Terry Gross

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews, "Mountains of the Moon," the movie about the expedition in the late 1800's to the source of the Nile. It's directed by Bob Rafelson. Rafelson's other movies include "Five Easy Pieces," and "Black Widow."

Former mafia member Joseph Salerno. Salerno's damming court testimony was the lynchpin that brought down Philadelphia mafia don Nicodemo "little Nicky" Scarfo. Salerno was drawn into the Cosa Nostra in 1976. After taking part in a mob hit in 1979, Salerno decided to testify against Scarfo. That led to a 200-thousand dollar contract against Salerno and his fleeing into the witness protection program and assuming a new identity. With Stephen J.

Author and illustrator Laurent de Brunhoff (with a silent "h"). He's followed his father's footsteps, and for the past 40 years has written and drawn the continuing adventures of Babar the Elephant. There are now 36 Babar kids books, in 17 languages, as well as a movie and TV shows. (by the way, it's bah-BAHR, or BAA-bahr, but NEVER BAY-bahr!!!).

Poet Mark Halliday reads his poem "Tonette" about one of life's lessons that he learned via the tonette.

Consumer advocate Alice Tepper Marlin. Marlin's executive director of the Council on Economic Priorities and one of the authors of "Shopping For a Better World: A Quick and Easy Guide to Socially Responsible Supermarket Shopping." The guide helps consumers choose what items to buy, based on the environmental, social, and employment practices of the manufacturers. The guide rates more than 1800 supermarket items and 168 companies for factors such as environment, employee family benefits, ties to South Africa, and management opportunities for women.

In celebration Mardi Gras, New Orleans pianist Mac Rebennack (otherwise known as Dr. John) plays some Mardi Gras tunes. (this is a rebroadcast of an earlier performance piece, April 22, 1988).

German film director Volker Schlöndorff. He just finished the film adaptation of Margaret Atwood's best-selling novel, "The Handmaid's Tale." It stars Natasha Richardson, Faye Dunaway, Elizabeth McGovern, and Robert Duval. Schlondorf's other films include "The Tin Drum," which won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film, "The Lost Honor of Katherina Blum," and "Swann in Love."

Writer Thomas McGuane. McGuane's been called "Ernest Hemingway with a sense of humor ... (and) ... Franz Kafka journeying through Montana." He's the author of the acclaimed novels The Sporting Club, Ninety-Two In The Shade, and To Skin A Cat. McGuane's latest novel is called Keep The Change. It follows a self-despising artist as he travels to Montana to try to make a new life for himself. McGuane himself runs a ranch in Montana. (Rebroadcast. Originally broadcast September 22, 1989.)

Composer and musician Danny Elfman. Elfman has been gaining a reputation as one of Hollywood's most talented film composers, and just won a Grammy Award in Instrumental Composition for his theme from "Batman." He also composed the music for "Beetlejuice," "Midnight Run," and both Pee Wee Herman movies, and he leads the rock band Oingo Boingo. (Rebroadcast. Originally broadcast June 12, 1989.)

Historian and author Hillel Schwartz. His latest book is "Century's End: A Cultural History of the Fin-de-Siècle From the 990's through the 1990's." (Published by Doubleday.) According to Schwartz, certain events happening now, as we approach the year 2000, are part of a pattern that repeats itself at the end of each century. Schwartz's earlier book about dieting, "Never Satisfied: A Cultural History of Diets, Fantasies, and Fat," has just come out in paperback. (Published by Anchor Books, Doubleday.)