On this day in movie history - Cold Turkey (1971):

Cold Turkey

directed by Norman Lear,

written by Norman Lear and William Price Fox,

based on the novel I'm Giving Them Up for Good by Margaret and Neil Rau,

was released in the United States on February 19, 1971.
Music by Randy Newman.

Cast:

Dick Van Dyke, Bob Newhart, Pippa Scott, Tom Poston, Edward Everett Horton, Bob Elliott, Ray Goulding, Vincent Gardenia, Barnard Hughes, Graham Jarvis, Jean Stapleton, Barbara Cason, Judith Lowry, Sudie Bond, Helen Page Camp, Paul Benedict, Simon Scott, Raymond Kark, Peggy Rea, Woodrow Parfrey, George Mann, Charles Pinney, M. Emmet Walsh, Gloria LeRoy, Eric Boles, Jack Grimes, Walter Sande, Harvey Jason.

On this day in movie history - Moonstruck (1988):

Moonstruck

directed by Norman Jewison,

written by John Patrick Shanley,

was released in the United States on January 15, 1988.

Music by Dick Hyman.

Cast:

Cher, Nicolas Cage, Olympia Dukakis, Vincent Gardenia, Danny Aiello, Julie Bovasso, Louis Guss, John Mahoney, Feodor Chaliapin Jr., Anita Gillette, Leonardo Cimino, Paula Trueman, Nada Despotovich, Joe Grifasi, Gina DeAngeles, Robin Bartlett, Helen Hanft, David S. Howard, Robert Weil.

Born on this day – Vincent Gardenia:

Vincent Gardenia

Actor

January 7, 1920 – December 9, 1992

Credits:

The Super (1991); L.A. Law (1986); The Tragedy of Flight 103: The Inside Story (1990); The Ray Bradbury Theater (1985); Quattro piccole donne (1989); Age-Old Friends (1989); Skin Deep (1989); Cavalli si nasce (1989); Cheeeese (1988); Un siciliano in Sicilia (1987); Moonstruck (1987); American Playhouse (1987); Honor Thy Father (1986); Little Shop of Horrors (1986); The Twilight Zone (1985); Brass (1985); Movers & Shakers (1985); Dark Mirror (1984); Kennedy (1983); Charley's Aunt (1983); Muggable Mary, Street Cop (1982); Ciao nemico (1982); Death Wish II (1982); Thornwell (1981); Breaking Away (1980); The Dream Merchants (1980); The Last Flight of Noah's Ark (1980); That's Life (1979); Goldie and the Boxer (1979); Marciano (1979); The House by the Edge of the Lake (1979); Home Movies (1979); Insight (1960); Firepower (1979); Heaven Can Wait (1978); Greased Lightning (1977); Fire Sale (1977); The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970); Luna di miele in tre (1976); The Big Racket (1976); La banca di Monate (1976); Bordella (1976); Dean's Place (1976); Kojak (1973); Dean's Place (1975); The Manchu Eagle Murder Caper Mystery (1975); The Front Page (1974); Death Wish (1974); All in the Family (1971); The Carpenters (1973); Lucky Luciano (1973); Bang the Drum Slowly (1973); Cops (1973); Screaming Skull (1973); The Rookies (1972); Maude (1972); Love, American Style (1969); Hickey & Boggs (1972); McCloud (1970); Sarge (1971); Cold Turkey (1971); Little Murders (1971); Where's Poppa? (1970); Jenny (1970); This Town Will Never Be the Same (1969); Mission: Impossible (1966); Ironside (1967); Coronet Blue (1967); N.Y.P.D. (1967); Judd for the Defense (1967); Mannix (1967); The Rat Patrol (1966); Gunsmoke (1955); I Spy (1965); The Fugitive (1963); The Monkees (1965); The Big Valley (1965); Hawk (1966); Seaway (1965); Ben Casey (1961); New York Television Theatre (1965); Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1964); The Trials of O'Brien (1965); The Third Day (1965); Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963); Memorandum for a Spy (1965); The Rogues (1964); The Defenders (1961); Kraft Suspense Theatre (1963); The Bing Crosby Show (1964); The Doctors and the Nurses (1962); East Side/West Side (1963); The DuPont Show of the Week (1961); Ride with Terror (1963); A View from the Bridge (1962); Tallahassee 7000 (1961); The Untouchables (1959); The Hustler (1961); Great Ghost Tales (1961); Mad Dog Coll (1961); Parrish (1961); Play of the Week (1959); The Edge of Night (1956); Murder, Inc. (1960); Deadline (1959); Armstrong Circle Theatre (1950); Naked City (1958); Kraft Theatre (1947); Cop Hater (1958); Decoy (1957); Studio One (1948); The Phil Silvers Show (1955); The House on 92nd Street (1945).

