On this day in movie history - The Mothman Prophecies (2002 movie & book):

The Mothman Prophecies

directed by Mark Pellington,

written by Richard Hatem, 

based on the book by John Keel,

was released in the United States on January 25, 2002.

Music by tomandandy (Thomas Hajdu and Andy Milburn).

Cast:

Richard Gere, David Eigenberg, Bob Tracey, Ron Emanuel, Debra Messing, Tom Stoviak, Yvonne Erickson, Scott Nunnally, Harris Mackenzie, Will Patton, Lucinda Jenney, Laura Linney, Tom Tully, Zachary Mott, Ann McDonough, Shane Callahan, Nesbitt Blaisdell, Dan Callahan, Christin Frame, Rohn Thomas, Susan Nicholas, Bill Laing, Tim Hartman, Alan Bates, Jennifer Martin, Mark Pellington, Murphy Dunne, Pete Handelman, Matt Miller, Josh Braun, Doug Korstanje, Betsy Zajko, Elizabeth Cazenave, Sam Nicotero, Tony Amen, Sara Brooks, Eric Cazenave, Michael Gutenplan, John W. Iwanonkiw, Hope Anne Nathan, Christian Pearson, Dwayne Pintoff, Bettina Rousos, Brandee Sanders, Jason Shoemaker, Dorothy Silver, Jason Billy Simmons, Dixie Tymitz.

Recommended reading:

The Mothman Prophecies: A True Story

By John A. Keel.

Published by Tor Books.

First published 1975.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 0765334984

ISBN-13: 78-0765334985

Description:

A true story of unexplained terror…

West Virginia, 1966. For thirteen months the town of Point Pleasant is gripped by a real-life nightmare culminating in a tragedy that makes headlines around the world. Strange occurrences and sightings, including a bizarre winged apparition that becomes known as the Mothman, trouble this ordinary American community. Mysterious lights are seen moving across the sky. Domestic animals are found slaughtered and mutilated. And journalist John Keel, arriving to investigate the freakish events, soon finds himself an integral part of an eerie and unfathomable mystery…

The Mothman Prophecies.

Translated into more than thirteen languages, John Keel’s unsettling account of what he encountered in Point Pleasant has long been regarded as a classic in the literature of the unexplained. A New York Times bestseller, it also inspired the acclaimed 2002 film.

On this day in the Star Trek universe:

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1992)

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Season 5. Episode 11.

Episode entitled: Hero Worship.

Released January 25, 1992.

Directed by Patrick Stewart.

Written by Joe Menosky, Hilary J. Bader, Brannon Braga, René Echevarria.

Created by Gene Roddenberry.

Music by Jay Chattaway.

Cast: Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, Brent Spiner, Joshua Harris, Harley Venton, Sheila Franklin, Steven Einspahr, Rachen Assapiomonwait, Lena Banks, Joe Baumann, Michael Braveheart, Tracee Cocco, Gerard David Jr., Debbie David, Elliot Durant III, Linda Harcharic, Grace Harrell, Gary Hunter, Randy James, Lorine Mendell, Keith Rayve, Gina Saadi, Victor Sein, Mikki Val.

On this day in movie history - Two Evil Eyes (1990 movie & book):

Two Evil Eyes

Original Italian title: Due occhi diabolici,

directed by Dario Argento, George A. Romero,

written by George A. Romero, Dario Argento, Franco Ferrini, Peter Koper,

based on The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar & The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe,

released in Italy on January 25, 1990.

Music by Pino Donaggio.

Cast: Adrienne Barbeau, Ramy Zada, Bingo O'Malley, Jeff Howell, E.G. Marshall, Harvey Keitel, Madeleine Potter, John Amos, Sally Kirkland, Kim Hunter, Holter Graham, Martin Balsam, Chuck Aber, Jonathan Adams, Tom Atkins, Mitchell Baseman, Julie Benz, Barbara Bryne, Mario Caputo, Lanene Charters, Bill Dalzell, Anthony Dileo Jr., Christine Forrest, J.R. Hall, Scott House, James MacDonald, Charles McPherson, Larry John Meyers, Jeff Monahan, Fred Moore, Christina Romero, Peggy McIntaggart, Ben Tatar, Lou Valenzi, Jeffrey Wild, Ted Worsley, Jonathan Sachar, Tom Savini.

