7/24/03

LC030724

VAL ZAVALA>> TONIGHT ON LIFE AND TIMES --

THIS TWO-WHEELER COULD COAX COMMUTERS OUT OF THEIR CARS, SO WHY IS IT BANNED IN LOCAL CITIES?

PETER INOVA>> I HAVEN'T EVER HEARD OF AN ACCIDENT WHERE SOMEBODY ON A SEGWAY HAS COLLIDED WITH A PEDESTRIAN, FOR INSTANCE.

VAL>> AND THEN, WHICH FILM WILL HAVE FANS RACING TO THE THEATERS? LIFE AND TIMES FILM WEEK HANDICAPS NEW RELEASES.

ALL COMING UP ON TONIGHT'S LIFE AND TIMES.

LIFE AND TIMES IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF
THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

VAL>> HELLO, I'M VAL ZAVALA REPORTING FROM PASADENA WHERE A NEW FORM OF TRANSPORTATION HAS RUN INTO A HUGE POTHOLE. IT'S A GADGET CALLED THE SEGWAY AND IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE NEXT BIG THING, BUT PASADENA IS JUST ONE CITY THAT IS PUTTING SOME TOUGH NEW RESTRICTIONS ON THE NEW HIGH-TECH TWO-WHEELER. SO WHAT'S SO CONTROVERSIAL ABOUT THE SEGWAY? PHILIP BRUCE HITS THE STREETS IN SEARCH OF SOME ANSWERS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> WHEN JOSEPH CHIU HEADS TO THE OFFICE EACH MORNING IN PASADENA, HE ALWAYS FACTORS IN PLENTY OF EXTRA TIME. IT ISN'T THAT HE HAS FAR TO GO. IT'S JUST THAT HE CAN'T GET THERE WITHOUT STOPPING HALF A DOZEN TIMES TO CHAT WITH THE CURIOUS ONLOOKERS. SUCH IS LIFE WHEN YOU GLIDE DOWN THE SIDEWALK ON A SEGWAY.

>> CAN YOU SHOW US HOW FAST IT GOES?

JOSEPH CHIU>> SURE. YOU GO OVER HERE AND BACK UP A LITTLE BIT AND, SEE, I JUST LEAN FORWARD AND YOU JUST KEEP GOING FASTER AND FASTER.

PHILIP BRUCE>> JOSEPH, A THIRTY-TWO YEAR OLD COMPUTER ENGINEER, HAS A PERFECTLY GOOD CAR, BUT HE RARELY USES IT FOR HIS DAILY COMMUTE. THE SEGWAY ALLOWS HIM TO BREEZE ALONG UP TO TWELVE MILES AN HOUR, POLLUTION-FREE AND NOISE-FREE, AND HE NEVER HAS TO WORRY ABOUT PARKING. HE DIDN'T SET OUT TO WOW HIS FELLOW PEDESTRIANS OR TO DRAW CROWDS LIKE SOME VISITING CELEBRITY, BUT IT SURE TURNED OUT THAT WAY.

PHILIP BRUCE>> IS THAT PRETTY TYPICAL? I MEAN, DO YOU GET THAT KIND OF RESPONSE A LOT?

JOSEPH CHIU>> YEAH. WELL, IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT TODAY BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF KIDS AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY LESS SHY ABOUT ASKING QUESTIONS. MOST OF THE QUESTIONS I GET FROM ADULTS ARE PRETTY MUCH THE QUESTIONS THAT THEY ASK.

PHILIP BRUCE>> WHEN A PEDESTRIAN SEES YOU ON THE SIDEWALK, I MEAN, THEY HAVE QUESTIONS, BUT WHAT ARE THEY DOING? ARE THEY JUMPING OUT OF THE WAY? WHAT ARE THEY DOING?

JOSEPH CHIU>> IT DEPENDS. A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST TREAT ME LIKE SOMEONE THAT'S, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE WHO'S JOGGING MIGHT CAUSE A PERSON TO MOVE A LITTLE BIT ASIDE, BUT THEY DON'T GO COMPLETELY OUT OF THE WAY. AT THE SAME TIME, I'VE ALSO MET PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THIS WAS AND WAS A LITTLE FEARFUL OF IT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY SEE ME ON WHAT SHOULD BE TOPPLING OVER FROM THE LOOKS OF IT.

