On this day in the Star Trek universe:

Chaos on the Bridge

documentary directed and written by William Shatner,

was released in the United States on August 25, 2014.

Music by Catalin Marin.

Cast:

William Shatner, D.C. Fontana, David Gerrold, Maurice Hurley, Rick Berman, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Richard Arnold, Jeffrey M. Hayes, John Pike, Susan Sackett, John de Lancie, Denise Crosby, Patrick Stewart, Ronald D. Moore, David Livingston, Herman F. Zimmerman, Michael Okuda, Brannon Braga, Jonathan Frakes, Tracy Tormé, Melinda M. Snodgrass, Lolita Fatjo, Gates McFadden, Diana Muldaur, Leslie Moonves, Ira Steven Behr, Michael Dorn.

On this day in music history - Verismo, by Renée Fleming and Marco Armiliato (2009):

Verismo

Album by Renée Fleming and Marco Armiliato,
released August 25, 2009.

Track list:

Puccini: La Bohème / Act 1 - “Sì. Mi chiamano Mimì”; Leoncavallo: La bohème / Act 1 - Musette svaria sulla bocca viva; Leoncavallo: La bohème / Act 4 - Mimi Pinson la biondinetta; Puccini: La Bohème / Act 3 - Addio! Che vai?...Donde lieta uscì; Leoncavallo: Zazà - Edited Renzo Bianchi (1947 Version) / Act 3 - Angioletto, il tuo nome?; Puccini: Manon Lescaut - Revised by Roger Parker / Act 4 - Sola, perduta, abbandonata; Zandonai: Conchita / Act 1 - Ier dalla fabbrica a Triana; Cilea: Gloria / Act 2 - O mia cuna fiorita; Giordano: Fedora / Act 3 - Tutto tramonta; Puccini: Turandot / Act 3 - “Tu che di gel sei cinta”; Giordano: Siberia - Nel so amore; Puccini: La Rondine / Act 2 - “Bevo al tuo fresco sorriso”.

On this day in movie history - Smog (1962):

Smog

directed by Franco Rossi,

written by Franco Brusati, Pasquale Festa Campanile, Massimo Franciosa and Ugo Guerra,

based on a story by Pier Maria Pasinetti, Franco Rossi and Gian Domenico Giagni,

was released at the Venice Film Festival in Italy, on August 25, 1962.
Music by Piero Umiliani.

Cast:

Enrico Maria Salerno, Annie Girardot, Renato Salvatori, Susan Spafford, Isabella Albonico, Joan Houseman, Len Lesser, Howard Koch, Fred Catania, Max Showalter, Peter Opp, Graziella Granata, Loredana Nusciak, M. Brigham, Billie Scheibner, R.E. Brigham, Helen Pallack, Bernard Judge, Dennis Diggin, Peggy Moffitt, Suzanne Reynolds, Jerry Ray, John Phillip Law.

On this day in movie history - Madame Bovary (1949):

Madame Bovary

directed by Vincente Minnelli,

written by Robert Ardrey,

based on the novel by Gustave Flaubert,

was released in the United States on August 25, 1949.
Music by Miklós Rózsa.

Cast:

Jennifer Jones, James Mason, Van Heflin, Louis Jourdan, Alf Kjellin, Gene Lockhart, Frank Allenby, Gladys Cooper, John Abbott, Harry Morgan, George Zucco, Ellen Corby, Eduard Franz, Henri Letondal, Esther Somers, Frederic Tozere, Paul Cavanagh, Vernon Steele, Dawn Kinney.

On this day in movie history - The Dragon Murder Case (1934):

The Dragon Murder Case

directed by H. Bruce Humberstone,

written by F. Hugh Herbert, Robert N. Lee and Rian James,

based on the novel by S. S. Van Dine,

was released in the United States on August 25, 1934.
Music by Bernhard Kaun.

Cast:

Warren William, Margaret Lindsay, Lyle Talbot, Eugene Pallette, Helen Lowell, Robert McWade, Robert Barrat, Dorothy Tree, George E. Stone, Etienne Girardot, George Meeker, Robert Warwick, William B. Davidson, Arthur Aylesworth, Charles C. Wilson.

