FRESH AIR The Best of Stage and Screen

Terry Gross is deservedly well known for her intimate conversations with famously interesting people. This collection of excerpted interviews focuses on stage and film stars from Mel Brooks to Dustin Hoffman to Sidney Poitier. Gross asks her trademark questions in that suave voice we know and love from NPR. These interviews span nearly a decade, with the most recent conducted in 2000, but never seem dated. As excerpts, they're always fascinating but occasionally abrupt--one would like to have heard the next question. Listeners may also wonder why women are so underrepresented here, with only 3 interviews out of 17, though that may be more a reflection of the film industry than Gross herself. J.C.G. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 06]