On this day in music history - Sirens of the Sea by OceanLab (2008):

Sirens of the Sea by OceanLab (2008)

Sirens of the Sea

Album by OceanLab,

released July 21, 2008.

Track list: Just Listen; Sirens of the Sea; If I Could Fly; Breaking Ties; Miracle; Come Home; On a Good Day; Ashes; I Am What I Am; Lonely Girl; Secret; On the Beach; Breaking Ties (Flow mix).

On this day in movie history - The Shootist (1976 movie & novel):

The Shootist

directed by Don Siegel,

written by Miles Hood Swarthout and Scott Hale,

based on the novel by Glendon Swarthout,

was released in the United States on July 21, 1976.
Music by Elmer Bernstein.

Cast:

John Wayne, Lauren Bacall, Ron Howard, James Stewart, Richard Boone, Hugh O'Brian, Bill McKinney, Harry Morgan, John Carradine, Sheree North, Rick Lenz, Scatman Crothers, Gregg Palmer, Alfred Dennis, Dick Winslow, Melody Thomas Scott, Kathleen O'Malley, Jack Berle, Johnny Crawford, Chuck Dawson, George Dunn, Duke Fishman, Christopher George, Jonathan Goldsmith, Leo Gordon, Charles G. Martin, Jim Michael, Ernesto Molinari, Ricky Nelson, James Nolan, Nick Raymond, Henry Slate, Bob Steele, Ralph Volkie, John Zimeas.

Recommended reading:

The Shootist

By Glendon Swarthout.

Introduction by Miles Swarthout.

Filmed as The Shootist (1976), directed by Don Siegel.

Published by Bison Books.

First published 1975.

ISBN-10: 0803238231

ISBN-13: 9780803238237

Description:

"Such style...such a strong central idea...the showdown is an unremitting as the build-up." – Sunday Times of London.

"This is an extremely well-written Western and gives the reader vivid insight into the workings of the mind of a wanderer and gunman." – Baton Rouge, Louisiana Sunday Advocate.

"The Shootist by Glendon Swarthout is the taleof the Old West's version of the modern 'hit man'. It is a splendid story, well-told and with a really satisfying ending." – Charleston, South Carolina Evening Post.

The Shootist is John Bernard Books, a man of principle and the only surviving gunfighter in a vanishing American West. He rides into El Paso in the year 1901, on the day Queen Victoria died, there to be told by a doctor that he must soon confront the greatest shootist of all: Death. In such a showdown, against such an antagonist, he cannot win. Most men may end their days in bed or take their own lives, but a man-killer has a 3rd option, one which Books decides to exercise. He may choose his own executioner.

As word spreads that the famous assassin has reached the end of his rope, an assortment of vultures gathers to feast upon his corpse--among them a gambler, a rustler, an undertaker, an old love, a reporter, even a boy. Books outwits them, however, by selecting the where, when, who, and why of his death, and writing in fire from a pair of Remingtons the last courageous act of his own legend. The climatic gunfight itself is an incredible performance by an incredible man, and by his creator, Glendon Swarthout.

The Shootist will rank with such classics as Shane and The Ox-Bow Incident, but it is much more than a Western. When, in the final afternoon of his life, J. B. Books crosses a street and enters a saloon to make something of his death, we cross, we enter, with him. He is us.

From a corner of the south window Gillom Rogers spied on the new lodger. The man unpacked his valise and put things in a drawer of the chiffonier, then hung his Price Albert coat in the closet. When he turned from the closet he was in shirt and vest. The boy's eyes rounded. Sewn to each side of the vest was a holster, reversed, and in each holster was a pistol, butt forward. As he watched, sucking in his breath, the man took the weapons out, revolved the cylinders, filled a chamber in one he had evidently fired, and replaced them before hanging the vest, too, in the closet. The pistols were a pair of nickel-plated, short-barreled, unsighted, single-action .44 Remingtons, obviously manufactured to order. The handle of one was black gutta-percha, the other pearl.

Gillom slipped away to take the horse to the livery, letting the breath of revelation out of his lungs. He was seventeen, and spent much of his time in saloons. He was not yet served, but he enjoyed himself and picked up a great deal of miscellaneous information, some of it true, some of it of doubtful authenticity. But the man in corner room was no stranger to him now. He had heard enough scalp-itch, blood-freeze tales to know that only one man carried a similar pair of guns in a similar manner...