Born on this day – Martin Amis:

Martin Amis

Writer

August 25, 1949 – May 19, 2023

Born on this day – Marshall Brickman:

Marshall Brickman

Writer

Director

Producer

August 25, 1939 – November 29, 2024

Credits:

50 Films to See Before You Die (2006); A Decade Under the Influence (2003); American Masters (2011); Ann in Blue (1974); Annie Hall (1977); Candid Camera (1960); Conversations for our Daughters (2021); Film Genre (2002); For the Boys (1991); Funny (1988); Hootenanny (1963); Intersection (1994); Jersey Boys (2014); Jersey Boys Live! (2022); Julie: My Favorite Things (1975); Late Night with David Letterman (1983); Lovesick (1983); Manhattan (1979); Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993); Off Campus (1977); Out to Sea (1997); Rock Family Trees (1998); Simon (1980); Sister Mary Explains It All (2001); Sleeper (1973); Sounds from a Town I Love (2001); Super Size Me (2004); That's Adequate (1989); The 24th Annual Guild Hall Academy of the Arts Lifetime Achievement Awards (2009); The 47th Annual Writers Guild Awards (1995); The 50th Annual Academy Awards (1978); The 60th Annual Tony Awards (2006); The Carson Podcast (2014–2018); The Cemetery Club (1993); The Dick Cavett Show (1971–1978); The Johnny Carson Special (1969); The Kraft Music Hall (1967); The Manhattan Project (1986); The Merv Griffin Show (1965); The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence (1975); The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1963–1970); We Interrupt This Week (1978).

Born on this day – Frederick Forsyth:

Frederick Forsyth

Writer

Producer

Actor

August 25, 1938 – June 9, 2025

Credits:

Books:

A Tangled Web (2005); Avenger (2003); Emeka (1991); English Crime Stories of Today (1993); Great Flying Stories (1991); Icon (1996); No Comebacks (1982); Revenge of Odessa (2025); The Afghan (2006); The Art of the Matter (2001); The Biafra Story: The Making of an African Legend (1969); The Citizen (2000); The Cobra (2010); The Day of the Jackal (1971); The Deceiver (1991); The Devil's Alternative (1979); The Dogs of War (1974); The Emperor (1982); The Fist of God (1994); The Fourth Protocol (1984); The Fox (2018); The Kill List (2013); The Miracle (2000); The Negotiator (1989); The Odessa File (1972); The Outsider: My Life in Intrigue (2015); The Phantom of Manhattan (1996); The Shepherd (1975); The Veteran and Other Stories (2020); Used In Evidence (2005); Whispering Wind (2000).

Movies and television:

8 al dia (2014); A fondo (1980); A Little Piece of Sunshine (1990); Alexandria (2004); Avenger (2006); Boulevard Bio (1991–2003); Breakfast (2001–2010); Bücherjournal (2015); Code Name: Wolverine (1996); Crime in the City (1987); Cry of the Innocent (1980); DAS! (2000–2015); De película (1987); Dinner with Portillo (2003); Dispatches (2006); Frederick Forsyth Presents (1989–1990); Friday Night, Saturday Morning (1980); Good Morning Australia (2004); Good Morning Britain (2017); Great Welsh Writers (2013); HARDtalk (2003); I Have Never Forgotten You: The Life & Legacy of Simon Wiesenthal (2007); Icon (2005); III nach neun (2007); Im Dialog (2003); ITV Play of the Week (1973); Jesus Christ Airlines (2001); Just Another Secret (1989); Koschwitz (2002); Kulturjournal (2015); Kulturplatz (2006); Lads Army (2005); Larry King Live (2000); Leute (1985); Lo + plus (1996); Love Never Dies (2012); Mark Lawson Talks to... (2006); Markus Lanz (2015–2019); M-show (1972); Never Mind the Full Stops (2007); Outsiders (2024); Página 2 (2011); Pebble Mill at One (1994); Pride and Extreme Prejudice (1989); Question Time (1997–2007); Reading the Decades (2002); Reputations (1997); Sabine Christiansen (1998); Skavlan (2014); Sleuths, Sorcerers & Spies: Andrew Marr's Paperback Heroes (2016); Soldiers (1985); Sunday AM (2016); The Book Programme (1979); The Crime Thriller Club (2013); The Day of the Jackal (1973 / 2024); The Devil's Day (1994); The Dogs of War (1980); The Fourth Protocol (1987); The Merv Griffin Show (1980); The Odessa File (1974); The Shepherd (2022 / 2023); The Sunday Programme (2003); The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1971–1972); The Write Stuff (1989); This Week (2005); Titel, Thesen, Temperamente (2015–2019); Trigger Happy TV (2001 / 2002); Tubridy Tonight (2006); Two by Forsyth (1984); Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (2005 / 2014).

