Books & the Arts

For Whom the Bell Tolls For Whom the Bell Tolls

Some feared a film of Hemingway's novel about the Spanish Civil War would take too strong a stance against fascism. They didn't know Hollywood.

Dec 23, 2008 / Books & the Arts / James Agee

The Thin Blue Line The Thin Blue Line

Using innovative, slow-motion re-enactments, Errol Morris cast new light on the murder of a Dallas policeman. As a result, the man wrongly convicted of the crime went free.

Dec 23, 2008 / Books & the Arts / Fredric Paul Smoler

Fantasia Fantasia

When Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck gave way to Bach and Beethoven, the results were as far out as Pluto.

Dec 23, 2008 / Books & the Arts / Franz Hoellering

E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial

Steven Spielberg's imaginary childhood friend brought to life, voiced by an aging actress with a two-pack-a-day cigarette habit.

Dec 23, 2008 / Books & the Arts / Robert Hatch

Ranters and Corantos: Renaissance Journalism Ranters and Corantos: Renaissance Journalism

A Folger Library exhibit examines Renaissance journalism and the birth of newspapers.

Dec 22, 2008 / Books & the Arts / Richard Byrne

Back Talk: Tim Reiterman Back Talk: Tim Reiterman

A newsman who witnessed the carnage at Jonestown talks about the People's Temple, the power of images and the state of news.

Dec 22, 2008 / Books & the Arts / Christine Smallwood

Point and Place: William Eggleston’s Vibrant Spaces Point and Place: William Eggleston’s Vibrant Spaces

Democratic Camera: William Eggleston's grand and gorgeous retrospective at the Whitney Museum.

Dec 22, 2008 / Books & the Arts / Barry Schwabsky

Living for the City: Robert Clifton Weaver’s Liberalism Living for the City: Robert Clifton Weaver’s Liberalism

A biography of Robert Clifton Weaver traces the life and times of an often misunderstood urban reformer.

Dec 22, 2008 / Books & the Arts / Kim Phillips-Fein

On the Waterfront On the Waterfront

Elia Kazan and Budd Schulberg used this gritty tale of corruption on the New York waterfront to help put a positive spin on ratting out their colleagues.

Dec 22, 2008 / Books & the Arts / Bernard Nossiter

Citizen Kane Citizen Kane

Frequently listed as the greatest film ever made, Orson Welles's masterpiece is also a thinly veiled biopic of William Randolph Hearst.

Dec 22, 2008 / Books & the Arts / Anthony Bower

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