Born on this day – Robin Williams:

Robin Williams

Actor

Comedian

July 21, 1951 – August 11, 2014

Credits:

A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-Out (1992); A Wish for Wings That Work (1991); A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001); Absolutely Anything (2015); Aladdin (1992); Aladdin and the King of Thieves (1996); Aladdin on Ice (1995); America 2-Night (1978); American Idol (2008); An All-Star Toast to the Improv (1988); An Evening at the Improv (1981); An Evening with Robin Williams (1983); August Rush (2007); Awakenings (1990); A Merry Friggin’ Christmas (2014); Back to Neverland (1989); Being Human (1994); Bicentennial Man (1999); Bobby McFerrin: Don’t Worry, Be Happy (1988); Boulevard (2014); Cadillac Man (1990); Can I Do It ‘Till I Need Glasses? (1977); Cinemax Comedy Experiment (1986); Club Paradise (1986); Comic Relief (1986); Dead Again (1991); Dead Poets Society (1989); Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam (1987); Death to Smoochy (2002); Deconstructing Harry (1997); Disney’s Math Quest with Aladdin (1998); Eight Is Enough (1977); Everyone’s Hero (2006); Faerie Tale Theatre (1982); Fathers’ Day (1997); FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992); Flubber (1997); Freedom: A History of US (2003); Friends (1997); Good Morning, Vietnam (1987); Good Will Hunting (1997); Hamlet (1996); Happy Days (1978–1979); Happy Feet (2006); Happy Feet Two (2011); Homicide: Life on the Street (1994); Hook (1991); House of D (2004); In Search of Dr. Seuss (1994); Insomnia (2002); Jack (1996); Jakob the Liar (1999); Jimmy Kimmel & Ben Affleck: I’m Fucking Ben Affleck (2008); Jonathan Winters: On the Ledge (1987); Jumanji (1995); L.A. Doctors (1999); Laugh-In (1977–1978); Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2008); License to Wed (2007); Louie (2012); Man of the Year (2006); Mork & Mindy (1978–1982); Mork & Mindy / Laverne & Shirley / Fonz Hour (1982); Moscow on the Hudson (1984); Mrs. Doubtfire (1993); Mrs. Doubtfire: Deleted Scenes (2003); Night at the Museum (2006); Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009); Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014); Nine Months (1995); Noel (2004); Old Dogs (2009); On Location: The Comedy Store’s 11th Anniversary Show (1983); One Hour Photo (2002); One Saturday Morning (1998); Out of the Blue (1979); Patch Adams (1998); Popeye (1980); Portrait of a White Marriage (1988); Pryor’s Place (1984); Rabbit Ears: Pecos Bill (1988); World’s Greatest Dad (2009); Rabbit Ears: The Fool and the Flying Ship (1991); Robin Williams Live on Broadway (2002); Robin Williams: An Evening at the Met (1986); Robin Williams: Elmer Fudd Sings Bruce Springsteen (1983); Robin Williams: Weapons of Self Destruction (2009); Robots (2005); RV (2006); Saturday Night Live (2010); Saturday Night Live: The Best of Robin Williams (1991); SCTV Network (1982); Seize the Day (1986); Shakes the Clown (1991); Shrink (2009); Sorority ‘62 (1978); SpongeBob SquarePants (2009); The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988); The Angriest Man in Brooklyn (2014); The Best of Times (1986); The Big Wedding (2013); The Big White (2005); The Birdcage (1996); The Butler (2013); The Crazy Ones (2013–2014); The Earth Day Special (1990); The Earth Day Special (1990); The Face of Love (2013); The Final Cut (2004); The Fisher King (1991); The Larry Sanders Show (1994); The Night Listener (2006); The Richard Pryor Show (1977); The Rutles 2: Can’t Buy Me Lunch (2003); The Secret Agent (1996); The Survivors (1983); The Timekeeper (1992); The World According to Garp (1982); The Young Comedians All-Star Reunion (1986); To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995); Toys (1992); What Dreams May Come (1998); Wilfred (2012).

