Examining the 'Zatoichi' Phenomenon July 31, 2004 • A blind masseuse travels from town to town, bringing justice to the oppressed with a little help from a samurai sword. NPR's Brian Naylor talks with Michael Ruggiero of the Independent Film Channel about Zatoichi, the channel's latest installment of a Japanese series of samurai films.
'Blind Swordsman' Introduces Zatoichi to U.S. July 31, 2004 • The Blind Swordsman resurrects Japan's most famous samurai, the legendary Zatoichi. Miramax is distributing the movie in the United States. NPR's Bob Mondello offers a review.
Culture 'You Bet Your Life' on DVD July 31, 2004 • Legendary comedian Groucho Marx's TV game show You Bet Your Life is celebrated in a new DVD. Hear NPR's Scott Simon and DVD co-producer Robert Bader.
Culture Slate's Summary Judgment: 'The Manchurian Candidate,' 'The Village,' 'Garden State' July 30, 2004 • Slate contributor Ben Williams sums up what the nation's critics are saying about the weekend's major film premieres -- The Manchurian Candidate, The Village and Garden State.
Actor Liev Schreiber Fresh Air July 30, 2004 • He stars in the new remake of The Manchurian Candidate in the role of Raymond Shaw. The film was directed by Jonathan Demme. Schreiber's film credits include The Daytrippers, A Walk on the Moon, and the Scream movies. (Rebroadcast from Nov. 23, 1999).
Culture 'The Manchurian Candidate' Returns Fresh Air July 30, 2004 • Film critic David Edelstein reviews The Manchurian Candidate, starring Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep and Liev Schreiber. Jonathan Demme directed the remake of the 1962 classic thriller.
Actress Angela Lansbury Fresh Air July 30, 2004 • She starred in the original version of The Manchurian Candidate, a role played by Meryl Streep in the new remake. She's spent over 50 years in the business on stage, film and television. (Rebroadcast from Nov. 28, 2000.)
'Manchurian Candidate' Director John Frankenheimer Fresh Air July 30, 2004 • The Manchurian Candidate opens this weekend, a remake of Frankenheimer's 1962 thriller of the same name. His other films include, French Connection 2, and The Birdman of Alcatraz. Frankenheimer died in July 2002. His last feature film was Reindeer Games. (Rebroadcast from March 6, 1990.)
Pop Culture Political Thrillers Shed Light on Public Paranoia July 29, 2004 • The Manchurian Candidate, a remake of a Cold War thriller, opens in U.S. theaters Friday, where it will play alongside The Bourne Supremacy, a tale of spies and international intrigue. For decades, films like these -- featuring secret agents and conspiracies -- have shed light on the mood and fears of the times. Hear NPR's Pat Dowell.
Demme Questions Politics in 'Manchurian Candidate' July 29, 2004 • NPR's Michele Norris talks with director Jonathan Demme, whose remake of The Manchurian Candidate opens Friday. Demme says the film is partly a surreal thriller, and partly an effort to make viewers question the modern political process.
Culture 'Garden State,' a Wry Look at Life in the 20s July 28, 2004 • Zach Braff, of Scrubs fame, wrote directed and stars (with Natalie Portman) in Garden State, a film about 20-somethings in 2004. NPR's Michele Norris talks with Braff, who wrote, directed and stars in the film. And NPR's Bob Mondello offers a review.
Opinion Slate's Diary: The Life of an Ad Copywriter July 26, 2004 • Reluctant diarist and advertising copywriter Margery Doppelt crafts words for film trailers, television and print campaigns for motion pictures. She says when she's off the clock, she forgets how to write in complete sentences.
Culture Classic Judy Garland Musicals on DVD Fresh Air July 26, 2004 • Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews recently released DVDs of Judy Garland musicals. Meet Me in St. Louis, Ziegfeld Girl and In The Good Old Summertime are among the titles.
Berry Sinks Her Claws into 'Catwoman' July 24, 2004 • Catwoman, the comic-book caper starring Halle Berry, may seem an odd choice for the first African-American woman to win an Oscar. Hear NPR's Scott Simon talks with New York Times entertainment critic Elvis Mitchell.
Culture Slate's Summary Judgment: 'Catwoman,' 'The Bourne Supremacy,' 'At Home at the End of the World' July 23, 2004 • Slate writer Mark Jordan Legan reviews what the critics are saying about this week's major new movie releases: Catwoman, The Bourne Supremacy and At Home at the End of the World.