Terry Gross

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews the new movie "Boyz N the Hood," about gang violence in L.A.

The first of a two-part interview with Sonny Bono. Today, Bono discusses his early years in the record business, his work with Phil Specter, and his meeting Cher. Tomorrow, he talks about the Sonny and Cher years, their breakup, and his going on to be elected mayor of Palm Springs, California. Bono has a new autobiography, called "And The Beat Goes On" (published by Pocket Books).

Record producer and consultant Colin Escott. Escott's had a long association with Sun Records, the company responsible for many of the great acts from the dawn of rock and roll. Escott has a new book about Sun, called "Good Rockin' Tonight" (published by St. Martin's Press).

Writer John Strawn. Strawn's new book, "Driving the Green," chronicles the process of designing and building a new golf course. (It's published by Harper Collins).

Reporter Leonard Lee. Lee's new book, "The Day the Phones Stopped: The Computer Crisis-- The What and Why of It, and How We Can Beat It," examines how our growing dependency on computers, and the growing complexity of computer programs, have led to expensive, and sometimes deadly, computer failures. Prior to becoming a journalist, Lee was a systems engineer for IBM. ("The Day the Phones Stopped" is published by Donald I. Fine).

Terry talks with ethnomusicologist Steven Feld. His record, "Voices of the Rainforest," captures the songs of the Kaluli (KAH-loo-lee) people of Paupa New Guinea. Feld's studies have just earned him a MacArthur Grant. Feld also works for preservation of the world's rain forests, since if the forests are eliminated, it will also mean the loss of much indigenous music. (The record is on Rycodisc). (Rebroadcast. Original date 4/15/91).

Soviet born violinist Dmitry Sitkovetsky (Sitz-ka-vets-kee). In the 1970s both he and his mother emigrated to the U.S. In 1988 DMITRY became the first post-war Soviet emigre musician to be invited back to USSR to perform. (Rebroadcast. Original date 3/13/91).

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews "Regarding Henry," staring Harrison Ford as a man who's world changes, not totally for the worse, after he's shot in the head. The film is directed by Mike Nichols and written by J. J. Abrams.

Industrial designer Peter Bressler of Bresslergroup. When the city of Philadelphia wanted to put new trash receptacles in the downtown area, they hired Bressler's firm to figure out which trash can worked best. Bressler talks with us about the difficulties of making a simple object.

We examine recent developments in the Iran-Contra Affair, and how those developments is affecting the nomination of Robert Gates to head the CIA. We speak with Tim Weiner, (wi-ner, not we-ner) who covers national security issues for the Philadelphia Inquirer.