On this day in movie history - The Pledge (2001):

The Pledge

directed by Sean Penn,

written by Jerzy Kromolowski and Mary Olson-Kromolowski,

based on the novel by Friedrich Dürrenmatt,

was released in the United States on January 9, 2001.

Music by Klaus Badelt and Hans Zimmer.

Cast:

Jack Nicholson, Patricia Clarkson, Benicio del Toro, Aaron Eckhart, Helen Mirren, Tom Noonan, Robin Wright Penn, Vanessa Redgrave, Sam Shepard, Harry Dean Stanton, Dale Dickey, Costas Mandylor, Michael O'Keefe, Mickey Rourke, Lois Smith, Brittany Tiplady, Eileen Ryan.

On this day in movie history - The Long Good Friday (1980 movie & book):

The Long Good Friday

directed by John Mackenzie,

written by Barrie Keeffe,

was released at the Cannes Film Market in France on May 17, 1980.
Music by Francis Monkman.

Cast:

Bob Hoskins, Helen Mirren, Paul Freeman, Leo Dolan, Kevin McNally, Patti Love, P.H. Moriarty, Derek Thompson, Bryan Marshall, Ruby Head, Charles Cork, Olivier Pierre, Pierce Brosnan, Daragh O'Malley, Dave King, Karl Howman, Brian Hall, Alan Ford, Dave Ould, Paul Kember, Bill Moody, Alan Devlin, Eddie Constantine, Stephen Davies, Bruce Alexander, Nigel Humphreys, Brian Hayes, Georgie Phillips, Mary Sheen, Pauline Melville, Trevor Laird, Paul Barber, Dexter Fletcher, Billy Cornelius, Michael Ryan, Rob Walker, Nick Stringer, Gillian Taylforth, Robert Hamilton, James Ottaway, Roy Alon, Tony Rohr, Tony Clarkin, Tim Condren, George Coulouris, Maxwell Craig, Jim Dowdall, Harry Fielder, Terry Forrestal, Jill Goldston, Peter McNamara, Ralph G. Morse, Terence Plummer, Alan Talbot, Bill Weston.

Recommended reading:

The Long Good Friday

screenplay by Barrie Keefe.

Filmed as The Long Good Friday (1980), directed by John Mackenzie.

Published by Methuen Publishing.

Published 2006.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 0413722902

ISBN-13: 978-0413722904

Description:

The first British thriller to even approach the cracking vitality of the classic Hollywood gangster movies ...dazzlingly slick. – Daily Mail.

The best British gangster flick of all time. – Empire.

Barrie Keeffe's acclaimed screenplay for the classic film. Harold Shand has made it from Whitechapel to running his own 'corporation' and owning his own yacht and classy mistress. He has the police and the local authorities in his pocket, is planning a major London property development and forging links with the international Mafia. Everything indeed is coming up roses for Harold until the Easter weekend when enemies unknown embark on a series of lethal outrages against his organisation. As the story accelerates to a crazy vortex of violence, Harold discovers he has unwittingly crossed enemies whose connections, expertise and dedication to violence outclass his own.

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

Excalibur

directed by John Boorman,

written by Rospo Pallenberg and John Boorman,

based on the prose The Death of Arthur by Thomas Malory,

was released in the United States on April 10, 1981.
Music by Trevor Jones.

Cast:

Nigel Terry, Helen Mirren, Nicholas Clay, Cherie Lunghi, Paul Geoffrey, Nicol Williamson, Robert Addie, Gabriel Byrne, Keith Buckley, Katrine Boorman, Liam Neeson, Corin Redgrave, Niall O'Brien, Patrick Stewart, Clive Swift, Ciarán Hinds, Liam O'Callaghan, Michael Muldoon, Charley Boorman, Gerard Mannix, Garrett Keogh, Emmet Bergin, Barbara Byrne, Brid Brennan, Kay McLaren, Eamon Kelly, Hilary Joyalle, Conor Lambert, Prudence Wright Holmes.