On this day in movie history - Zero Effect (1998 movie & book):

Zero Effect

directed and written by Jake Kasdan,

based on the short story A Scandal in Bohemia by Arthur Conan Doyle,

released in the United States on January 30, 1998.

Music by The Greyboy Allstars.

Cast: Bill Pullman, Ben Stiller, Ryan O’Neal, Kim Dickens, Angela Featherstone, Hugh Ross, Sarah DeVincentis, Matt O’Toole, Michele Mariana, Robert Katims, Tyrone Henry, Aleta Barthell, Tapp Watkins, Wendy Westerwelle, Lauren Hasson, Daniel Pershing, David Doty, J.W. Crawford, Fred Parnes, Luisa Sermol, Marvin LaRoy Sanders, Doug Baldwin, Robert Blanche, Margot Demeter, Jerrell D. Hughes, Jake Kasdan, Bill Kelley, Geno Romo, Galen Schrick.

Recommended reading:

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

By Arthur Conan Doyle.

Published by Dover Publications.

Published 2009.

ISBN-10: 0486474917

ISBN-13: 9780486474915

Description:

Venture back in time to Victorian London to join literature's greatest detective team – the brilliant Sherlock Holmes and his devoted assistant, Dr. Watson – as they investigate a dozen of their best-known cases. Originally published in 1892, this is the first and best collection of stories about the legendary sleuth. It's also the least expensive edition available. Featured tales include several of the author's personal favorites: "A Scandal in Bohemia" – in which a king is blackmailed by a former lover and Holmes matches wits with the only woman to attract his open admiration – plus "The Speckled Band," "The Red-Headed League," and "The Five Orange Pips." Additional mysteries include "The Blue Carbuncle," "The Engineer’s Thumb," "The Beryl Coronet," "The Copper Beeches," and four others.

On this day in movie history - Sliding Doors (1998):

Sliding Doors

directed and written by Peter Howitt,

was released in the United States on January 26, 1998.
Music by David Hirschfelder.

Cast:

Gwyneth Paltrow, John Hannah, John Lynch, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Zara Turner, Douglas McFerran, Paul Brightwell, Nina Young, Virginia McKenna, Kevin McNally, Terry English, Paul Stacey, Peter Howitt, Joanna Roth, Neil Stuke, Theresa Kartell, Evelyn Duah, Linda Broughton, Charlotte Fryer, Pip Miller, Christopher Villiers, Merryn Jones, Ella Jones, Julie McDowell, David Burrows-Sutcliffe, Carlton Jarvis, Jeremy Caleb Johnson, Barry Lee-Thomas, Tim Packham, Alexander Reid, Vivienne Soan.

On this day in movie history - The Prophecy II (1998):

The Prophecy II

directed by Greg Spence,

written by Matt Greenberg and Greg Spence,

was released in the United States on January 20, 1998.
Music by David Williams.

Cast:

Christopher Walken, Russell Wong, Jennifer Beals, Brittany Murphy, Eric Roberts, Glenn Danzig, Steve Hytner, Bruce Abbott, William Prael, Renee Victor, Elizabeth Dennehy, J.G. Hertzler, Nicki Micheaux, Tom Towles, Danny Strong, David Lea, Jenna Rose, Stephen Earnhart, Jake Eberle, James Krieg, Jim White, Ethan Embry, David Kavin, Stephen Ramsey, Gary Paul, Michael Jimenez, Gil Zuniga, Alma Collins, Leonard O. Turner, Paul Muni, Kathryn Morris, Michael Raimi, Louis E. Rosas, Guri Weinberg, Jennifer Wellings.

On this day in music history - A Streetcar Named Desire, by Renée Fleming ... (1998):

A Streetcar Named Desire

Album by Renée Fleming, Elizabeth Futral, Rodney Gilfry, Anthony Dean Griffey, San Francisco Opera and André Previn,

released December 22, 1998.