Born on this day – Edward Herrmann:

Edward Herrmann

Actor

Director

Writer

July 21, 1943 – December 31, 2014

Credits:

30 Rock (2008); A Christmas Wish (2011); A Civil Action (1998); A Little Sex (1982); A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story (1978); A Season in Purgatory (1996); Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1987); American Dad! (2012–2016); American Playhouse (1984–1987); Andrew Jackson (2007); Annie (1982); Ape to Man (2005); Are You Here (2013); Atomic Train (1999); Beacon Hill (1975); Bereft (2004); Better Living (1998); Better with You (2011); Bible Battles (2005); Big Business (1988); Biography (1997); Black Box (2014); Born Yesterday (1993); Brass Target (1978); Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star (2011); Christmas Oranges (2012); Coach of the Year (2015); Compromising Positions (1985); Critical Care (1997); Crossing Jordan (2003); CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2013); Dear Liar (1981); Death Valley (1982); Decoding the Past: Mysteries of the Bermuda Triangle (2005); Desperate Crossing - The True Story of the Mayflower (2006); Don't Drink the Water (1994); Double Take (2001); Drop Dead Diva (2011); Eighty Acres of Hell (2006); Eleanor and Franklin (1976); Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years (1977); Enduring Legacy (2012); Factory Girl (2006); Fire in the Dark (1991); First Invasion: The War of 1812 (2004); Foreign Student (1994); Freedom Road (1979); Freedom to Speak (1983); Gilmore Girls (2000–2007); Gilmore Girls (2001–2007); Grey's Anatomy (2007); Harry's Law (2012); Harry's War (1981); Hatching Pete (2009); Heaven's Door (2012); Here Come the Munsters (1995); Hero (1992); Homicide: Life on the Street (1996); Hothouse (1988); How I Met Your Mother (2013); How the Earth Was Made (2007); I Think I Love My Wife (2007); Intolerable Cruelty (2003); Isaac's Storm (2004); James Dean (2001); Lady Liberty (1971); Laughter in the Dark (1986); Law & Order (1995–2009); Liberty! The American Revolution (1997); M*A*S*H (1980); Memorial Day (1983); Men of Valor (2004); Monsterquest (2008); Mrs. Soffel (1984); Murrow (1986); My Boyfriend's Back (1993); Nixon (1995); Nostradamus: 500 Years Later (2003); Nova (1998–1999); Overboard (1987); Oz (2000–2003); Pandora's Clock (1996); Perception (2015); Portrait of a Stripper (1979); Price Check (2012); Redemption: For Robbing the Dead (2011); Reds (1981); Relative Strangers (2006); Richie Rich (1994); Saint Maybe (1998); Screen One (1993); So Proudly We Hail (1990); Son of Morning (2011); Soul of the Game (1996); St. Elsewhere (1984–1986); Sweet Poison (1991); Take Down (1979); The 5:48 (1979); The Aviator (2004); The Betsy (1978); The Cat's Meow (2001); The Christmas Pageant (2011); The Day of the Dolphin (1973); The Electric Grandmother (1982); The Emperor's Club (2002); The Face on the Milk Carton (1995); The French Revolution (2005); The General Motors Playwrights Theater (1991); The Gift of Life (1982); The Good Wife (2010–2013); The Great Gatsby (1974); The Great Waldo Pepper (1975); The Lawrenceville Stories (1986–1987); The Lost Boys (1987); The Lost Boys: The Lost Scenes (2004); The Man with One Red Shoe (1985); The North Avenue Irregulars (1979); The Paper Chase (1973); The Practice (1997–2001); The Private History of a Campaign That Failed (1981); The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985); The Shaft (2001); The Six Wives of Henry Lefay (2009); The Skeptic (2009); The Surge: The Untold Story (2010); The Ten Commandments (2005); The Town That Dreaded Sundown (2014); The Wolf of Wall Street (2013); Tom Goes to the Mayor (2005); Treasure Buddies (2012); UFO Files (2005); Valley Forge (1975); Vendetta (1999); Violent Earth: New England's Killer Hurricane (2006); Walking Across Egypt (1999); Wedding Daze (2006); Welcome to Mooseport (2004); What Love Sees (1996); Wings (1995); Wonder Woman (2011).

