Like it or not, movies have taught us how to be men and women, often in surprising ways. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, we'll re-examine some movie icons, from John Wayne to Doris Day. Also, actress Claire Bloom recalls her work with screen legends Richard Burton and Charlie Chaplin.

SEGMENT 1

Film critic Molly Haskell tells Anne Strainchamps that 1996 was a great year for women's roles; that Doris Day was really a proto-feminist and that Debbie Reynolds has been under-rated. Haskell's new book is "Holding My Own in No Man's Land: Women and Men and Film and Feminists." Also, film and theatre actress Claire Bloom tells Steve Paulson what it was like to work with Charlie Chaplin and Richard Burton, and that her third husband - novelist Philip Roth - was the love of her life. Bloom is the author of a memoir called "Leaving a Doll's House."

SEGMENT 2:

Historian Garry Wills tells Steve Paulson that John Wayne's acting was much more nuanced and complex than his public image and explains why The Duke was pivotal in American popular culture. Wills is the author of "John Wayne's America."

SEGMENT 3:

Eric Lax is the co-author (with Ann Sperber) of "Bogart," a biography of actor and cult hero Humphrey Bogart. Lax tells Jim Fleming what made Bogart such a big star and how his on-screen persona related to his real-life liberal politics.

Distribution dates:

• week of 03/23/97 - hour 1