Track list:

Act One, Scene 1: They Told Me To Take A Streetcar Named Desire - Renee Fleming / Judith Forst; Act One, Scene 1: Blanche! / Stella! Oh Stella! - Elizabeth Futral / Renee Fleming; Act One, Scene 1: I Can Hardly Stand It - Elizabeth Futral; Act One, Scene 1: You Left! I Stayed And I Struggled! - Renee Fleming / Elizabeth Futral; Act One, Scene 1: I... I... I...Took The Blows On My Face - Renee Fleming / Elizabeth Futral; Act One, Scene 1: Hey Mitch! Come Back Here - Rodney Gilfry / Mathew Lord / Anthony Dean Griffey / Judith Forst; Act One, Scene 1: You Must Be Stanley. I’m Blanche - Renee Fleming / Rodney Gilfry / Elizabeth Futral; Act One, Scene 2: Hiyah, Sweetheart - Rodney Gilfry / Elizabeth Futral; Act One, Scene 2: Let Me Enlighten You On A Point Or Two - Rodney Gilfry / Elizabeth Futral; Act One, Scene 2: Hello Stanley. Do You Mind? - Renee Fleming / Rodney Gilfry / Elizabeth Futral; Act One, Scene 2: Here! There Are Thousands Of Papers - Renee Fleming / Rodney Gilfry / Elizabeth Futral; Act One, Scene 3: Well, I Ought To Be Getting Home - Anthony Dean Griffey / Rodney Gilfry / Mathew Lord / Elizabeth Futral / Renee Fleming; Act One, Scene 3: Yes? Oh, Hello - Renee Fleming / Anthony Dean Griffey / Rodney Gilfry / Elizabeth Futral / Mathew Lord; Act One, Scene 3: Stella! / Stanely, That’s My... What Are You Doing - Renee Fleming / Elizabeth Futral / Rodney Gilfry / Mathew Lord / Anthony Dean Griffey / Judith Forst; Act One, Scene 3: Hmmm...  / Stella? Stella? - Elizabeth Futral / Renee Fleming; Act Two, Prologue - Orch Of The San Francisco Oper / Andre Previn; Act Two, Scene 1: Say, Blanche... Do You Happen To know - Rodney Gilfry / Renee Fleming / Elizabeth Futral; Act Two, Scene 1: Soft People Have Got To Shimmer And Glow - Renee Fleming; Act Two, Scene 1: Ah Me... Ah Me... Come In - Renee Fleming / Jeffrey Lentz; Act Two, Scene 1: Don’t You Love These Rainy Afternoons? - Renee Fleming / Jeffrey Lentz; Act Two, Scene 1: What’s The Time? Come On, Mitch - Renee Fleming; Act Two, Scene 2: Fraid You Didn’t Have Much Fun - Renee Fleming / Anthony Dean Griffey; Act Two, Scene 2: I Work Out With The Weights - Anthony Dean Griffey / Renee Fleming; Act Two, Scene 2: Blanche... How Old Are You? - Anthony Dean Griffey / Renee Fleming; Act Two, Scene 2: I’m Not A Boy, She Says - Anthony Dean Griffey; Act Two, Scene 2: He Was A Boy When I Was A Very Young Girl - Renee Fleming / Anthony Dean Griffey; Act Three: Prologue - Orch Of The San Francisco Oper / Andre Previn; Act Three, Scene 1: (Humming) / What’s All This For? - Renee Fleming / Rodney Gilfry / Elizabeth Futral; Act Three, Scene 1: You Should Just Know The Line - Rodney Gilfry / Elizabeth Futral / Renee Fleming; Act Three, Scene 1: What Time Is It? - Renee Fleming / Rodney Gilfry / Elizabeth Futral; Act Three, Scene 1: Stanley, Tell Us A Joke - Renee Fleming / Rodney Gilfry / Elizabeth Futral; Act Three, Scene 1: ‘Stell, It’s Gonna Be All Right - Rodney Gilfry / Elizabeth Futral; Act Three, Scene 1: Yes... Don’t Light These Pretty, Pretty Little Candles - Renee Fleming / Rodney Gilfry / Elizabeth Futral; Act Three, Scene 1: Me And You When We First Met - Rodney Gilfry / Elizabeth Futral; Act Three, Scene 2: Who Is It, Please? - Renee Fleming / Anthony Dean Griffey; Act Three, Scene 2: It’s Dark In Here - Anthony Dean Griffey / Renee Fleming; Act Three, Scene 2: Real! Who Wants Real? - Renee Fleming / Anthony Dean Griffey; Act Three, Scene 2: I Don’t Mind Your Being Older - Anthony Dean Griffey / Renee Fleming / Josepha Gayer; Act Three, Scene 3: How About Taking A Swim - Renee Fleming / Rodney Gilfry; Act Three, Scene 3: Take A Look At Yourself - Rodney Gilfry / Renee Fleming; Act Three, Scene 3: Operator, Operator, Give Me Long Distance - Renee Fleming / Rodney Gilfry; Act Three, Scene 3: Interlude - Orch Of The San Francisco Opera / Andre Previn; Act Three, Scene 4: Damn Your Luck - Mathew Lord / Rodney Gilfry / Anthony Dean Griffey / Judith Forst / Elizabeth Futral; Act Three, Scene 4: I’ll Wear The Cool Yellow Silk - Renee Fleming / Elizabeth Futral / Judith Forst / Rodney Gilfry; Act Three, Scene 4: I Can Smell The Sea Air - Renee Fleming; Act Three, Scene 4: That Must Be Them - Judith Forst / Rodney Gilfry / Renee Fleming / Elizabeth Futral / Lynne Soffer / Anthony Dean Griffey...; Act Three, Scene 4: These Fingernails Need To Be Trimmed - Lynne Soffer / Ray Reinhardt / Renee Fleming.

