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

The Killing

directed and written by Stanley Kubrick,

dialogue written by Jim Thompson,

based on the novel Clean Break, by Lionel White,

was released in the United States on May 20, 1956.
Music by Gerald Fried.

Cast:

Sterling Hayden, Coleen Gray, Vince Edwards, Jay C. Flippen, Ted de Corsia, Marie Windsor, Elisha Cook Jr., Joe Sawyer, James Edwards, Timothy Carey, Kola Kwariani, Jay Adler, Tito Vuolo, Dorothy Adams, Herbert Ellis, James Griffith, Cecil Elliott, Joe Turkel, Steve Mitchell, Mary Carroll, William Benedict, Charles Cane, Robert B. Williams, Tom Coleman, Rodney Dangerfield, Franklyn Farnum, John George, Art Gilmore, Sol Gorss, Harry Hines, Kenner G. Kemp, Carl M. Leviness, Hal J. Moore, Harvey Parry, Richard Reeves, Frank Richards, Arthur Tovey.

Recommended reading:

Clean Break

By Lionel White.

Filmed as The Killing (1956), directed by Stanley Kubrick.

Published by Chosho Publishing.

First published 1955.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 1958425516

ISBN-13: 978-1958425510

Description:

Johnny Clay, an ex-con determined to strike it rich, has worked out a fool-proof scheme to knock off a racetrack payroll. The two million bucks should be enough to last him a lifetime or two. But a two-faced dame has another idea: Let Johnny do the work, then she'll grab the swag for herself and her boyfriend.

Johnny Clay’s plan to rob the Long Island race track was daring and highly original. Johnny, an ex-convict, had spent his prison years thinking through every possible hitch to his scheme until he was sure it could go off like clockwork.

His four confederates were not known to the police for they were not professional criminals. They had been picked because they were ordinary nondescript men, all with money problems and a touch of larceny in their hearts. Mike Henty was a bartender at the track and George Peatty a cashier, both essential inside men. Martin Unger, a court stenographer, had put up the initial cash and Randy Kennan, a cop, was to get the money away from the track after Johnny had done the actual robbing.

There were in addition three others who were to do a specific jobs for a cash payment. To one of these men fell the assignment of shooting the favorite in the famous Canarsie Stakes. Once this was accomplished, the robbery was set into motion.

The crime in this story is a grand coup, fantastic yet completely possible if everything clicked. So too has Lionel White achieved a grand coup in the telling of the story as he concentrates first on one character then on another, picking up the individual threads and building them into a brilliantly integrated climax. Clean Break is a masterpiece of originality, a highly plotted and ingeniously executed story of suspense.

On this day in movie history - The Devil’s Party (1938):

The Devil’s Party

directed by Ray McCarey,

written by Roy Chanslor, Charles Grayson and A. Dorian Otvos,

based on the novel Hell’s Kitchen Has a Pantry by Borden Chase,

was released in the United States on May 20, 1938.
Music by Charles Previn.

Cast:

Victor McLaglen, William Gargan, Paul Kelly, Beatrice Roberts, Frank Jenks, John Gallaudet, Samuel S. Hinds, Joe Downing, Arthur Hoyt, Scotty Beckett, Stanley Blystone, Tommy Bupp, Neal Burns, Howard Christie, Drew Demorest, George DeNormand, Mike Donovan, Bill Elliott, Allen Fox, Otto Fries, Jack Gardner, Edward Gargan, Eddie Hall, Oscar 'Dutch' Hendrian, Robert Homans, Hugh Huntley, Dickie Jones, Harvey Karels, Jack Kenney, Carl Knowles, Mike Lally, Larry McGrath, Charles McMurphy, Charles Murphy, Spec O'Donnell, David Oliver, Lee Phelps, Juanita Quigley, Fred Rapport, Mickey Rentschler, Jolane Reynolds, Addison Richards, Dick Rush, Tiny Sandford, Ralph Sanford, Charles Sherlock, Charles Sullivan, William Tannen, Charles Teske, Jerry Tucker, Minerva Urecal, Beryl Wallace, Norman Willis, Si Wills, Florence Wix, Arthur Yeoman.

Born on this day – Christian Juttner:

Christian Juttner

Actor

May 20, 1964 – November 29, 2024

Credits:

ABC Afterschool Specials (1974–1977); Alice (1980); Ark II (1976); Bewitched (1972); Emergency! (1972); General Hospital (1981); I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978); Inside 'the Swarm' (1978); Ironside (1971–1974); Journey from Darkness (1975); Lou Grant (1979); Making the 'Return' Trip (2003); Medical Center (1976); Return from Witch Mountain (1978); Return of the Big Cat (1974); S.W.A.T. (1975); The Bionic Woman (1976); The Blair Witch Mountain Project (2002); The Boy Who Talked to Badgers (1975); The Ghosts of Buxley Hall (1980); The Healers (1974); The Magical World of Disney (1974–1980); The Million Dollar Dixie Deliverance (1978); The New Mickey Mouse Club (1977); The Rookies (1974); The Swarm (1978); The Walt Disney Comedy and Magic Revue (1985); Trapper John, M.D. (1979); Wonder Woman (1976).

