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Author John Gregory Dunne Writes his Memoirs.

Journalist, screenwriter and novelist John Gregory Dunne. In his latest book, "Harp," Dunne explores what it means to be Irish Catholic in America. Dunne explores his own history - "from steerage to suburbia in three generations" - his college days longing to be a WASP, his family's scarred history (suicides, murders), and what he calls his "insane desire to be assimilated." Dunne's earlier novels include "The Red, White and Blue," "True Confessions," "Vegas" and "Dutch Shea, Jr." He is married to the writer Joan Didion, and together they've written the screenplays for the films "The Panic in Needle Park," "A Star is Born," "Play it as it Lays" and "True Confessions." His brother is the writer and former film producer Dominick Dunne. (Rebroadcast. Original date 9/6/89).

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Other segments from the episode on March 12, 1990

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, March 12, 1990: Interview with John Gregory Dunne; Interview with Martin Amis; Review of the television shows "Life of Python" and "Twenty Years of Monthy Python--Parrot…
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18:42

Martin Amos Discusses Apocalyptic Fear.

British novelist Martin Amis (pronounced like Amos). Newsweek magazine calls his new novel, "London Fields," "an upside-down murder mystery, morality tale, nuclear science fiction and postmodern love story." His earlier novels, such as "The Rachael Papers," "Other People" and "Money," have made him a literary star in England, and also placed him under attack from British feminists, who object to his satirical portrayals of women.

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03:58

Specials for Monty Python's 20th Anniversary.

Television critic David Bianculli two Showtime cable specials about the British comedy group, Monthy Python's Flying Circus. The specials are called "Life of Python," and "Twenty Years of Monty Python--Parrot Sketch Not Included." David says they're both fun, but both fall short of telling the full story of the group.

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22:20

Author John Gregory Dunne Writes his Memoirs.

Journalist, screenwriter and novelist John Gregory Dunne. In his new book, Harp, Dunne explores what it means to be Irish Catholic in America. Dunne explores his own history - "from steerage to suburbia in three generations" - his college days longing to be a WASP, his family's scarred history (suicides, murders), and what he calls his "insane desire to be assimilated." Dunne's earlier novels include The Red White and Blue, True Confessions, Vegas and Dutch Shea, Jr.

Interview
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13:50

A Screenwriter Bends to the Will of Movie Producers

Screenwriter John Gregory Dunne. He and his wife, writer Joan Didion, have been working in film for 25 years. Their latest project was the screenplay for "Up Close and Personal" the movie starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert Redford, based very losely on the Jessica Savitch story. In Dunne's new book "Monster: Living off the Big Screen" (Random House) he chronicles their eight year odyssey with the project.

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