy Quaid, Norbert Weisser, John Hurt, Kevork Malikyan, Yashaw Adem, Mike Kellin, Franco Diogene, Michael Ensign, Gigi Ballista, Peter Jeffrey, Michael Giannatos.

On this day in television history: Taxi (1978 - 1983):

Taxi

written by James L. Brooks, Stan Daniels, David Davis and Ed. Weinberger,

was released on September 12, 1978, and ran for five seasons, until June 15, 1983.
Theme music by Bob James.

Cast:

Judd Hirsch, Danny DeVito, Marilu Henner, Tony Danza, Andy Kaufman, Christopher Lloyd, J. Alan Thomas, Jeff Conaway, Carol Kane, Randall Carver, T.J. Castronovo, Rhea Perlman, Gene LeBell, Jimmy Lennon Sr., Al Rosen, Louise Lasser, Susan Kellermann, Vincent Schiavelli, Melanie Gaffin, Ed. Weinberger, David Mendenhall, Suzanne Kent, Ellen Regan, Andrea Marcovicci, Julia DeVito, Jack Gilford, Anne De Salvo, Jill Jaress, Marc Anthony Danza, Carmine Caridi, Wendell Wright, Talia Balsam, Michael Mann, Paula Victor, Ted Danson, Rebecca Holden, Bubba Smith, Fran Ryan, Charlayne Woodard, Mandy Patinkin, Arlene Golonka, Gail Edwards, Allan Arbus, Rita Taggart, William Bogert, Dee Wallace, Jeffrey Tambor, Joan Hackett, Ruth Gordon, Scott Brady, Amanda McBroom, Lenny Baker, Constance Forslund, John Dukakis, Nancy Steen, Liz Miller, Susan Sullivan, Priscilla Barnes, Julie Kavner, Beverly Ross, George Wendt, Martha Smith, Barry Nelson, Allen Garfield, Tom Selleck, Joanna Cassidy, Eileen Brennan, Bob Larkin, Tom Hanks, Gayle Hunnicutt, Keenan Wynn, Sherrie Wills, Jean Hayworth, Marcia Wolf, Penny Marshall, Tracey Walter, Scatman Crothers, Cathie Shirriff, Judith-Marie Bergan, Michael Saucedo, Howard Witt, Brad Kesten, Charles Bouvier, Sharon Madden, Elizabeth Hill, Wendy Jewell, Rose Marie Klespitz, Joyce Mandel, Marshall Jay Kaplan, Paul LeClair, Jim Brooks, Debra Satell.

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

The Driver,

directed and written by Walter Hill,

was released in the United States on July 28, 1978.
Music by Dominic Frontiere.

Cast:
Ryan O'Neal, Bruce Dern, Isabelle Adjani, Ronee Blakley, Matt Clark, Felice Orlandi, Joseph Walsh, Rudy Ramos, Denny Macko, Frank Bruno, Will Walker, Sandy Brown Wyeth, Tara King, Richard Carey, Fidel Corona, Victor Gilmour, Nick Dimitri, Bob Minor, Angelo Lamonea, Patrick Burns, Karen Kleiman, Thomas Myers, Bill McConnell, Peter Jason, William Hasley, Allan Graf, Peter Paul Eastman, Raven Grey Eagle, Bob Harks, Orwin C. Harvey, Steve Moriarty, Nico Stevens, Leland Sun, Anna Young.

On this day in movie history - Hooper (1978):

Hooper,

directed by Hal Needham,

written by Thomas Rickman and Bill Kerby,

based on a story by Walt Green, Walter S. Herndon and James Best,

was released in the United States on July 28, 1978.
Music by Bill Justis.

Cast:
Burt Reynolds, Jan-Michael Vincent, Sally Field, Brian Keith, John Marley, Robert Klein, James Best, Adam West, Alfie Wise, Terry Bradshaw, Norman Grabowski, George Furth, Jim Burk, Don 'Red' Barry, Princess O'Mahoney, Robert Tessier, Richard Tyler, Tara Buckman, Hal Floyd, Ray Bickel, Rex Benson, R.G. Allen, Mark Montgomery, Linda McClure, Kent Lane, Christa Linder, Kris Goddard, Robert Hackman, John Marshall, Laura Lizer Sommers, Peter Craig, Soupy Sales, Roxanne Brewer, Alex Brown, William H. Burton Jr., Tom Cloud, Jadie David, David Ellis, Gary Epper, John Escobar, Len Glasgow, Raven Grey Eagle, Stefan Gudju, Freddie Hice, Buddy Joe Hooker, Hugh Hooker, Louise Johnson, Gary McLarty, Mary Moon, Bennie Moore, Dave Mungenast Sr., Sam Neville, Alan Oliney, Bob Orrison, Regis Parton, John Quijada, Ronnie Rondell Jr., Reid Rondell, Tim Rossovich, Fred Scheiwiller, Ron Stein, Charles A. Tamburro, Greg Topper, Jim Whitecloud, Walter Wyatt.

On this day in movie history - Heaven Can Wait (1978):

Heaven Can Wait,

directed by Warren Beatty and Buck Henry,

based on the play by Harry Segall,

was released in the United States on June 28, 1978.
Music by Dave Grusin.

