On this day in movie history - Ticket to Heaven (1981):

Ticket to Heaven

directed by Ralph L. Thomas,

written by Josh Freed, Anne Cameron and Ralph L. Thomas,

based on the book Moonwebs: Journey into the Mind of a Cult by Josh Freed,

was released in the United States on October 9, 1981.
Music by Micky Erbe and Maribeth Solomon.

Cast:

Nick Mancuso, Saul Rubinek, Meg Foster, Kim Cattrall, R.H. Thomson, Jennifer Dale, Guy Boyd, Dixie Seatle, Paul Soles, Harvey Atkin, Robert Joy, Stephen Markle, Timothy Webber, Patrick Brymer, Marcia Diamond, Michael Zelniker, Denise Naples, Angelo Rizacos, Cindy Girling, Gina Dick, Chris Britton, Margot Dionne, Claire Pimparé, Lynne Kolber, Lyn Harvey, Josh Freed, Candace O'Connor, Michael Wincott, Doris Petrie, Judy Marshak, David Main, Grant Slater, Les Rubie, Sandra Gies, Susan Hannon, Marie Lynn Hammond, Paul Booth, Charles Gray, Brian Leonard, Ron Nigrini, Craig Stephens.

Recommended reading - Moonwebs (1981):

Moonwebs: Journey into the Mind of a Cult

By Josh Freed.

Filmed as Ticket to Heaven (1981), directed by Ralph L. Thomas.

ISBN 13: 9780920528273

ISBN 10: 0920528279

ASIN: 0920528279

Published by Virgo.

First published 1981.

Paperback.

Description:

INSIDE THE MOONIES!

Benji Miller would still be entwined in the tentacles of the Unification Church, a victim of irresistible brainwashing techniques, if his friends as family had not risked thousands of dollars, criminal charges, and their own sanity, to kidnap Benji and ‘deprogram’ him. Author Josh Freed was with them.

He experienced the first stages of Moonie brainwashing and recounts in detail the harrowing techniques that thousands have fallen victim to. He described methods so powerful that anyone could succumb … your family … your friends … even you …

Praise for the book!

“…thought-provoking and persuasive…” – Books in Canada.

“… breathtaking and hilarious…” – Eve Drobot, The Globe and Mail.

“…this story is a valuable one…” – Quill and Quire.

“…one of the most frightening books on now on the market…” – Kitchener-Waterloo Record.

Praise for the movie!

“…riveting film …explosive depiction of a growing controversial issue.” – Rex Reed, New York Daily News.

“A first class social thriller.” – Variety.

“…completely absorbing…” – Chicago Sun-Times.

“…it is absorbing … touching on the chilling…” – Bruce Kirkland, Toronto Sun.

“An exciting, scary, psychological thriller.” – Martin Knelman, Toronto Life.

Moonwebs first appeared as a series of articles which won the National Newspaper Award as the best news story in Canada.

On this day in movie history - Southern Comfort (1981):

Southern Comfort

directed by Walter Hill,

written by Walter Hill, Michael Kane and David Giler,

was released in the United States on September 25, 1981.
Music by Ry Cooder.

Cast:

Keith Carradine, Powers Boothe, Fred Ward, Franklyn Seales, T.K. Carter, Lewis Smith, Les Lannom, Peter Coyote, Carlos Brown, Brion James, Sonny Landham, Jeanne-Louise Bulliard, Jeannie Spector, Orel Borel.

On this day in music history - Dead Ringer, by Meat Loaf (1981):

The album Dead Ringer,

by Meat Loaf,

was released on September 21, 1981.
Written by Jim Steinman.
Album cover art by Bernie Wrightson.

On this day in movie history - Prince of the City (1981):

Prince of the City,

directed by Sidney Lumet,

written by Sidney Lumet and Jay Presson Allen,

based on the novel by Robert Daley,

was released in the United States on August 26, 1981.
Music by Paul Chihara.

Cast:
Treat Williams, Jerry Orbach, Richard Foronjy, Don Billett, Kenny Marino, Carmine Caridi, Tony Page, Norman Parker, Paul Roebling, Bob Balaban, James Tolkan, Steve Inwood, Lindsay Crouse, Matthew Laurance, Tony Turco, Ronald Maccone, Ron Karabatsos, Tony DiBenedetto, Tony Munafo, Robert Christian, Lee Richardson, Lane Smith, Cosmo Allegretti, Bobby Alto, Michael Beckett, Burton Collins, Henry Ferrentino, Carmine Foresta, Conard Fowkes, Peter Friedman, Peter Michael Goetz, Lance Henriksen, Eddie Jones, Don Leslie, Dana Lorge, Harry Madsen, E.D. Miller, Cynthia Nixon, Ron Perkins, Lionel Pina, José Angel Santana, Walter Brooke, Richard Costabile, Peter Costanza, Peter Gannon, Alan King, Ilana Rapp.

On this day in movie history - An American Werewolf in London (1981):

An American Werewolf in London,

directed and written by John Landis,

was released in the United States on August 21, 1981.
Music by Elmer Bernstein.

