World Music critic Milo Miles reviews some music from India's Bollywood films. He says songs written for these movies tend to incorporate a wide array of influences, from lush strings to reggae. For a taste, Miles recommends "Dance, Raja, Dance," by Vijaya Anand
Counselor Alvin Cater founded the Al Carter Foundation at Cabrini Green, a housing project in Chicago of 6000 people. The foundation is a hands-on intervention program that reaches youth by going into the streets, and makes referrals to the 13 human service agencies within Cabini Green. He tells Terry about the recent truce brokered among gangs at the project, and the effect recent gun violence has had on the community.
Alger Hiss & his son Tony Hiss. This is the infamous Alger Hiss who was convicted and jailed in 1950 for perjury after denying, under oath, that he had been a Soviet spy. This past October, with the opening of Soviet archives, there was found to be no evidence that Hiss had ever been an agent of the Kremlin. Hiss is 88 years old now, and has maintained his innocence all along. His son, Tony Hiss is a staff writer at "The New Yorker," and he wrote about his father's ordeal and exoneration in the November 16 issue of the magazine.
Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews "Toys." It was originally going to be director Levinson's debut movie, but studios deemed it too complicated for a first time director.
Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews a new album of Christmas music by Mel Torme. Torme wrote the classic, The Christmas Song, and he tries to repeat his success with this album.
Author Aljean Harmetz's new book, Round Up the Usual Suspects, tells the inside story of the making of the film Casablanca. Harmetz is also the author of The Making of the Wizard of Oz. She was the Hollywood film correspondent for The New York Times for 12 years, and is now a contributing editor for Esquire.
World music critic Milo Miles reviews a new collection of vintage African rumbas on the French label "African." It's part of their "Merveilles du Passe" series.
Some consider Grass Germany's greatest contemporary writer, both for his fiction -- including The Tin Drum -- and for his political essays. Grass argued for years against against German reunification because of the hatred and resentment he was afraid it would unleash; he believes his fears have since come to pass.
Critic Maureen Corrigan reviews the novel Regeneration, about a British poet wounded in World War I who tries to make his anti-war views known. It's based on the life of poet Siegfried Sassoon.
Yugoslavian journalist, critic, and feminist Slavenka Drakulic. We last spoke to her in July about living in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, with the outbreak of war. Recently, Drakulic has been researching and writing about Muslim women who have been raped by Serbs for genocidal purposes.
Kenneth Roth, deputy director of Human Rights Watch and editor of its annual World Report. The report, which was just released, reviews human rights developments in 1992 and examines U.S. human rights policies.
Book critic John Leonard reviews Marguerite Duras' novel "North China Lover," a more explicit version of her earlier novel "The Lover," which has been made into a movie.
Lahr has written a number of books and screenplays, including "Notes on a Cowardly Lion:" (about his father, the comedian Bert Lahr), and "Prick up Your Ears; The Biography of Joe Orton. Lahr has been the drama critic for over 25 years for "The Village Voice," and for "Vogue" (of Britian). He's written a new book about Barry Humphries and his creation, the dandy/alter ego Dame Edna Everage.
Author Nuruddin Farah came from a long line of poets and storytellers; he was one of first to use Somalia's written language, which was developed in the 60s. Prior to that, he wrote in English. He's recently had several books published in the United States. Farah, who's currently in exile in Nigeria, will discuss Somalia's culture and history.
Wainwright is best known for his 1973 hit "Dead Skunk ." Considered by many to be a satirical and caustic folksinger, his latest album, History, is a highly personal album. He sings frankly about marriage, parenthood, and child abuse.
New York Times reporter Edward Gargan is in India covering the erupting conflict between the Muslims and Hindu fundamentalists. Last Sunday a symbol of India's Muslim minority --a 16th century mosque--was destroyed by Hindu zealots. Gargan, along with other British and American journalists, was brutally beaten during the chaos..
Retired Major General Jeanne Holm was the highest-ranking woman ever to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. She worked her way up the to become a major general and in 1976 was appointed Special Assistant for Women to the President. She also served on DACOWITS, the Defense Advisory committee on Women in the Services. Holm has written a book, "Women in the Military: An Unfinished Revolution." She says that though discrimination against women in the military still exists, it's impossible for America to engage in a war without women.