Recommended reading:

The Complete Stories and Poems

By Edgar Allan Poe.

First published 1849.

This edition published 1966.

Published by Doubleday & Company, Inc.

Hardcover.

ISBN 13: 9780385074070

ISBN 10: 0385074077

ASIN: 0385074077

Description:

This single volume brings together all of Poe’s stories and poems, and illuminates the diverse and multifaceted genius of one of the greatest and most influential figures in American literary history.

On this day in movie history - The Raven (1963 movie & book):

The Raven

directed by Roger Corman,

written by Richard Matheson,

based on the poem by Edgar Allan Poe,

was released in the United States on January 25, 1963.
Music by Les Baxter.

Cast:

Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, Boris Karloff, Hazel Court, Olive Sturgess, Jack Nicholson, Connie Wallace, William Baskin, Aaron Saxon, Leo Gordon, Dick Johnstone.

Recommended reading:

The Complete Stories and Poems

By Edgar Allan Poe.

First published 1849.

This edition published 1966.

Published by Doubleday & Company, Inc.

Hardcover.

ISBN 13: 9780385074070

ISBN 10: 0385074077

ASIN: 0385074077

Description:

This single volume brings together all of Poe's stories and poems, and illuminates the diverse and multifaceted genius of one of the greatest and most influential figures in American literary history.

On this day in movie history - Little Caesar (1931 movie & books):

Little Caesar

directed by Mervyn LeRoy,

written by Francis Edward Faragoh, Robert N. Lee, Robert Lord and Darryl F. Zanuck,

based on the novel by W. R. Burnett,

was released in the United States on January 25, 1931.
Music by Erno Rapee, Leo F. Forbstein and David Mendoza.

Cast:

Edward G. Robinson, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Glenda Farrell, William Collier Jr., Sidney Blackmer, Ralph Ince, Stanley Fields, Maurice Black, George E. Stone, Armand Kaliz, Nicholas Bela, Ernie Adams, Elmer Ballard, Ferike Boros, Kernan Cripps, George Daly, Adolph Faylauer, Ben Hendricks Jr., Al Hill, Lucille La Verne, Gladys Lloyd, Noel Madison, Tom McGuire, Louis Natheaux, Henry Sedley, Larry Steers, Landers Stevens, Mike Tellegen.

Recommended reading:

Little Caesar

By W.R. Burnett.

ASIN: B0012363AA

Published by Dial.

Published 1929.

Hardcover.

First edition.

Description:

Rico is a small, pale man, but he has guts, endurance and a steely single-mindedness. When Vettori sends the gang out to rob a local nightclub, Rico shoots a cop who pulls a gun on him. They get away, but Vettori is shocked. He had told Rico, no gunplay. That’s when Rico realizes that Vettori has gone soft. He’s too old to control the gang anymore. So Rico takes over. With the faithful Otero at his side, the rest of them quickly shift their allegiances. Now the world is Rico’s. It’s his gang, and he’s calling all the shots. But there is always a weak link, someone who’s ready to spill when the bulls get tough. And sooner or later the nightclub killing is bound to catch up with him.

Little Caesar

By Gerald Peary.

Edited by Tino Balio.

Published by University of Wisconsin Press.

Wisconsin / Warner Bros. Screenplays.

Published 1981.

First edition.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 029908454X

ISBN-13: 978-0299084547

Description:

Little Caesar, a 1931 Hollywood gangster classic, is viewed in revivals today with nearly as much audience enthusiasm as it enjoyed a half-century ago, in the depths of the Great Depression.

In general, the Hollywood film industry responded to the dark economic conditions of the 1930s with escapist and non-topical films. The fascinating exception was the gangster film, through which the studios joined in the debate over the spiritual and economic health of the nation. Little Caesar, considered by many to be an architype of the genre, is one of the most memorable dramatizations of the discontent and alienation, the deep anxiety and hostility shared by millions of Americans during those dark years.