Cast:
Warren Beatty, Julie Christie, James Mason, Jack Warden, Charles Grodin, Dyan Cannon, Buck Henry, Vincent Gardenia, Joseph Maher, Hamilton Camp, Arthur Malet, Stephanie Faracy, Jeannie Linero, Harry D.K. Wong, George J. Manos, Larry Block, Frank Campanella, Bill Sorrells, Dick Enberg, Dolph Sweet, R.G. Armstrong, Ed Peck, John Randolph, Richard O'Brien, Joseph F. Makel, Will Hare, Lee Weaver, Roger Bowen, Keene Curtis, William Larsen, Morgan Farley, William Bogert, Robert E. Leonard, Joel Marston, Earl Montgomery, Robert C. Stevens, Bernie Massa, Peter Tomarken, William Sylvester, Lisa Blake Richards, Charlie Charles, Nick Outin, Jerry Scanlan, Jim Boeke, Marvin Fleming, Deacon Jones, Les Josephson, Jack Snow, Curt Gowdy, Al DeRogatis, Benjie Bancroft, Arline Bletcher, Joe Corolla, Charlie Cowan, Garrett Craig, Paul D'Amato, Robert Fortier, Allan Graf, Bryant Gumbel, Jim Healy, Chick Hearn, Ray Pourchot, Nick Raymond, Elliott Reid, Roberto Rodriguez, Byron Webster.

On this day in movie history - The Cheap Detective (1978):

The Cheap Detective,

directed by Robert Moore,

written by Neil Simon,

was released in the United States on June 23, 1978.
Music by Patrick Williams.

Cast:
Peter Falk, Ann-Margret, Eileen Brennan, Sid Caesar, Stockard Channing, James Coco, Dom DeLuise, Louise Fletcher, John Houseman, Madeline Kahn, Fernando Lamas, Marsha Mason, Phil Silvers, Abe Vigoda, Paul Williams, Nicol Williamson, Emory Bass, Carmine Caridi, James Cromwell, Scatman Crothers, David Ogden Stiers, Vic Tayback, Carole Wells, John Calvin, Barry Michlin, Jonathan Banks, Lew Gallo, Lee McLaughlin, Zale Kessler, Jerrold Ziman, Wally K. Berns, Bella Bruck, Henry Sutton, Maurice Marks, Joe Ross, Dean Perry, George Rondo, Ronald L. Schwary, Louis H. Kelly, Charles Bastin, Armando Gonzales, Gary L. Dyer, Steven Fisher, Laurie Hagen, Lee Menning, Nancy Warren, Nancy Marlowe Coyne, Lynn Griffis, Paula Friel, Sheila Sisco, Lauren Simon, Cindy Lang, Martina Ritt, David Matthau, Gary Alexander, Michele Bernath, George Simmons, Joree Sirianni, Cornell Chulay, Edward Coch Jr., Bob Harks, Paul King, Murray Pollack, Arthur Tovey.

On this day in movie history - The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (1978):

The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith

directed and written by Fred Schepisi,

was released in Australia on June 22, 1978.
Based on the novel by Thomas Keneally.
Inspired by the true 1900 Jimmy Governor murder case.

Music by Bruce Smeaton.

Cast:

Tommy Lewis, Freddy Reynolds, Ray Barrett, Jack Thompson, Angela Punch McGregor, Steve Dodd, Peter Carroll, Ruth Cracknell, Don Crosby, Elizabeth Alexander, Peter Sumner, Tim Robertson, Ray Meagher, Brian Anderson, Jane Harders, Julie Dawson, Jack Charles, Arthur Dignam, Robyn Nevin, Gregory Apps, Jillian Archer, John Bowman, Bryan Brown, Michael Carman, Bill Charlton, Liddy Clark, Aileen Corpus, Matthew Crosby, Marshall Crosby, Zona Dixon, Ian Gilmour, Ken Grant, Alan Hardy, Lauren Hutton, John Jarratt, Phemise Jonas, James Keneally, Thomas Keneally, Hagar Laikburner, Katie Lilley, Rose Lilley, Terry McDermott, Lorraine Mafi-Williams, Ray Marshall, Zac Martin, Justine Saunders, Alexandra Schepisi, Rob Steele, Richard Ussher, Wesley Williams, Barbara Wyndon, Mervyn Drake, Peter Farmer, Kevin Miles, Karlene Rogerson.

On this day in movie history - Document of the Dead (1980):

Document of the Dead,

directed and written by Roy Frumkes,

was released in Germany on June 21, 1981.
Documentary on the making of Dawn of the Dead (1978),

directed by George A. Romero.
Narrated by Susan Tyrrell and Nicole Potter.
Music by Rick Ulfik.

Cast:

Susan Tyrrell, Nicole Potter, George A. Romero, Richard P. Rubinstein, Michael Gornick, Carl Augenstein, Tom Savini, Ken Foree, Scott H. Reiniger, David Emge, John Amplas, Roy Frumkes, Christine Forrest, Gahan Wilson, Steve Bissette, Joe Kane, Gregory Lamberson, Ben Barenholtz, Dave Bartholomew, Pasquale Buba, Butchie   Butchie, Diane Donati, Jimmy 'Killer' Evans, George Haeck, Dave Hawkins, 'Sidecar' John Helbig, Jeanie Jefferies, Tom Kapusta, Katherine Kolbert, Leonard Lies, Doug Mertz, Sukey Raphael, Rudy Ricci, John Rice, Cindy Roman, Lenny Roman, Gaylen Ross, Donna Siegel, Nick Tallo, Danny Vail, Larry Vaira, Sara Venable, Susan Vermazen.