On this day in movie history - Whose Life Is It Anyway? (movie & play):

Whose Life Is It Anyway?

directed by John Badham,

written by Reginald Rose,

based on the play by Brian Clark,

was released in the United States on December 2, 1981.
Music by Arthur B. Rubinstein.

Cast:

Richard Dreyfuss, John Cassavetes, Christine Lahti, Bob Balaban, Thomas Carter, Kaki Hunter, Kenneth McMillan, Janet Eilber.

Recommended reading:

Whose Life Is It Anyway?

Play by Brian Clark.

Published 1979.

Paperback

Published by Cornelsen.

ISBN 13: 9783454665902

ISBN 10: 3454665906

ASIN: 3454665906

Description:

Ken Harrison, is a successful sculptor with a beautiful girlfriend and everything to live for until a car wreck leaves him paralyzed for life, with no hope of physical recovery. When this charming, witty, angry young man chooses to die his doctors and nurses are determined that he must continue to live.

On this day in movie history - The Goodbye Girl (1977):

The Goodbye Girl

directed by Herbert Ross,

written by Neil Simon,

was released in the United States on November 30, 1977.
Music by Dave Grusin.
Song Goodbye Girl written and performed by David Gates.

Cast:

Richard Dreyfuss, Marsha Mason, Quinn Cummings, Paul Benedict, Barbara Rhoades, Theresa Merritt, Michael Shawn, Patricia Pearcy, Nicol Williamson, Robert Costanzo, Kristina Hurrell, Raymond J. Barry, Powers Boothe.

On this day in movie history - Close Encounters of the Third Kind (movie & books):

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

directed and written by Steven Spielberg,

was released in the United States on November 16, 1977.
Music by John Williams.

Cast:

Richard Dreyfuss, François Truffaut, Teri Garr, Melinda Dillon, Bob Balaban, J. Patrick McNamara, Warren J. Kemmerling, Roberts Blossom, Philip Dodds, Cary Guffey, Shawn Bishop, Adrienne Campbell, Justin Dreyfuss, Lance Henriksen, Merrill Connally, George DiCenzo, Amy Douglass, Alexander Lockwood, Gene Dynarski, Mary Gafrey, Norman Bartold, Josef Sommer, Michael J. Dyer, Roger Ernest, Carl Weathers, F.J. O'Neil, Phil Dodds, Randy Mark Herman, Hal Barwood, Matthew Robbins, David Anderson, Richard L. Hawkins, Craig Shreeve, Bill Thurman, Roy E. Richards, Gene Rader, Eumenio Blanco, Daniel Nunez, Chuy Franco, Luis Contreras, James Keane, Dennis McMullen, Cy Young, Tom Howard, Richard Stuart, Bob Westmoreland, Matt Emery, Galen Thompson, John Dennis Johnston, John Ewing, Keith Atkinson, Robert Broyles, Kirk Raymond, Bennett Wayne Dean Sr., Danyi Deats, Jenny Inge Devaney. Basil Hoffman, J. Allen Hynek, Monty Jordan, Shay McLean, Dejah Moore, Carl Neal, Monty O'Grady, Julia Phillips, Murray Pollack, Stephen Powers, David Rambow, Howard K. Smith.

Recommended reading:

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

By Steven Spielberg.

Published 1978.

ISBN-10: 0440114330

ISBN-13: 978-0722180808

Back cover description:

Watch the skies …

Close Encounter of the First Kind:

Sighting of an Unidentified Object.

Close Encounter of the Second Kind:

Physical evidence after UFO sighting.

Close Encounter of the Third Kind:

Actual contact between human observers and UFO occupants.

All over the world, millions of reliable witnesses – including respected scientists – have been reporting UFO sightings for the past thirty years. Experts everywhere concede the overwhelming probability of intelligent life elsewhere in the Universe. From these indisputable facts, Steven Spielberg, brilliant young director of Jaws, has created the most beautiful, frightening and significant motion picture adventure of all time.