On this day in movie history - Death Wish (1974):

Death Wish

directed by Michael Winner,

written by Wendell Mayes,

based on the novel by Brian Garfield,

was released in the United States on July 24, 1974.
Music by Herbie Hancock.

Cast:

Charles Bronson, Hope Lange, Vincent Gardenia, William Redfield, Chris Gampel, Steven Keats, Stuart Margolin, Stephen Elliott, Fred J. Scollay, Kathleen Tolan, Jack Wallace, Robert Kya-Hill, Jeff Goldblum, Christopher Logan, Gregory Rozakis, Christopher Guest, Hank Garrett, Helen Martin, Olympia Dukakis, Marcia Jean Kurtz, Edward Grover, Saul Rubinek, John Herzfeld, Eric Laneuville, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Sonia Manzano, Tom Hayden, Al Lewis, Billy Curtis, Paul Dooley, Robert Miano, William Bogert.

On this day in movie history - Heaven Can Wait (1978 movie & play):

Heaven Can Wait

directed by Warren Beatty and Buck Henry,

based on the play by Harry Segall,

was released in the United States on June 28, 1978.
Music by Dave Grusin.

Cast:

Warren Beatty, Julie Christie, James Mason, Jack Warden, Charles Grodin, Dyan Cannon, Buck Henry, Vincent Gardenia, Joseph Maher, Hamilton Camp, Arthur Malet, Stephanie Faracy, Jeannie Linero, Harry D.K. Wong, George J. Manos, Larry Block, Frank Campanella, Bill Sorrells, Dick Enberg, Dolph Sweet, R.G. Armstrong, Ed Peck, John Randolph, Richard O'Brien, Joseph F. Makel, Will Hare, Lee Weaver, Roger Bowen, Keene Curtis, William Larsen, Morgan Farley, William Bogert, Robert E. Leonard, Joel Marston, Earl Montgomery, Robert C. Stevens, Bernie Massa, Peter Tomarken, William Sylvester, Lisa Blake Richards, Charlie Charles, Nick Outin, Jerry Scanlan, Jim Boeke, Marvin Fleming, Deacon Jones, Les Josephson, Jack Snow, Curt Gowdy, Al DeRogatis, Benjie Bancroft, Arline Bletcher, Joe Corolla, Charlie Cowan, Garrett Craig, Paul D'Amato, Robert Fortier, Allan Graf, Bryant Gumbel, Jim Healy, Chick Hearn, Ray Pourchot, Nick Raymond, Elliott Reid, Roberto Rodriguez, Byron Webster.

Recommended reading:

Heaven Can Wait

Comedy-Fantasy in Three Acts

By Harry Segall.

Filmed as:

Here comes Mr. Jordan (1941), directed by Alexander Hall.

Heaven Can Wait (1978), directed by Warren Beatty and Buck Henry.

ASIN: B000GVIZMI

Published by Dramatists Play Service, Inc.

Published 1941.

Description:

Mr. Jordan is checking passengers who are to depart in an airplane for the Hereafter. The routine is interrupted by the arrival of Joe Pendleton, an attractive prizefighter, who refuses to admit he is dead and induces Jordan to look up the "records," which reveal that Joe is not scheduled to arrive for another 60 years! But, as Joe starts to return to earth to continue his fighting, word reaches Heaven that Max Levene, Joe's manager, thinking he had been killed, had Joe's body cremated, and Joe has no body to return to. Jordan promises to find Joe another body and is informed that the wealthy Jonathan Farnsworth is about to be murdered by his wife. So, Joe suddenly finds himself in the home of the financier, visible as Joe to the audience but apparently as Farnsworth to Mrs. Farnsworth, and the public. The comedy begins when the pompous "Farnsworth" unaccountably goes into training as a fighter. In addition, "Farnsworth" decides to share his wealth and right the wrong "he" did to charming Bette Logan's father. Bette, having despised Farnsworth, finds herself falling in love with him and he with her. Just as Joe (still in Farnsworth's body) is about to get a chance to become a fighter, Jordan reports that Farnsworth does not approve of Joe's treatment of his body (and money) and is raising a fuss to have it back. While deciding on another body for Joe, Jordan receives a flash that K.O. Murdock, the champion, has been mysteriously shot. As K.O. is about to be counted out Jordan transfers Joe's spirit into the body of K.O. in time to have K.O. remain champ. There are still problems to be straightened out when Joe really becomes Murdock and loses memory of his previous existence-includingBette. Fortunately, they meet and fall in love again-and Mr. Jordan is free to head for the Hereafter, his earthly task accomplished."