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"Tom Jones" Is Still Bad.

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews the theatrical re-release of "Tom Jones." The 1963 film adaptation of Henry Fielding's novel of a bawdy 18th century playboy won Oscars for best picture, director, screenplay, and score. It stars Albert Finney and Susannah York.

03:50
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Other segments from the episode on September 28, 1989

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, September 28, 1989: Interview with Harvey Fierstein; Commentary on soukous music; Interview with Mira Nair; Review of the film "Tom Jones."
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21:47

Playwright, Screenwriter and Actor Harvey Fierstein.

Playwright and actor Harvey Fierstein (pronounced fire-steen). He's one of Broadway's leading playwrights. His hit play "Torch Song Trilogy," was adapted into a film, starring Matthew Broderick and Anne Bancroft. It's now out on home video cassette. Fierstein also wrote the plays "La Cage Aux Folles," and "Safe Sex." (Rebroadcast. Original date December 27, 1988).

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10:25

Mira Nair on Working With Street Children to Complete Her New Film.

Indian film director Mira Nair. Her first feature film, "Salaam Bombay!" is the story of Bombay's child beggars. It was filmed in the chaos of Bombay's red-light district with street children who were trained in a seven-week crash course. The film won the Golden Camera prize for best feature film at the Cannes Film Festival and the top honors at the Montreal Film Festival. (Rebroadcast. Original date March 7, 1989).

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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.

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30:29

Stephen Schiff Discusses His Latest Adventures in Hollywood.

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.

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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.

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52:30

Daughter of Warhol star looks back on a bohemian childhood in the Chelsea Hotel

Alexandra Auder's mother, Viva, was one of Andy Warhol's muses. Growing up in Warhol's orbit meant Auder's childhood was an unusual one. For several years, Viva, Auder and Auder's younger half-sister, Gaby Hoffmann, lived in the Chelsea Hotel in Manhattan. It was was famous for having been home to Leonard Cohen, Dylan Thomas, Virgil Thomson, and Bob Dylan, among others.

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43:04

This fake 'Jury Duty' really put James Marsden's improv chops on trial

In the series Jury Duty, a solar contractor named Ronald Gladden has agreed to participate in what he believes is a documentary about the experience of being a juror--but what Ronald doesn't know is that the whole thing is fake.

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08:26

This Romanian film about immigration and vanishing jobs hits close to home

R.M.N. is based on an actual 2020 event in Ditrău, Romania, where 1,800 villagers voted to expel three Sri Lankans who worked at their local bakery.

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