Born on this day – John Gardner:

John Gardner

Writer

July 21, 1933 – September 14, 1982

Credits:

Books:

Come on Back (1981); Dragon, Dragon (1975); Dragon, Dragon and Other Tales (1975); Freddy's Book (1980); Grendel (1971); Gudgekin the Thistle Girl (1976); Gudgekin the Thistle Girl and Other Tales (1976); He Clinc'd the Colossal Door (1971); In the Suicide Mountains (1977); Jason and Medeia (1973); John Napper Sailing Through the Universe (1974); Julius Caesar and the Werewolf (1984); King Gregor and the Fool (1974); Mickelsson's Ghosts (1982); Muriel (1974); Nimram (1981); Pastoral Care (1974); Queen Louisa (1972); Redemption (1981); So they announced (1972); So We Decided (1972); Stillness (1981); The Art of Living (1981); The Art of Living and Other Stories (1981); The Gnome and the Dragons (1977); The Griffin and the Wise Old Philosopher (1976); The Joy of the Just (1981); The King of the Hummingbirds (1977); The King of the Hummingbirds and Other Tales (1977); The King's Indian (1974); The King's Indian: A Tale (1974); The Last Piece of Light (1975); The Library Horror (1981); The Miller's Mule (1975); The Music Lover (1981); The Pear Tree (1977); The Ravages of Spring (1973); The Sea Gulls (1976); The Shape-Shifters of Shorm (1976); The Tailor and the Giant (1975); The Temptation of St. Ivo (1974); The Warden (1974); The Witch's Wish (1977); Trumpeter (1981); Vlemk the Box-Painter (1979); Vlemk the Box-Painter (1981).

Movies and television:

Biography (2006); The Liquidator (1965); The Stone Killer (1973); Wogan (1988).

Born on this day – John Woodvine:

John Woodvine

Actor

July 21, 1929 – October 6, 2025

Credits:

