Recommended reading - The Mammoth Book of Private Eye Stories (1988):

The Mammoth Book of Private Eye Stories

Edited by Bill Pronzini and Martin H. Greenberg.

Published by Running Press.

First published 1988,

This revised edition published in 2004.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 0786713712

ISBN-13: 978-0786713714

Description:

The very best in hardboiled fiction, from such masters as Ross Macdonald, Raymond Chandler, Marcia Muller, Michael Collins, Ed McBain, William Campbell Gault and many more.

With its roots in the American private detective fiction of the 1920s but traceable back as far as Sherlock Holmes, the private eye story remains as popular as ever. Here are 24 of the finest short novels and stories from the hardboiled world of the private eye. The characters in this collection range from the tough, cynical, hard-drinking Philip Marlowe type to hard-hitting female private eyes and the one-armed intellectual Dan Fortune – from masters of the genre past and present.

On this day in movie history - Young Guns (1988):

Young Guns

directed by Christopher Cain,

written by John Fusco,

was released in the United States on August 12, 1988.

Music by Anthony Marinelli and Brian Banks.

Cast:

Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Phillips, Charlie Sheen, Dermot Mulroney, Casey Siemaszko, Terence Stamp, Jack Palance, Terry O'Quinn, Sharon Thomas Cain, Geoffrey Blake, Alice Carter, Brian Keith, Thomas Callaway, Patrick Wayne, Lisa Banes, Sam Gauny, Cody Palance, Gadeek, Victor Izay, Allen Keller, Craig Erickson, Jeremy Lepard, Danny Kamin, Richela Renkun, Pat Finn-Lee, Gary Kanin, Forrest Broadley, Alan Tobin, Joey Hamlin, Loyd Lee Brown, Elena Parres, Tom Cruise, Tomas Moore, John Pattison, W. Thomas Snyder, Lee Sollenberger, Randy Travis.

On this day in movie history - The Blob (1988):

The Blob

directed by Chuck Russell,

written by Chuck Russell and Frank Darabont,

story by Irvine H. Millgate,

based on the original 1958 screenplay by Theodore Simonson and Kay Linaker,

was released in the United States on August 5, 1988.

Music by Michael Hoenig.

Cast:

Kevin Dillon, Shawnee Smith, Donovan Leitch Jr., Jeffrey DeMunn, Candy Clark, Joe Seneca, Del Close, Paul McCrane, Sharon Spelman, Beau Billingslea, Art LaFleur, Ricky Paull Goldin, Robert Axelrod, Bill Moseley, Frank Collison, Michael Kenworthy, Jack Rader, Billy Beck, Wade Mayer, Douglas Emerson, Jack Nance, Charlene Fox, Erika Eleniak, Margaret Smith, Teddy Vincent, Don Brunner II, Clayton Landey, Jacquelyn Masche, Julie McCullough, Daryl Sandy Marsh, Jamison Newlander, Judith Flanagan, Richard Anthony Crenna, Pons Maar, M. James Arnett, Peter Crombie, Rick Avery, David Weininger, Moss Porter, Noble Craig, Opelene Bartley, Portia Griffin, Jennifer Lincoln, Charlie Spradling, Kristen Aldrich, Lilli Fields, Robert Hammond, Michael Lindström, Ann Mills, Lloyd Bryan Molander, Verna Lynn Richland, Chuck Russell.

On this day in movie history - Die Hard (1988 movie & novel):

Die Hard

directed by John McTiernan,

written by Jeb Stuart and Steven E. de Souza,

based on the novel Nothing Lasts Forever by Roderick Thorp,

was released in the United States on July 22, 1988.
Music by Michael Kamen.

Cast:

Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Alexander Godunov, Bonnie Bedelia, Reginald VelJohnson, Paul Gleason, De'voreaux White, William Atherton, Clarence Gilyard, Hart Bochner, James Shigeta, Bruno Doyon, Andreas Wisniewski, Joey Plewa, Lorenzo Caccialanza, Gerard Bonn, Dennis Hayden, Al Leong, Gary Roberts, Hans Buhringer, Wilhelm von Homburg, Robert Davi, Grand L. Bush, Tracy Reiner, Taylor Fry, Noah Land.

Recommended reading:

Nothing Lasts Forever

By Roderick Thorp.

Filmed as Die Hard (1988).

Published by Graymalkin Media.

First published 1979.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 1935169181

ISBN-13: 978-1935169185

Description:

The pulse pounding bestseller that started it all.

Inspiration for the film Die Hard.

The greatest action film of all time. – Entertainment Weekly.

A ferocious, bloody, raging book so single-mindedly brilliant in concept and execution it should be read at a single sitting. – Los Angeles Times.

Keeps us in a state of almost unequaled suspense and excitement! – The New Yorker.

High atop a Los Angeles skyscraper, an office Christmas party turns into a deadly cage-match between a lone New York City cop and a gang of international terrorists. Every action fan knows it could only be the explosive big-screen blockbuster Die Hard. But before Bruce Willis blew away audiences as unstoppable hero John McClane, author Roderick Thorp knocked out thriller readers with the bestseller that started it all.

A dozen heavily armed terrorists have taken hostages, issued demands, and promised bloodshed – all according to plan. But they haven't counted on a death-defying, one-man cavalry with no shoes, no backup, and no intention of going down easily. As hot-headed cops swarm outside, and cold-blooded killers wield machine guns and rocket launchers inside, the stage is set for the ultimate showdown between anti-hero and uber-villains. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good fight … to the death. Ho ho ho!

On this day in movie history - Midnight Run (1988):

Midnight Run

directed by Martin Brest,

written by George Gallo,

was released in the United States on July 20, 1988.
Music by Danny Elfman.

“There’s a couple of nice-lookin’ people here. Better class of people. Your people. Probably all embezzlers, too.” 

– Robert De Niro, as Jack Walsh.

Cast:

Robert De Niro, Charles Grodin, Yaphet Kotto, John Ashton, Dennis Farina, Joe Pantoliano, Richard Foronjy, Robert Miranda, Jack Kehoe, Wendy Phillips, Danielle DuClos, Philip Baker Hall, Tom McCleister, Fran Brill.

On this day in movie history - Akira (1988):

Akira

directed by Katsuhiro Otomo,

written by Katsuhiro Otomo and Izo Hashimoto,

based on the Akira manga comic book series,

written and illustrated by Katsuhiro Otomo,

was released in Japan on July 16, 1988.