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From the Archives: Making "L. A. Confidential."

Director Curtis Hanson and actor Russell Crowe from the film "L.A. Confidential." It's about corruption and retribution in L.A. in the 1950s and 60s and is adapted from the 1990 novel by James Ellroy. (James Ellroy is a previous Fresh Air guest whose memoir "My Dark Places" was about his mother's murder in L.A. in 1958) The film won best picture, best director and best screenplay awards from the New York Film critics circle and the LA film critics. It's also been nominated for 5 Golden Globe awards. (REBROADCAST from 9/18/97)

21:48
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Other segments from the episode on January 2, 1998

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, January 2, 1998: Interview with Pam Grier; Interview with Elmore Leonard; Interview with Curtis Hanson and Russell Crowe; Commentary on the word "cult."
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08:51

From the Archives: Actor Pam Grier.

Actress Pam Grier. She's starring in the new film Quentin Tarantino film, "Jackie Brown." She got her start playing tough, scantily-clad women in black exploitation films, such as "Black Mama, White Mama," "Foxy Brown," and "Sheba Baby." She played a hooker in "Fort Apache: The Bronx," and (REBROADCAST from 5/10/90)

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11:47

From the Archives: Crime Novelist Elmore Leonard.

Novelist Elmore Leoanrd. The new film "Jackie Brown" is based on his crime novel, "Rum Punch." It's directed by Quentin Tarantino. He's 72 years old and has been called "the greatest living writer of crime fiction" (New York Times). Though he'd been writing for decades, critics didn't take notice of him until the 1980s. Now his work is known for it tight prose, "ear-perfect" dialogue and depiction of lower class life.

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37:28

Making "L. A. Confidential."

Director Curtis Hanson and actor Russell Crowe from the new film "L.A. Confidential" which is adapted from the 1990 novel by James Ellroy. (James Ellroy is a previous Fresh Air guest whose memoir "My Dark Places" was about his mother's murder in L.A. in 1958) The film, which has received a lot of attention at film festivals including Cannes, and Toronto, is about corruption and retribution in L.A. in the 1950s and 60s. (THIS INTERVIEW CONTINUES INTO THE SECOND HALF OF THE SHOW)

Interview

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