February 25, 1988

Polanski's Technique is Not Enough to Sustain "Frantic."

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews "Frantic," the new movie by director Roman Polanski and starring Harrison Ford. Ford plays an American cardiologist whose wife is kidnapped by Middle Eastern terrorists in Paris. Polanski's other films include "Chinatown," "Tess," "Repulsion" and "Rosemary's Baby."

03:21

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Guest

Stephen Schiff

Host

Terry Gross

Other segments from the episode on February 25, 1988

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, February 25, 1988: Interview with Bernice Johnson Reagon; Review Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians' album "Globe of Frogs"; Interview with Tony Huston; Review of the film …

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February 25, 1988

27:11

Civil Rights and Gospel.

Bernice Johnson Reagon, singer, cultural historian and director of Smithsonian's Program in Black American Culture. Reagon sings contralto with Sweet Honey in the Rock, one of the country's leading a cappella groups. She's been described as a "song shaper and song preserver." In her work with the Smithsonian, Reagon tries to maintain obscure and dying Baptist choral traditions.

Interview

Bernice Johnson Reagon

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February 25, 1988

06:55

New Album by College Radio Stars is Alternately Amusing and Annoying.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews "Globe of Frogs," the latest album from Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians. The group's enigmatic lyrics and strong pop melodies are a big hit on college radio stations. Ken says this English band's strongest moment comes when the listener figures out what the singers are trying to say.

Review

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February 25, 1988

09:27

Tony Huston on Working with His Legendary Father.

Tony Huston, son of the late director John Huston. Tony Huston wrote the screenplay for the film "The Dead," based on the celebrated short story by James Joyce. "The Dead" was John Huston's last film.

Interview

Tony Huston

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Transcripts are created on a rush deadline, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Please be aware that the authoritative record of Fresh Air interviews and reviews are the audio recordings of each segment.

Screenwriter Stephen Schiff talks about writing the scripts for "True Crime" and "Deep End of the Ocean."He first established his reputation as a film critic for Vanity Fair and Fresh Air. He also wrote film essays and profiles for The New Yorker. He served an unprecedented three terms as chairman of the National Society of Film Critics. His first screenplay was for the most recent film adaptation of Lolita.

Interview

Stephen Schiff

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July 22, 1998

34:15

Stephen Schiff on How "Lolita" Explores the "Beastly and the Beautiful"

Fresh Air's former film critic returns to discuss writing the screenplay for the controversial film adaptation of Nabokov's "Lolita." The $58 million film inspired such controversy that distribution in the U.S. was delayed. "Lolita," directed by Adrian Lyne (Flashdance, 9 1/2 Weeks) will premiere on the Showtime cable channel August 2nd. It's just been announced that the film will be released in movie houses in September. Schiff's screenplay, "Lolita: The Book of the Film" (Applause books), will be published next month.

Interview

Stephen Schiff

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Polanski's Technique is Not Enough to Sustain "Frantic."

Guest

Host

Related Topics

Other segments from the episode on February 25, 1988

Civil Rights and Gospel.

New Album by College Radio Stars is Alternately Amusing and Annoying.

Tony Huston on Working with His Legendary Father.

Transcript

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