A Four Part Series from TTBOOK!

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Wisconsin Public Radio

CLASSICS

Program 10-01-31-A

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It killed off its star after only forty minutes in the most violent scene in American film to date. Fifty years after its original release, Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" still has the power to shock. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, film critic David Thomson tells us the story behind the making of "Psycho" and how Hitchcock taught America to love murder. Also, Greil Marcus introduces us to "A New Literary History of America."

SEGMENT 1:

Greil Marcus is the author of "Mystery Train" and "Lipstick Traces: A Secret History of the 20th Century," and he's one of America's most admired pop culture critics. Now he's taken on the entire American canon. With Harvard professor Werner Sollors, he's edited a compendium of essays called "A New Literary History of America." Marcus talks with Steve Paulson about what's in the book and why.

SEGMENT 2:

In his book "The Moment of Psycho: How Alfred Hitchcock Taught America to Love Murder," David Thomson makes the case that "Psycho" was a ground-breaking film that forever changed American cinema and America itself. Thomson talks with Anne Strainchamps and we hear clips from the film. Also, back in 1973, country music legend Johnny Cash gave his daughter Roseanne a list of 100 songs he considered essential. Now, music critic Michael Streissguth takes us behind the scenes in his book "Always Been There: Roseanne Cash, The List, and the Spirit of Southern Music." Streissguth shares his expertise with Steve Paulson and we hear lots of music.

SEGMENT 3:

Biographer Joan Schenkar thinks Patricia Highsmith deserves to be recognized as the author of one of the great American novels. "The Talented Mr. Ripley" became a Hollywood hit. Schenkar tells Anne Strainchamps that Highsmith poured her disturbing impulses into taut, psychological thrillers.

CD copies are available at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 10-01-31-A.

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Books & CDs:

David Thomson, The Moment of Psycho: How Alfred Hitchcock taught America to Love Murder (Basic Books)
Greil Marcus and Werner Sollors, eds, A New Literary History of America (The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press)
Joan Schenkar, The Talented Miss Highsmith: The Secret Life and Serious Art of Patricia Highsmith (St. Martin's Press)
Michael Streissguth, Always Been There: Rosanne Cash, ‘The List,' and the Spirit of Southern Music (Da Capo Press)

Websites:

• -- Greil Marcus and Werner Sollors, Editors/“A New Literary History of America”
  http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog/MARNEW.html
  
• -- David Thomson/“The Moment of Psycho”
  http://www.perseusbooksgroup.com/basic/book_detail.jsp?isbn=0465003397
  http://dir.salon.com/topics/david_thomson/
  
• -- Michael Streissguth/“Always Been There: Rosanne Cash, The List, and the Spirit of Southern Music”
  http://www.alwaysbeentherebook.com/
  
• -- Joan Schenkar
  http://www.joanschenkar.com/
  
• --Unleash Your Inner Hitchcock by Editing Your Own Version of the “Psycho” Shower Scene...
  http://www.psychostudio.tv/

Clips:

• -- from “Psycho: Special Edition (Universal Legacy Series)
  http://www.nbcuniversalstore.com/detail.php?p=62397
  http://www.universalstudioshomeentertainment.com/
  http://www.facebook.com/pages/PSYCHO-Special-EditionUniversal-Legacy-Series/25752994949
  
• -- Patricia Highsmith interview clip
  from a 1982 interview with Melvyn Bragg
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feEVNZzZZLg

Music:

• -- Music heard after Greil Marcus interview:
  -- “The Artifact & Living”/Written & Performed by Michael Andrews
  from the CD, “Donnie Darko: Music from the Original Motion Picture Score” (Enjoy Records)
  
• -- Music heard after David Thomson interview:
  -- “Herrmann”/Arling & Cameron
  from the CD, “Arling & Cameron Present Music for Imaginary Films” (Emperor Norton Records)
  http://www.xs4all.nl/~drive/
  -- Music heard in Michael Streissguth/“Rosanne Cash” Mix:
  -- “Miss the Mississippi and You”/Rosanne Cash
  -- “She’s Got You”/Rosanne Cash
  -- “Long Black Veil”/Rosanne Cash”
  -- “I’m Movin’ On”/Rosanne Cash
  All songs from the CD, “The List” (Manhattan Records)
  http://www.rosannecash.com/
  
• -- Music heard after Michael Streissguth/“Rosanne Cash” interview:
  -- “First Kiss”/Carlene Carter
  from the CD, “Little Love Letters” (Giant Records/WEA)
  http://www.carlenecarterfanclub.com/home.html
  
• -- Music heard after Joan Schenkar/Patricia Highsmith interview:
  -- “Liquid Spear Waltz”/Written & Performed by Michael Andrews
  from the CD, “Donnie Darko: Music from the Original Motion Picture Score” (Enjoy Records)

Distribution dates: week of 01/31/2010 - hour 1 click HERE for timings and cues

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