Born on this day – Virginia Vale:

Virginia Vale

Actress

May 20, 1920 – September 14, 2006

Credits:

Crime, Inc. (1945); Range Rhythm (1942); Cactus Capers (1942); Broadway Big Shot (1942); Keep Shooting (1942); Blonde Comet (1941); California or Bust (1941); The Gay Falcon (1941); Unexpected Uncle (1941); The Musical Bandit (1941); A Panic in the Parlor (1941); South of Panama (1941); Robbers of the Range (1941); Red Skins and Red Heads (1941); Repent at Leisure (1941); Prairie Spooners (1941); The Fired Man (1941); Triple Justice (1940); Stage to Chino (1940); Millionaires in Prison (1940); Corralling a Schoolmarm (1940); Prairie Law (1940); You Can't Fool Your Wife (1940); Bullet Code (1940); Legion of the Lawless (1940); The Marshal of Mesa City (1939); Three Sons (1939); Unmarried (1939); Persons in Hiding (1939); Ambush (1939); Disbarred (1939); King of Alcatraz (1938); Cocoanut Grove (1938); Her Jungle Love (1938); The Big Broadcast of 1938 (1938); The Buccaneer (1938); True Confession (1937); Night Club Scandal (1937).

Born on this day – James Stewart:

James Stewart

Actor

May 20, 1908 – July 2, 1997

Credits:

An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (1991); North & South: Book 2, Love & War (1986); Right of Way (1983); Mr. Krueger's Christmas (1980); A Tale of Africa (1980); General Electric's All-Star Anniversary (1978); The Magic of Lassie (1978); The Big Sleep (1978); Laugh-In (1977); Airport '77 (1977); The Shootist (1976); Sentimental Journey (1976); Hawkins (1973); Harvey (1972); The Jimmy Stewart Show (1971); Fools' Parade (1971); The Cheyenne Social Club (1970); Bandolero! (1968); Firecreek (1968); The Rare Breed (1966); The Flight of the Phoenix (1965); Shenandoah (1965); Dear Brigitte (1965); The Jack Benny Program (1950); Cheyenne Autumn (1964); Take Her, She's Mine (1963); My Three Sons (1960); How the West Was Won (1962); Alcoa Premiere (1961); Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation (1962); The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962); X-15 (1961); Two Rode Together (1961); The Mountain Road (1960); Startime (1959); The FBI Story (1959); Schlitz Playhouse (1951); Lux Playhouse (1958); Anatomy of a Murder (1959); Bell Book and Candle (1958); Vertigo (1958); General Electric Theater (1953); Night Passage (1957); The Spirit of St. Louis (1957); The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956); The Man from Laramie (1955); Strategic Air Command (1955); Tomorrow's Drivers (1954); Rear Window (1954); The Far Country (1954); The Glenn Miller Story (1954); Thunder Bay (1953); The Naked Spur (1953); Carbine Williams (1952); Bend of the River (1952); The Greatest Show on Earth (1952); No Highway in the Sky (1951); And Then There Were Four (1950); Harvey (1950); The Jackpot (1950); Broken Arrow (1950); Winchester '73 (1950); Malaya (1949); The Stratton Story (1949); 10,000 Kids and a Cop (1948); You Gotta Stay Happy (1948); Rope (1948); Call Northside 777 (1948); On Our Merry Way (1948); Magic Town (1947); It's a Wonderful Life (1946); Ziegfeld Girl (1941); Pot o' Gold (1941); Come Live with Me (1941); The Philadelphia Story (1940); No Time for Comedy (1940); The Mortal Storm (1940); The Shop Around the Corner (1940); Destry Rides Again (1939); Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939); It's a Wonderful World (1939); The Ice Follies of 1939 (1939); Made for Each Other (1939); You Can't Take It with You (1938); Screen Snapshots Series 15, No. 12 (1936); The Shopworn Angel (1938); Vivacious Lady (1938); Of Human Hearts (1938); Navy Blue and Gold (1937); The Last Gangster (1937); Seventh Heaven (1937); After the Thin Man (1936); Born to Dance (1936); The Gorgeous Hussy (1936); Speed (1936); Small Town Girl (1936); Important News (1936); Wife vs. Secretary (1936); Next Time We Love (1936); Rose-Marie (1936); The Murder Man (1935); Art Trouble (1934).

