On this day in movie history - The Wild Bunch (1969):

The Wild Bunch

directed by Sam Peckinpah,

written by Walon Green and Sam Peckinpah,

based on a story by Walon Green and Roy N. Sickner,

was released in the United States on June 18, 1969.
Music by Jerry Fielding.

Cast:

William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, Robert Ryan, Edmond O'Brien, Warren Oates, Jaime Sánchez, Ben Johnson, Emilio Fernández, Strother Martin, L. Q. Jones, Albert Dekker, Bo Hopkins, Jorge Russek, Alfonso Arau, Dub Taylor, Chano Urueta, Elsa Cárdenas, Fernando Wagner, Paul Harper, Bill Hart, Rayford Barnes, Stephen Ferry, Sonia Amelio, Aurora Clavel, Elizabeth Dupeyrón.

Born on this day – Sam Peckinpah:

Sam Peckinpah

Director

Writer

February 21, 1925 – December 28, 1984

As director:

Essential Music Videos: Classic '80s / Too Late for Goodbyes (2004); Julian Lennon: Valotte (1984); Julian Lennon: Too Late for Goodbyes (1984); The Osterman Weekend (1983); Sparks: Funny Face (1981); Convoy (1978); Cross of Iron (1977); The Killer Elite (1975); Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974); Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973); The Getaway (1972); Junior Bonner (1972); Straw Dogs (1971); The Ballad of Cable Hogue (1970); The Wild Bunch (1969); Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963); ABC Stage 67 (1966); The Cincinnati Kid (1965); Major Dundee (1965); The Dick Powell Theatre (1961); Ride the High Country (1962); Route 66 (1960); The Deadly Companions (1961); The Westerner (1960); Klondike (1960); Zane Grey Theatre (1956); The Rifleman (1958–1959); Broken Arrow (1958).

On this day in movie history - The Getaway (1972 movie & novel):

The Getaway

directed by Sam Peckinpah,

written by Walter Hill,

based on the novel by Jim Thompson,

was released in the United States on December 13, 1972.
Music by Quincy Jones.

Cast:

Steve McQueen, Ali MacGraw, Ben Johnson, Sally Struthers, Al Lettieri, Slim Pickens, Richard Bright, Jack Dodson, Dub Taylor, Bo Hopkins, Roy Jenson, John Bryson.

Recommended reading:

The Getaway

By Jim Thompson.

First published 1958.

Published by Mulholland Books.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 0316403970

ISBN-13: 978-0316403979

Description:

Doc McCoy is the most skilled criminal alive. But when for the first time in Doc's long criminal career, his shot doesn't hit the mark, everything begins to fall apart. And Doc begins to realize that the perfect bank robbery isn't complete without the perfect getaway to back it up.

THE GETAWAY is the classic story of a bank robbery gone horribly wrong, where the smallest mistakes have catastrophic consequences, and shifting loyalties lead to betrayals and chaos. The basis for the classic Steve McQueen film of the same name, as well as a 1994 remake with Alec Baldwin, Thompson's novel set the bar for every heist story that followed - but as Thompson's proved time and again, nobody's ever done it better than the master.