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Close Encounters of the Third Kind Fotonovel

By Steven Spielberg.

Published 1978.

ISBN-10: 0440109795

ISBN-13: 978-0440109792

Back cover description:

Close Encounter of the First Kind:

Sighting of a UFO.

Close Encounter of the Second Kind:

Physical evidence.

Close Encounter of the Third Kind:

Contact.

Mankind is off on the greatest adventure in the history of our planet.

And nothing will ever be the same.

For now there is no denying the inescapable conclusion:

We are not alone.

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Close Encounters of the Third Kind Diary

By Bob Balaban.

Published 1978.

ISBN-10: 0931550009

ISBN-13: 978-0931550003

Back cover description:

“I loved it. This is a book I would like to have written myself. I could kick myself for not keeping my own diary.” – Richard Dreyfuss.

Bob Balaban plays Francois Truffaut’s interpreter in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Since all journalists and writers were barred during the shooting of the movie, his diary is the only on the spot account of both the making of the movie and, more importantly, the off-screen lives of the people involved in this fantastic project.

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Close Encounters of the Third Kind:

The Ultimate Visual History

By Michael Klastorin.

Published 2017.

ISBN-10: 0062692992

ISBN-13: 978-0062692993

Back cover description:

Celebrate the fortieth anniversary of director Steven Spielberg’s sci-fi classic Close Encounters of the Third Kind with this fully authorized behind-the-scenes book exploring the creation, production, and legacy of this iconic film.

Created in conjunction with Sony Pictures and Amblin Entertainment, Close Encounters of the Third Kind: The Visual History details the complete creative journey behind the making of the film and examines its cultural impact.

Featuring rare and never-before-seen imagery from the archives, the book brings together a stunning collection of on-set photography, concept art, storyboards, and more to create a complete visual narrative of the film’s journey to the big screen. It also features a wealth of insightful commentary from the film’s key contributors, including exclusive new interviews with director Steven Spielberg, star Richard Dreyfuss, and composer John Williams.

The book also features a wealth of special inserts and interactive elements, including script pages featuring notes from Spielberg, concept sketches of the film’s UFOs and aliens, and much, much more.

Comprehensive, compelling, and filled with unseen treasures, Close Encounters of the Third Kind: The Ultimate Visual History is a fitting tribute to an unforgettable film.

On this day in movie history - American Graffiti (1973):

American Graffiti

directed by George Lucas,

written by George Lucas, Gloria Katz and Willard Huyck,

was released in the United States on August 1, 1973.
Music by Kim Fowley, Karin Green and George Lucas.

Cast:

Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Charles Martin Smith, Cindy Williams, Candy Clark, Mackenzie Phillips, Wolfman Jack, Bo Hopkins, Manuel Padilla Jr., Beau Gentry, Harrison Ford, Jim Bohan, Jana Bellan, Deby Celiz, Lynne Marie Stewart, Terence McGovern, Kathleen Quinlan, Ty Crowley, Scott Beach, John Brent, Gordon Analla, John Bracci, Jody Carlson, Del Close, Chuck Dorsett, Stephen Knox, Joe Miksak, George Meyer, James Cranna, Johnny Weissmuller Jr., William Niven, Al Nalbandian, Bob Pasaak, Christopher Pray, Susan Richardson, Fred Ross, Jan Dunn, Charlie Murphy, Ed Greenberg, Lisa Herman, Mark Anger, Kay Lenz, Caprice Schmidt, Joe Spano, Debralee Scott, Ron Vincent, Donna Wehr, Cam Whitman, Jan Wilson, Suzanne Somers, Flash Cadillac, Linda Christensen, Jeannette Dilger, Dennis Falt, Warren Knight, Paul Lambert, Ken Martinez, Rick May, Sam McFadin, Kris Moe, Linn Phillips III, George Robinson.