On this day in movie history - Star Trek: Insurrection (1998):

Star Trek: Insurrection

directed by Jonathan Frakes,

written by Michael Piller,

based on a story by Rick Berman and Michael Piller,

released in the United States on December 11, 1998.

Music by Jerry Goldsmith.

Cast:

Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, F. Murray Abraham, Donna Murphy, Anthony Zerbe, Gregg Henry, Daniel Hugh Kelly, Michael Welch, Mark Deakins, Stephanie Niznik.

On this day in music history - Oceanborn, by Nightwish (1998):

Oceanborn

Album by Nightwish,

released December 7, 1998.

Track list:

Stargazers; Gethsemane; Devil & the Deep Dark Ocean; Sacrament of Wilderness; Passion and the Opera; Swanheart; Moondance (instrumental); The Riddler; The Pharaoh Sails to Orion; Walking in the Air" (Howard Blake cover); Sleeping Sun; Nightquest; A Return to the Sea; Sleeping Sun (live at Summer Breeze Open Air); Swanheart (live at Pakkahuone); The Pharaoh Sails to Orion (live at Pakkahuone).

On this day in movie history - Very Bad Things (1998):

Very Bad Things

directed and written by Peter Berg,

was released in the United States on November 25, 1998.
Music by Stewart Copeland.

Cast:

Jon Favreau, Cameron Diaz, Christian Slater, Rob Brownstein, Jeremy Piven, Daniel Stern, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Joey Zimmerman, Tyler Cole Malinger, Kobe Tai, Carla Scott, Russell B. McKenzie, Pancho Demmings, Blake Gibbons, Angelo Di Mascio Jr., Lawrence Pressman, Steve Fitchpatrick, Brian Grandison, John Cappon, Linda Klein, Byrne Piven, Bob Bancroft, Trey Davis, Marilyn McIntyre, Wrangler (the dog), Trooper (the dog), Peter Berg, Brian Sampson.

