Hollywood

Director Damien Chazelle talks about his movie La La Land, a love story set in the present day, but the influence of old Hollywood and musicals of the past is all around.

The Room (2003) has been called the Citizen Kane of bad movies. Eccentric filmmaker Tommy Wiseau wrote, directed and starred in the movie, and it has since developed a cult following. Around the country, fans flock to midnight screenings.

With the Breaking Bad spinoff about to begin its fourth season, Fresh Air presents archival interviews with star Bob Odenkirk, co-creator Peter Gould and actors Giancarlo Esposito and Jonathan Banks.

Billionaire filmmaker Howard Hughes has long been regarded as one of Hollywood's most eccentric and prolific playboys. A few years back, writer and film critic Karina Longworth stumbled onto an online message board, listing women Hughes had had sexual relationships with — just a list of names, no other information.

"In each of these names there's a whole life and a whole story," says Longworth, who hosts the film podcast You Must Remember This.

Judy Garland's daughter Lorna Luft talks about what her mother went through while making the 1954 film. The movie was produced by Sid Luft, who was Lorna's father and Garland's husband at the time.

A new documentary explores how women in Hollywood are pushing for more representation in front of and behind the camera. Davis and director Maria Giese discuss the dramatic disparities on screen.

The Oscar-nominated actor and screenwriter, who died Aug. 16, spoke to Terry Gross in 1998 about Ulee's Gold, Easy Rider and his acting philosophy of "doing less — and making more of it."

Evans, who died Oct. 26, had a long and storied career as a studio head and producer at Paramount. In 1994, he talked about his career in film, which started when he was discovered poolside in 1956.

Julie Andrews and her daughter Emma Walton Hamilton have written over 30 children's books together. Now they've collaborated on a new memoir about Julie Andrews' Hollywood years, which began when she was invited to Disney studios to play Mary Poppins.

One of Hollywood's biggest stars of the 1950s and '60s, the Spartacus and Lust for Life actor went on to run his own production company. Douglas died Feb. 5. Originally broadcast in 1988.

With The Old Guard, Prince-Bythewood becomes the first Black woman to direct an adaptation of a comic book.

Bassett plays world-renowned jazz saxophonist Dorothea Williams in Disney/Pixar's latest animated film. She talks about that role, as well as the challenges she's faced as a Black woman in Hollywood.

Rita Morena was the first Latina actor to receive the Oscar, for her performance in West Side Story, but she almost didn't take role. She went on to other memorable roles, but had to fight typecasting, and sexism in the industry. Now at the age of 89, she's the subject of an upcoming documentary.

Beatty, who died June 13, made his film debut in Deliverance and then went on to appear in scores of movies, including Network, All the President's Men and Superman. Originally broadcast in 1987.

Bogdanovich's directing credits include The Last Picture Show, Paper Moon and What's Up Doc? He was also a movie critic and a Hollywood historian. He died Jan. 6. Originally broadcast in 1983.

From relentless campaigning to snubs and speeches, the Academy Awards have often reflected a cultural conflict zone. Michael Schulman sifts through the controversies in his new book, Oscar Wars.