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The Leonard Lopate Show

Tuesday, May 06, 2008
  • Manchurian Candidate

    Remakes

    Bill Moyers evaluates the health of American democracy today. Also: journalist Simon Winchester on the fascinating life story of a Cambridge scientist. Jockey Edgar Prado, who rode in this past Saturday's Kentucky Derby. And the latest in our Political Projections film series looks into how changing political climates affect the newer versions of old films.

Bill Moyers on Democracy

TV journalist Bill Moyers assesses the health of democracy in America today. His new book is Moyers on Democracy.

If you can't see the video click here


The Man Who Loved China

Bestselling journalist Simon Winchester’s new book, The Man Who Loved China, tells the true story of a Cambridge scientist who fell in love with a Chinese student in the 1930 and went on to devote his life to writing a whopping 17-volume history of China.

Event: Simon Winchester will be speaking and signing books
Tuesday, May 6 at 7:30 pm
Lincoln Center Barnes & Noble

A Jockey's Love for Barbaro

Jockey Edgar Prado was riding Barbaro in the 2006 Preakness when the horse stumbled and shattered a leg; he says that Barbaro was his "friend, teammate, and hero." His new book is My Guy Barbaro. Mr. Prado also rode in this past Saturday’s Kentucky Derby and saw firsthand that race’s tragic end when Eight Belles had to be put down.

Listen to Leonard’s recent interview with the filmmakers of “The First Saturday in May,” a documentary about training horses for the Kentucky Derby

Political Projections: Remakes

Political films are among the most frequently remade films in Hollywood. We compare the originals and remakes of “All the King’s Men” and “The Manchurian Candidate” to see how each depicts the politics of the time in which it was made.

Philip Gianos of California State University, Fullerton, is the author of Politics and Politicians in American Film. Independent scholar and journalist Gaspar Gonzalez is co-author of What Have They Built You to Do?: The Manchurian Candidate and Cold War America.

The movies we'll discuss are:

“All the King’s Men” (1949) – Robert Rossen directed this classic political film based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Robert Penn Warren, a thinly veiled portrait of Depression-era Louisiana governor Huey Long.

“All the King’s Men” (2006): Steven Zaillian wrote and directed this remake, which remains largely faithful to the original version.

“The Manchurian Candidate” (1962): John Frankenheimer directed this classic political thriller that, when first released, was considered far ahead of its time.

“The Manchurian Candidate” (2004): Jonathan Demme directed this remake, updating its themes and plotlines to address the Bush Administration’s war on terror.

Watch the films, and then weigh in: How do you think the remakes compare to the original versions? How are the films shaped by the politics of the times in which they were made?

Tributes: Jeanne-Claude

The Leonard Lopate Show

Jeanne-Claude created environmental works of art with her husband and fellow-conspirator/collaborator Christo. Together, they wrapped the Reichstag in Berlin, the Pont-Neuf in Paris, and created The Gates, with billowy orange drapes, in Central Park. Jeanne-Claude just died at the age of 74. You can hear Leonard Lopate’s last interview with them both, from July 19, 1999.

Let’s Go Swimming!

The Leonard Lopate Show

According to the Centers for Disease Control, bacterial, viral, and parasitic organisms found in recreational water in the United States sicken thousands of people every year, and even result in deaths. We’ll speak with chemist and industrial hygienist Monona Rossol about the protozoa, amoebas and other things that love to go swimming with us. Monona is also founder and President of Arts, Crafts and Theater Safety.

Frank McCourt

The Leonard Lopate Show

Frank McCourt has been a guest many times on this show over the years, starting in 1996 for the memoir, Angela’s Ashes, that would earn him a Pulitzer Prize. Fame came to him late in life, after he’d retired at the age of 65 from teaching English and creative writing at public schools here in New York. He was a sweet, eloquent man who spoke with grace and humility; he just died at the age of 78 after a battle with cancer. You can hear him speaking with Leonard Lopate for his Survival Kit in 2000, and in 2005, for his memoir, Teacher Man.

Science and Faith

The Leonard Lopate Show

Earlier this week, Pres. Obama announced that he plans to nominate geneticist Dr. Francis Collins to lead the National Institutes of Health. You can listen to Leonard’s 2006 conversation with Dr. Collins about how he reconciles his personal faith with his professional scientific knowledge.

FDA to Regulate Tobacco?

The Leonard Lopate Show

May 14, 2009
Congress is getting ready to a vote on whether to make tobacco subject to FDA regulation. You can listen to a segment we did in May about the bill and what it would mean for the cigarette companies.

Our 3-ingredient Challenge wins a James Beard Award

The Leonard Lopate Show

On May 3, the Lopate Show won its third James Beard Award for our 3-ingredient challenge. In August, we asked our listeners to call in and name 3 ingredients and then challenged New York chef and 3-ingredient expert Rozanne Gold to whip up a recipe! You can listen to the 3-ingredient challenge and get some inspiration for simple, delicious, and unexpected dishes.

Leonard is on Facebook

Now Leonard is on Facebook! We’re posting photos, status updates, links to notable interviews, and lots more. Check it out.

Barack Obama, Circa 2004

The Leonard Lopate Show

Listen to President-Elect Barack Obama on the Leonard Lopate Show in November 2004. He had recently won a seat in the U.S. Senate, and only a few months before, his rousing speech during the 2004 Democratic National Convention catapulted him into the national spotlight.