On this day in music history - Second Sight, by Jami Sieber (1998):

Second Sight

Album by Jami Sieber,

released November 24, 1998.

Track list:

Edge Of My Soul; Tell It By Heart; Dancing Backwards; Tree Of Love; I Carry You; At The Loft; The Goat’s Earth; Long Past Gone.

On this day in movie history - Lee Marvin: A Personal Portrait by John Boorman (1998):

Lee Marvin: A Personal Portrait by John Boorman

documentary directed and written by John Boorman,

was released in the United States on November 17, 1998.

Music by Richie Buckley.

Cast:

John Boorman, Lee Marvin, Robert Filkosky, William Hurt, Jim Jarmusch, Pamela Marvin, Harry Wilmer, Jess King, Robert James Raymond.

On this day in music history - Live in Italy, by Cecilia Bartoli (1998):

Live in Italy

Album by Cecilia Bartoli,

released October 20, 1998.

Track List:

Tu Ch’hai Le Penne, Amore; Amarilli; Al Fonte, Al Prato; Lascia la Spina; Agitata Da Due Venti; Oiseaux, Si Tous Les Ans, K. 307; La Pastorella, D 528; Havanaise; Hai Luli!; Zaide; Malinconia, Ninfa Gentile; Ma Rendi Pur Contento; La Conocchia; Me Voglio Fa ‘Na Casa; Mi Lagnero Tacendo; Mi Lagnero Tacendo (Il Risentimento); Mi Lagnero Tacendo (Sorzico); L’ Orpheline Du Tyrol; Riedi Al Soglio (Zelmira); Le Nozze Di Figaro: Voi Che Sapete; Canzonetta Spagnuola; Caro Mio Ben; Cinco Canciones Negras, No. 5: Canto Negro; Carmen: Seguedille (Carmen).

On this day in music history - Blues on the Bayou, by B.B. King (1998):

Blues on the Bayou

Album by B.B. King,

released October 20, 1998.

Track List:

Blues Boys Tune; Bad Case of Love; I’ll Survive; Mean Ole’ World; Blues Man; Broken Promise; Darlin’ What Happened; Shake It Up and Go; Blues We Like; Good Man Gone Bad; If I Lost You; Tell Me Baby; I Got Some Outside Help I Don’t Need; Blues in ‘G’; If That Ain’t It I Quit.

On this day in movie history - Phantasm IV: Oblivion (1998):

Phantasm IV: Oblivion

aka Phantasm: Oblivion,

directed and written by Don Coscarelli,

was released in the United States on October 13, 1998.
Music by Christopher L. Stone.

Cast:

A. Michael Baldwin, Reggie Bannister, Bill Thornbury, Heidi Marnhout, Bob Ivy, Angus Scrimm, Christopher L. Stone, Chloe Kay, Sylvia Flammer, David Gasster, Sasha Kassel, Aidan Kassel, Eric Avary, Andy John, George A. Craig, Steven C. Kassel, Robert Gates, Todd Mecklem, Jason Jacobs, Michael Perkins, Colin Jessup, Stanley Potter, Roger Avary, Bret Schweinfurth, Robert Tomaszewski.

Recommended reading - More than Night: Film Noir in Its Contexts (1998):

More than Night: Film Noir in Its Contexts

By James Naremore.

First published 1998.
Published by University of California Press.
Paperback.
ISBN-10: 0520254023
ISBN-13: 978-0520254022

Description:

"Film noir" evokes memories of stylish, cynical, black-and-white movies from the 1940s and '50s―melodramas about private eyes, femmes fatales, criminal gangs, and lovers on the run. James Naremore's prize-winning book discusses these pictures, but also shows that the central term is more complex and paradoxical than we realize. It treats noir as a term in criticism, as an expression of artistic modernism, as a symptom of Hollywood censorship and politics, as a market strategy, as an evolving style, and as an idea that circulates through all the media. This new and expanded edition of More Than Night contains an additional chapter on film noir in the twenty-first century.