Born on this day – Roberto De Simone:

Roberto De Simone

Composer

Director

Writer

Actor

August 25, 1933 – April 6, 2025

Credits:

A Night Full of Rain (1978); After the Fox (1966); All Is Fake (2002); Così fan tutte (1996); De Pretore Vincenzo (1976); Des morceaux de ma femme (2000); Die Zauberflöte, Opera tedesca in due atti (1995); Don Giovanni (1999); È una domenica sera di novembre (1981); Eleonora (1999); Fontamara (1980); Gli esami non finiscono mai (1976); Great Performances (1996); I ladri (1959); I ragazzi di padre Tobia (1968–1970); Il Maestro di Cappella (1995); Il segreto di Luca (1969); (In)visibility (2009); La fucilazione di Pulcinella (1973); La ragazzola (1965); L'arte della commedia (1976); Lo frate 'nnamorato (1990); Lungo il fiume e sull'acqua (1973); Nabucco (1987); Omnibus (1977); Quanto è bello lu murire acciso (1975); Respiro (2002); Sempre più difficile (1981); Siamo fatti di memoria (2009); Sicily (1967); Signora Ava (1975); Tammurriata (1994); The Biggest Bundle of Them All (1968); The Devil in Love (1966); The Dolls / Segment: La minestra (1965); The Gold of Naples / Segment: Pizze a credito (1954); The Skin (1981); Una questione d'onore (1966); Unici (2015); Uomo e galantuomo (1975); Viaggio nei luoghi del sacro (1999); Will Our Heroes Be Able to Find Their Friend Who Has Mysteriously Disappeared in Africa? (1968).

Born on this day – Sean Connery:

Sean Connery

Actor

August 25, 1930 – October 31, 2020

Born on this day – Leonard Bernstein:

Leonard Bernstein

Conductor

Composer

Pianist

Teacher

Writer

Humanitarian

August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990

Born on this day – Ted Key:

Ted Key

Cartoonist

Writer

August 25, 1912 – May 3, 2008

Born on this day – Ruby Keeler:

Ruby Keeler

Actress

Dancer

Singer

August 25, 1909 – February 28, 1993

Born on this day – Ray Heindorf:

Ray Heindorf

Composer

Songwriter

August 25, 1908 – February 3, 1980

Born on this day – Alice White:

Alice White

Actress

August 25, 1904 – February 19, 1983

Credits:

3-Ring Marriage (1928); A Trip Thru a Hollywood Studio (1935); A Very Honorable Guy (1934); A Woman of the Sea (1926); Annabel Takes a Tour (1938); Big City (1937); Breakfast at Sunrise (1927); Broadway Babies (1929); Broadway Highlights No. 2 (1935); Coronado (1935); Cross Country Cruise (1934); Employees' Entrance (1933); Fashion News (1930); Flamingo Road (1949); Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1928); Gift of Gab (1934); Girls' Town (1942); Girls Will Be Boys (1929); Harold Teen (1928); Hollywood and the Stars (1963); Hollywood on Parade No. A-12 (1933); Hollywood on Parade No. A-13 (1933); Hollywood on Parade No. B-6 (1934); Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1920s: The Dawn of the Hollywood Musical (2008); Hot Stuff (1929); Jimmy the Gent (1934); King for a Night (1933); King of the Newsboys (1938); Lingerie (1928); Luxury Liner (1933); Mad Hour (1928); Naughty Baby (1928); Picture Snatcher (1933); Playing Around (1930); Secret of the Chateau (1934); Show Girl (1928); Show Girl in Hollywood (1930); Show of Shows (1929); Sweet Mama (1930); Sweet Music (1935); Sweethearts on Parade (1930); Telephone Operator (1937); The American Beauty (1927); The Ann Sothern Show (1958); The Big Noise (1928); The Dice Woman (1926); The Dove (1927); The Girl from Woolworth's (1929); The Hollywood Gad-About (1934); The Naughty Flirt (1930); The Night of January 16th (1941); The Private Life of Helen of Troy (1927); The Satin Woman (1927); The Sea Tiger (1927); The Widow from Chicago (1930).

Author humor:

Why we read:

Recommended reading - The Age of Dimes and Pulps: A History of Sensationalist Literature, 1830-1960 (2018):

The Age of Dimes and Pulps:
A History of Sensationalist Literature, 1830-1960

By Jeremy Agnew.

Published by McFarland.

Published 2018.

Illustrated edition.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 1476669481

ISBN-13: 978-1476669489

Description:

From the dime novels of the Civil War era to the pulp magazines of the early 20th century to modern paperbacks, lurid fiction has provided thrilling escapism for the masses. Cranking out formulaic stories of melodrama, crime and mild erotica – often by uncredited authors focused more on volume than quality – publishers realized high profits playing to low tastes. Estimates put pulp magazine circulation in the 1930s at 30 million monthly.

This vast body of "disposable literature" has received little critical attention, in large part because much of it has been lost – the cheaply made books were either discarded after reading or soon disintegrated. Covering the history of pulp literature from 1850 through 1960, the author describes how sensational tales filled a public need and flowered during the evolving social conditions of the Industrial Revolution.

Ann Patchett, on writing:

That's the way I work.

I get it all plotted in my mind, and then I write it down.

- Ann Patchett.