Cast:
David Naughton, Griffin Dunne, David Schofield, Joe Belcher, Brian Glover, Lila Kaye, Rik Mayall, Sean Baker, Paddy Ryan, Jenny Agutter, Anne-Marie Davies, John Woodvine, Frank Oz, Don McKillop, Paul Kember, Colin Fernandes, Albert Moses, Jim Henson, Michele Brisigotti, Mark Fisher, Gordon Sterne, Paula Jacobs, Claudine Bowyer, Johanna Crayden, Nina Carter, Geoffrey Burridge, Brenda Cavendish, Christopher Scoular, Mary Tempest, Cynthia Powell, Sydney Bromley, Frank Singuineau, Will Leighton, Michael Carter, Elizabeth Bradley, Rufus Deakin, Lesley Ward, George Hilsdon, Gerry Lewis, Dennis Fraser, Alan Ford, Peter Ellis, Denise Stephens, Christine Hargreaves, Linzi Drew, Lucien Morgan, Dave Cooper, Susan Spencer, Bob Babenia, Ken Sicklen, John Salthouse, John Altman, Keith Hodiak, John Owens, Roger Rowland, Lewis Alexander, Jack Armstrong, Vic Armstrong, Alan Austen, Roy Beck, Kevin Brennan, John Cannon, Ina Clare, Simon van Collem, Harry Fielder, Noel Flanagan, Alan Flyng, Ryan Folsey, Laurie Goode, Dave Griffiths, Brendan Hughes, John Ketteringham, John Landis, Dave Lanning, Aileen Lewis, Tommy Little, Derek Lyons, Lou Morgan, Ralph G. Morse, James Muir, Terence Mustoo, George Oliver, James Payne, Quentin Pierre, Jack Ross, Terry Sach, Alecia St Leger, David Stone, John Timberlake, Terry Walsh.

On this day in music history - Bella Donna, by Stevie Nicks (1981):

The album Bella Donna,

by Stevie Nicks,

was released on July 27, 1981.

On this day in movie history - Wolfen (1981):

Wolfen

directed by Michael Wadleigh,

written by David M. Eyre, Jr., Michael Wadleigh and Eric Roth,

based on the novel The Wolfen by Whitley Strieber,

was released in the United States on July 24, 1981.
Music by James Horner.

Cast:

Albert Finney, Diane Venora, Edward James Olmos, Gregory Hines, Tom Noonan, Dick O'Neill, Dehl Berti, Peter Michael Goetz, Sam Gray, Ralph Bell, Max M. Brown, Anne Marie Pohtamo, Sarah Felder, Reginald VelJohnson, James Tolkan, John McCurry, Chris Manor, Donald Symington, Jeffery Ware, E. Brian Dean, Jeffery V. Thompson, Victor Arnold, Frank Adonis, Richard Minchenberg, Raymond Serra, Thomas Ryan, Tony Latham, David Connell, Jery Hewitt, Roy Brocksmith, Michael Wadleigh, Joaquin Rainbow, John Ferraro, Rino Thunder, Glenn Benoit, Eddy Navas, Ricky Hawkeye, Pete Dyer, Paul Skyhorse, Gordon Eagle, Javier First-Day-Of-Light, George Stonefish, Julie Evening, Jane Lind, Annie Gagen, Max Goff, Cullen Johnson, Robert L. King, Robert Moberly, Caitlin O'Heaney, Tony Stratta, William Sheridan, Linda Gary, Charles Howerton, Burr DeBenning, Corey Burton, Patricia Parris, Andre Stojka, Dan Sturkie, Mel Welles, Diane Bivens, Robert Dahdah, Daniel D. Halleck, Angel Ramirez Jr., Tom Waits.

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.

On this day in movie history - Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981):

Raiders of the Lost Ark,

directed by Steven Spielberg,

written by Lawrence Kasdan,

based on a story by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman,

was released in the United States on June 12, 1981.
Music by John Williams.

Cast:
Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, Ronald Lacey, John Rhys-Davies, Denholm Elliott, Alfred Molina, Wolf Kahler, Anthony Higgins, Vic Tablian, Don Fellows, William Hootkins, Bill Reimbold, Fred Sorenson, Patrick Durkin, Matthew Scurfield, Malcolm Weaver, Sonny Caldinez, Anthony Chinn, Pat Roach, Christopher Frederick, Tutte Lemkow, Ishaq Bux, Kiran Shah, Souad Messaoudi, Terry Richards, Steve Hanson, Frank Marshall, Martin Kreidt, George Harris, Eddie Tagoe, John Rees, Tony Vogel, Ted Grossman, Vic Armstrong, Alan Austen, Roy Beck, Darrell Brook, Russell Brook, Trevor Butterfield, Darin Chambers, Pola Churchill, Peter Diamond, Harry Fielder, Nick Gillard, Romo Gorrara, Martin Grace, Reg Harding, Barrie Holland, Billy Horrigan, Terry Leonard, Rick Lester, Sergio Mioni, Dennis Muren, Robert Nevin, Bob Papenbrook, Chris Parsons, Glenn Randall Jr., Peter Ross-Murray, Michael Sheard, Barry Summerford, Rocky Taylor, Frank Welker, Bill Weston, Paul Weston.