A Matter of Time (2007); A Month in the Country (1985); A Perfect State (1997); A Pinch of Snuff (1994); A Song for Jenny (2015); A Tale of Two Cities (1989); Against the Crowd (1975); All Creatures Great & Small (1985); All in Good Faith (1988); All Our Working Lives (1984); All Our Working Lives Working the Land (1984); An Actor's Life for Me (1991); An American Werewolf in London (1981); An Unofficial Rose (1974–1975); Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire (2006); And a Nightingale Sang (1989); Aquarius (1971 / 1973); Armchair Theatre (1966); Assault on Agathon (1976); Auntie's Bloomers (1991–2001); BBC Play of the Month (1968–1970); Beware the Moon: Remembering 'An American Werewolf in London' (2009); Bob & Rose (2001); Bomber (1995); Boyd Q.C. (1961); Burke and Hare (2010); By the Sword Divided (1985); Call Oxbridge 2000 (1961); Casualty (2001–2007); Champion Road (1958); Chelmsford 123 (1990); Chronicle (1989); Churchill's People (1975); City of Vice (2008); Civvies (1992); Conflict (1967); Coronation Street (1965–2010); Countdown to War (1989); Crane (1964); Crown Prosecutor (1995); Danger Man (1961); Danny the Champion of the World (1989); Darling (1965); Death Is Part of the Process (1986); Deceptions (1985); Decline and Fall (2017); Defining Shadows (2007); Demob (1993); Diary (1998); Diary of a Young Man (1964); Distant Shores (2005); Doc Martin (2005); Doctor Finlay (1996); Doctor Who (1979); Doctor Who: Doom Coalition (2015); Doctors (2012); Dragonworld (1994); Duke Bluebeard's Castle (1988); Edge of Darkness (1985); Elizabeth R (1971); Emergency-Ward 10 (1966); Emmerdale Farm (2008); Enys Men (2022); Every Time You Look at Me (2004); Faith (1994); Fatherland (1994); Finney (1994); Flick (2008); Ghost Squad (1962); Glory Enough for All (1988); Hadleigh (1976); Hamlet (1970 / 2009); Harry (1995); Heartbeat (1995); Hebburn (2013); Hilary (1995); Holby City (2005); Horatio Hornblower: The Duchess and the Devil (1999); Incident in Judaea (1992); ITV Play of the Week (1962–1966); ITV Playhouse (1979); Jackanory (1991); Joe Maddison's War (2010); Juliet Bravo (1983); Knights of God (1987); Leon the Pig Farmer (1992); Les Girls (1988); Lime Street (1986); Macbeth (1979); Man of the World (1963); Medics (1992–1993); Melba (1988); Midsomer Murders (2001–2011); Miss Potter (2006); Moonstrike (1963); Mr & Mrs Edgehill / BBC2 Playhouse (1979); Murder Bag (1958); Murder with Mirrors (1985); Never Better (2008); New Scotland Yard (1972–1973); Oliver's Travels (1995); On Expenses (2010); Our Friend Victoria (2017); Paradise Heights (2002); Pardon the Expression (1966); Peak Practice (1998); Pebble Mill at One (1993); Performance (1995); Pericles, Prince of Tyre (1984); Persuasion (1995); Peter Ackroyd's London (2004); Pirate Prince (1991); Play for Today (1971–1978); R3 (1965); Return of the Saint (1978); Rockliffe's Babies (1988); Romeo & Juliet (1994); Room at the Bottom (1988); Runaway Bay (1992–1993); Screen Two (1993); Screenplay (1986–1988); Secret Agent (1965–1966); Sergeant Cork (1963); Shadows (1975); Shameless (2005); Softly Softly (1967); Softly Softly: Task Force (1971); Sold (2007); Spaghetti House (1982); Spender (1992); Spine Chillers (1980); Squadron (1982); Squaring the Circle (1984); Storyline (1993); Strangers (1982); Studio (1983); Swallows and Amazons Forever!: Coot Club (1984); Swallows and Amazons Forever!: The Big Six (1984); Take Three Girls (1971); Tell Tale Hearts (1992); Ten Days That Shook the World (1967); Ten Great Writers of the Modern World (1988); The Avengers (1961–1968); The Baron (1966); The Bill (2001–2006); The Book Programme (1975); The Brief (2004); The Browning Version (1985); The Caesars (1968); The Campaign (1983); The Champions (1968); The Chief (1990); The Crown (2016); The Devils (1971); The Dog It Was That Died (1989); The Dustbinmen (1969); The English Programme (1980); The Falklands Play (2002); The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship (1991); The Further Adventures of the Musketeers (1967); The Haunted House (1960); The Investigation: Inside a Terrorist Bombing (1990); The Liars (1966); The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (1982); The Merchant of Venice (1996); The Midnight Drives (2007); The Musketeers (2016); The New Statesman (1987); The Other Boleyn Girl (2003); The Plane Makers (1963); The Poet (1960); The Prisoner of Zenda (1984); The Saint (1966); The Secret (2002); The Shadow of the Tower (1972); The Silent Weapon (1961); The South Bank Show (2007); The Tale of Beatrix Potter (1983); The Terrible Choice (1960); The Trial (1993); The Trial of Tony Blair (2007); The Tripods (1985); The Val Doonican Show (1974); The Villains (1964); The Walking Stick (1970); The Wars of the Roses (1991); The Water Margin (1973–1974); The Wednesday Play (1967–1969); Theatre 625 (1965); Thirty-Minute Theatre (1970); Thora on the Straight and Narrow (1993); Timewatch (1986); Tuesday's Documentary (1972); Turn Out the Lights (1967); Vanity Fair (2004); Vera (2014); Verdict (1998); Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV (1986); Weird Science (2007); When the Boat Comes In (1976); Where Were You? (1993); Who-Dun-It (1969); Whodunnit? (1973); Wuthering Heights (1992); Young Winston (1972); Z Cars (1963–1969).

Born on this day – Joan Benedict Steiger:

Joan Benedict Steiger

Actress

July 21, 1927 – June 24, 2024

Credits:

A Month of Sundays (2001); Actors Entertainment (2010); Apple's Way (1974); Berrenger's (1985); Bravo Profiles (2001); Crazy Like a Fox (1985); Days of Our Lives (1986); Dead Border (2013); Dollhouse (2009); Fantasy Island (1981–1982); Hotel (1986); Hunter (1985); Let's Call It Quits (1974); Opus of an Angel (2017); Perfect Victims (1988); Saturday Night in Apple Valley (1965); Sweet Underground (2004); T.J. Hooker (1984); The Flying Dutchman (2001); The Happy Hooker Goes to Washington (1977); The Incredible Hulk (1980); The New Gidget (1986); The Prize Fighter (1979); The Smith Family (1971); The Theory of Everything (2006); The Trials of Rosie O'Neill (1992).