Born on this day – Margery Allingham:

Margery Allingham

Writer

May 20, 1904 – June 30, 1966

Credits:

Books:

A Brief History of Witchcraft (1998); A Century of British Mystery and Suspense (2000); A Surprise for Christmas (2020); A Very Murderous Christmas (2018); Black Plumes (1940); Blackkerchief Dick (1923); Bodies from the Library 2 (2019); Bodies from the Library 6 (2023); Canine Crimes (1993); Capital Crimes (2015); Cargo of Eagles (1968); Christmas Crimes (1996); Classic Christmas Crime Stories (2023); Coroner's Pidgin / aka Pearls Before Swine (1945); Crime and Mr Campion (1959); Crimson Snow (2016); Dance of the Years / aka The Gallantrys (1943); Dancers in Mourning / aka Who Killed Chloe? (1937); Deadlier / 100 of the Best Crime Stories Written by Women (2017); Deadly Duo / aka Take Two at Bedtime (1949); Death of a Ghost (1934); Detective Duos (1997); Fifty Best Mysteries (2004); Flowers for the Judge (1936); Ghosts from the Library (2022); Hide my Eyes / aka Tether's End (1958); Look to the Lady / aka The Gyrth Chalice Mystery (1931); Miraculous Mysteries (2017); More Work for the Undertaker (1948); Mr Campion, Criminologist (1977); Mr. Campion and Others (1937); Mr. Campion's Clowns (1967); Mr. Campion's Falcon / aka Mr. Campion's Quarry (1969); Mr. Campion's Farthing (1969); Mr. Campion's Lady (1965); Murder at Christmas (2019); Murder at the Manor (2016); Murder in a Heatwave (2023); Murder In Midsummer (2019); Murder in Midwinter (2020); Murder on a Winter's Night (2021); Murder On Christmas Eve (2017); Murder Under the Christmas Tree (2016); Murder Under the Mistletoe (1992); My Friend Mr Campion (2011); Mysterious Pleasures (2003); Mystery for Christmas (1993); Mystery Mile (1930); Nine Detective Stories (1964); No Love Lost (1954); Police at the Funeral (1931); Rogues' Holiday (1935); Safer Than Love (1954); Serpents in Eden (2016); Silent Nights (2015); Six Against the Yard (1989); Sweet Danger / aka The Fear Sign (1933); The Allingham Case-Book (1969); The Allingham Minibus / aka Mr. Campion's Lucky Day and Other Short Stories (1973); The Beckoning Lady / aka The Estate of the Beckoning Lady (1955); The Black Lizard Big Book of Locked Room Mysteries (2014); The Case of the Late Pig (1937); The Casebook of Mr Campion (1947); The China Governess (1962); The Crime At Black Dudley / aka The Black Dudley Murder (1929); The Darings of the Red Rose (1995); The Devil and Her Son (1936); The Fashion in Shrouds (1938); The Man of Dangerous Secrets / aka Other Man's Danger (1933); The Margery Allingham Omnibus (1983); The Mind Readers (1965); The Mysterious Mr. Campion (1963); The Oxford Book of Detective Stories (2000); The Patient at Peacocks Hall (1954); The Return of Mr. Campion (1989); The Tiger in the Smoke (1952); The White Cottage Mystery (1928); Traitor's Purse (1941); Wanted: Someone Innocent (1946); Water in a Sieve (1925).

Movies and television:

Dancers in Mourning (1959); Death of a Ghost (1960); Detective (1968); Die Kriminalerzählung (1973); Kraft Theatre / The United States Steel Hour (1962); Lux Video Theatre (1957); Mystery!: Campion (1989–1990); Orson Welles Great Mysteries (1973); Panorama (1958); Room to Let (1950); The Unforeseen (1959); Tiger in the Smoke (1956).

Born on this day – Estelle Taylor:

Estelle Taylor

Actress

May 20, 1894 – April 15, 1958

Credits:

A Broadway Saint (1919); A California Romance (1922); A Fool There Was (1922); Bachelor Mother (1939); Bavu (1923); Blind Wives (1920); Call Her Savage (1932); Cimarron (1931); Desire (1923); Don Juan (1926); Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall (1924); Editor's Roundtable (1949–1952); Footfalls (1921); Forgive and Forget (1923); Forgotten Commandments (1932); Frisco Kid (1935); Hollywood (1923); Hollywood on Parade No. B-5 (1933); Honor Bound (1928); Kings of the Ring (1999); Kings of the Ring: Four Legends of Heavyweight Boxing (2000); Lady Raffles (1928); Liliom (1930); Manhattan Madness (1925); Mary of the Movies (1923); Monte Cristo (1922); New York (1927); Only a Shop Girl (1922); Passion's Pathway (1924); Phantom Justice (1924); Playthings of Desire (1924); Pusher-in-the-Face (1929); Rhythm Roundup (1937); Screen Snapshots (1926); Screen Snapshots Series 15, No. 12 (1936); Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 12 (1939); Show People (1928); Some of the Greatest (1955); Street Scene (1931); Street Scene (1931); The Adventurer (1920); The Alaskan (1924); The Golden Shower (1919); The Lights of New York (1922); The Revenge of Tarzan (1920); The Singapore Mutiny (1928); The Southerner (1945); The Ten Commandments (1923); The Tower of Jewels (1919); The Unholy Garden (1931); The Voice of Hollywood No. 13 (1930); The Western Limited (1932); The Whip Woman (1928); Thorns and Orange Blossoms (1922); Tiger Love (1924); Twinkle Twinkle (1925); Wandering Footsteps (1925); Where East Is East (1929); While New York Sleeps (1920).