July 10, 1989

"The Ragman's Son" Remembers.

Actor Kirk Douglas. Douglas has been in more than 75 films, among them "Spartacus," "Lonely Are The Brave," "Gunfight at the OK Coral," and "Tough Guys." Douglas was also one of the first stars in Hollywod to start his own production company. His son, Michael Douglas is currently one of Hollywood's hottest stars and producers. Kirk Douglas' autobiography, The Ragman's Son, has just come out in paperback. (Rebroadcast. Originally broadcast on Monday, August 22, 1988.)

11:20

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Guest

Kirk Douglas

Host

Terry Gross

Other segments from the episode on July 10, 1989

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, July 10, 1989: Interview with Bonnie Raitt; Review of Duke Ellington's albums "Private Collections, Volumes 6-10"; Interview with Kirk Douglas; Review of the television…

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July 10, 1989

22:15

Bonnie Raitt's New Album Arrives in the "Nick of Time."

Blues singer and musician Bonnie Raitt. Raitt fell in love with the blues while attending college, and although it seems unlikely that a white girl from an upper class background would take a blues career seriously, she's since proved herself to be one of the country's top blues acts. Raitt's latest album is called "Nick of Time." (Rebroadcast. Originally broadcast on Friday, March 3, 1989.)

Interview

Bonnie Raitt

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July 10, 1989

06:58

The Second Batch of Rare Ellington Recordings.

Jazz Critic Kevin Whitehead reviews volumes 6 through 10 of Duke Ellington's "Private Collection," a series featuring previously unreleased Ellington compositions. Kevin says when the first five volumes were released it was a revelation. This new collection isn't quite as brilliant, but it's still a must have for any serious Ellington fan.

Review

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July 10, 1989

03:56

Jeffrey MacDonald Tells His "Side" of the Story in "False Witness."

Television critic David Bianculli reviews "False Witness," a syndicated TV special that re-examines the facts surrounding the Jeffrey MacDonald murder case, the same case chronicled in the book "Fatal Vision," and the subject TV miniseries of the same name.

Review

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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.

Kirk Douglas says that growing up in abject poverty was an advantage: he had nowhere to go but up. Often known for his tough guy roles, he also enjoys playing men who are weak, lost and vulnerable. He started his own production company to make movies he believed had depth and substance. His new autobiography looks back on his career so far.

Interview

Kirk Douglas

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February 27, 2017

05:25

Remembering Actor Bill Paxton, Of 'A Simple Plan' And 'Twister' Fame

Paxton, who died Saturday due to complications with surgery, appeared in the TV series Big Love, as well as in blockbuster films like Titanic, Aliens and Apollo 13. Originally broadcast in 2002.

Obituary

Bill Paxton

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February 22, 2017

09:10

Actor and Director Alan Arkin

He's currently co-starring in the A&E series 100 Centre St.. Arkin plays Judge Joe Rifking. Arkin began his career with Chicago's Second City improv group. He went on to win a Tony on Broadway, in Carl Reiner's play Enter Laughing, and to star in movies such as The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming, The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, Wait Until Dark, Catch-22, and The In-Laws. Arkin's directing credits include The Sunshine Boys and Little Murders on Broadway, and several movies and TV shows, including an episode of the PBS comedy series, Trying Times.

Interview

Alan Arkin

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"The Ragman's Son" Remembers.

Guest

Host

Related Topics

Other segments from the episode on July 10, 1989

Bonnie Raitt's New Album Arrives in the "Nick of Time."

The Second Batch of Rare Ellington Recordings.

Jeffrey MacDonald Tells His "Side" of the Story in "False Witness."

Transcript

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"The Ragman's Son" Remembers

Remembering Actor Bill Paxton, Of 'A Simple Plan' And 'Twister' Fame

Actor and Director Alan Arkin

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