During the 1950s and '60s, record labels were subject to criminal investigations over their practice of paying radio stations for airplay of their songs. A new book by Fredric Dannen, about the way the payola system has re-emerged, is called Hit Men.
Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead says the multi-instrumentalist genre-hopper is distinctive; but his music has been largely overlooked, in part because may considered his eclectic approach middle-brow. Whitehead hopes two new reissues of Kirk's music will bring Kirk some much-deserved attention.
Linguist Geoff Nunberg recently returned from a trip to France. He was initially confident in his French proficiency, but that feeling soon faded; in fact, he noticed his limited vocabulary affected how he thought, not just spoke.
Curtis's parents are Hollywood actors Jane Lee and Tony Curtis. In contrast to her own childhood, she keeps her own daughter out of the public eye. Curtis joins Fresh Air to talk about her roles in horror, comedy, and TV.
The new work by archaeologist Charles Pellegrino reconstructs a vision of the ancient Greek world on the island of Thera, where the mythical city of Atlantis was said to have been. Book critic John Leonard says it's fascinating to think how technology and civilization would have advanced had that area not been destroyed by a volcano.
Cage stars in the upcoming David Lynch movie. The actor says he enjoyed Wild at Heart's dreamlike atmosphere, which allowed him to push the boundaries of his performance. He joins Fresh Air to discuss some of his earlier work, and the extremes he's gone to capture a character. Cage is the nephew of Francis Ford Coppola; he changed his name to distinguish himself from his famous family.
Critic Own Geliberman reviews the home video release of Harvey, starring Jimmy Stuart in an unusual and never-matched role. Gleiberman says the movie is unique today for its 40-year-old perspectives on alcoholism and mental health.
World music critic Milo Miles says that some of the first recorded black music in the United States was calypso, despite the fact that that the style originated in the Caribbean. Calypso, most often performed during Carnival, was known for being extremely topical -- performers were expected to improvise songs on the spot about current events.
Kirby has had prominent roles in films like Good Morning, America, The Godfather II, and When Harry Met Sally. He stars in a new, mob-themed comedy called The Freshman. His father is fellow movie actor Bruce Kirby.
Almereyda's first feature film, Twister, about a Cleveland family caught in a storm in Kansas, was based on Mary Robison's book Oh!. It stars Crispin Glover and Harry Dean Stanton.
Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz has nothing but praise for two new CDs on the Pearl label, which feature recordings by the great violinist, Joseph Szigeti. Later in his career, Szigeti's developed a reputation for flagging technique and questionable intonation, but Schwartz says these performances should restore his reputation as a master musician.
Miller starred in dozens of Roger Corman's B-movies, including Bucket of Blood. Later, big name directors so admired his work that they began to give Miller small parts in their films. He appeared in all of of Joe Dante's movies, including the recent Gremlins 2.
The French government will officially simplify the spelling of several dozen words, claiming the change will make their national language more accessible and appealing to foreigners. Linguist Geoff Nunberg questions the efficacy of the initiative, and considers how countries define themselves through culture and legislation.
Mubarak Awad grew up in the Occupied Territories; he later became a U.S. citizen, but returned to Palestine to advocate for civil disobedience as the best way to resist Israeli rule and discrimination. He joins Fresh Air to give his perspective on the intifada and Palestinian organizations like PLO, whose violent actions Awat sees as acts of resistance, not terrorism.
Ken Tucker reviews the former Stooges frontman's record Brick by Brick. He says Iggy Pop's solo career has been uneven, but this new effort is fitfully good.
Director Alan J. Pakula's adaptation of the bestselling novel lacks the complexity and humor of the book, says film critic Stephen Schiff. The story concerns the murder of a woman lawyer and the difficult, sexually-charged investigation that follows.
Some directors and distributors say the rating, often associated with hardcore pornography, amounts to de factor censorship of their movies -- many theaters won't play them, and advertising is hard to secure. MPAA President Jack Valenti, who invented the rating, director Wayne Wang, and Senior Vice President of Marketing Russell Schwartz respond to the controversy.
Rooker appears in two recently-released films -- the big budget action flick Days of Thunder, and the independently produced Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. He was born into a poor, predominantly white town in Alabama, and later moved to a black neighborhood in Chicago. After growing up among people working 15-hour days, it took Rooker until his early twenties to believe that acting could be a real job.
Critic John Leonard says the new trio of texts exploring the controversy stirred by the Satanic Verses vary in style, form, and slant. But all of them overlook a neglected part of the story: the responses of religious leaders in the West, who seemed to have learned nothing from their faith traditions' condemnation of great thinkers like Galileo, Martin Luther, and even Jesus Christ.
The jazz singer and pianist made a splash with his debut album two years ago. But despite Connick's success, jazz critic Kevin Whitehead is not impressed. He says the young musician apes Thelonious Monk and Frank Sinatra, and badly.
