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From the Archives: On Accents in Movies.

Language commentator Geoff Nunberg considers why actors adopt foreign or regional accents in film -- and why they sometimes speak in their natural voice, regardless of the part they play. (REBROADCAST FROM 04/29/1987)

03:31
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Other segments from the episode on March 25, 1994

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, March 25, 1994: Interviews with Charlton Heston, Martin Scorsese, and Elmer Bernstein; Commentary on foreign accents in Hollywood films; Interviews with Kirk Douglas and…
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18:37

From the Archives: Hollywood's Biblical Epics.

Actor Charlton Heston. A consistent lead in the biblical epics of the 1950's and 1960's, Heston had starring roles in " The Greatest Story Ever Told" and "The Ten Commandments"; Heston also covered the Roman era in epics like "Ben Hur", "Julius Cesar", and "Antony & Cleopatra." Medieval Spain was not beyond his ken: HESTON had the lead as well in "El Cid." (REBROADCAST FROM 11/30/90).

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"The Ragman's Son" Remembers

Kirk Douglas says that growing up in abject poverty was an advantage: he had nowhere to go but up. Often known for his tough guy roles, he also enjoys playing men who are weak, lost and vulnerable. He started his own production company to make movies he believed had depth and substance. His new autobiography looks back on his career so far.

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A "Wordstruck" Journalist's New Memoir

Robert MacNeil hosts the Newshour program with Jim Lehrer. His latest book is about how his childhood experiences led him to a career in the news, and the importance of language and diction in his professional life.

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Daughter of Warhol star looks back on a bohemian childhood in the Chelsea Hotel

Alexandra Auder's mother, Viva, was one of Andy Warhol's muses. Growing up in Warhol's orbit meant Auder's childhood was an unusual one. For several years, Viva, Auder and Auder's younger half-sister, Gaby Hoffmann, lived in the Chelsea Hotel in Manhattan. It was was famous for having been home to Leonard Cohen, Dylan Thomas, Virgil Thomson, and Bob Dylan, among others.

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This fake 'Jury Duty' really put James Marsden's improv chops on trial

In the series Jury Duty, a solar contractor named Ronald Gladden has agreed to participate in what he believes is a documentary about the experience of being a juror--but what Ronald doesn't know is that the whole thing is fake.

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This Romanian film about immigration and vanishing jobs hits close to home

R.M.N. is based on an actual 2020 event in Ditrău, Romania, where 1,800 villagers voted to expel three Sri Lankans who worked at their local bakery.

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