PHILIP BRUCE>> PEOPLE GAWK AT THE SEGWAY THE WAY YOUR GREAT-GREAT-GRANDMOTHER MUST HAVE STARED AT THE FIRST HORSELESS CARRIAGE THAT ROLLED DOWN MAIN STREET. THERE'S A REAL JOY IN WATCHING IT RUN. AND JOSEPH CHIU IS ONE OF A HANDFUL OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIANS WHO PONIED UP THE FIVE GRAND TO BUY ONE.

JOSEPH CHIU>> MY BIRTHDAY WAS COMING UP AND I SAID, OKAY, I'M GOING TO BUY MYSELF A BIRTHDAY PRESENT AND I GOT THIS AND IT'S WORKING PRETTY WELL.

PHILIP BRUCE>> BUT REGARDLESS OF THE "GEE WHIZ" FACTOR, NEW TECHNOLOGY HAS A WAY OF SCARING SOME PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THE ONES WHO CAN'T QUITE FIGURE OUT HOW TO REGULATE IT. THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW WITH THE SEGWAY IN CITIES AND TOWNS ACROSS CALIFORNIA. SOME HAVE BANNED IT WHILE OTHERS HAVE HEAPED ON HEAVY RESTRICTIONS ON WHEN AND WHERE TO USE IT.

>> NOW DO YOU HAVE A BRAKE ON THERE?

JOSEPH CHIU>> WELL, SO GOING FORWARDS AND BACKWARDS, IT'S JUST ADDING MORE SPEED. JUST LEAN AND THAT'S IT.

PHILIP BRUCE>> IS JOSEPH CHIU A PEDESTRIAN OR A MOTORIST AND ARE HIS FANCY NEW WHEELS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD THAT MUST BE CONTROLLED? WE PUT THOSE QUESTIONS TO A COUPLE OF LOCAL LAWYERS IN PASADENA WHO'VE BEEN TRAINED TO PONDER SUCH WEIGHTY ISSUES.

>> AS LONG AS YOU'RE CAREFUL. WHETHER YOU'RE ON A BIKE OR ANYTHING, IF YOU'RE ON A PUBLIC SIDEWALK, AS LONG AS YOU'RE CAREFUL, YOU KNOW, IT'S NO PROBLEM. I DON'T SEE ANY PROBLEMS AT ALL.

JOSEPH CHIU>> IT LOOKS SORT OF LIKE A SCOOTER. IT'S GOT A PLATFORM AND IT'S GOT TWO WHEELS, BUT IT IS DEFINITELY A LOT MORE CONTROLLABLE, A LOT MORE MANEUVERABLE. YOU ACTUALLY STOP IN REALLY SHORT DISTANCES.

>> I DOUBT THAT IN DOWNTOWN MANHATTAN YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO USE THIS REALLY EFFICIENTLY. HOWEVER, THAT HAVING BEEN SAID (LAUGHTER), I CAN THINK OF PLACES WHERE I HAVE TO PARK A LONG WAY AWAY. IF I HAD ONE OF THESE, I COULD GET FROM MY CAR TO A FACILITY OR A COURTHOUSE.

PHILIP BRUCE>> JOSEPH ADMITS YOU COULD HOP ONTO A SEGWAY AND START RUNNING PEOPLE DOWN JUST AS YOU COULD ON A BICYCLE OR A SKATEBOARD. BUT THE SEGWAY, WHICH HAS MORE BUILT-IN COMPUTER POWER THAN THE ROCKETS NASA SENT TO THE MOON, HAS SOME BUILT-IN SAFEGUARDS.

JOSEPH CHIU>> ESPECIALLY IF I LIKE BUMP INTO PEOPLE, LIKE I'M GOING TO DO THIS TO YOU RIGHT NOW. I'M GOING TO PUT ALL MY WEIGHT INTO IT, OKAY? YOU CAN FEEL MY WEIGHT. IT'S LIKE IF I'M PUSHING WITH MY LEGS, BUT IT'S NOT LIKE A MOTORCYCLE WHERE I COULD OPEN THE THROTTLE AND JUST KNOCK YOU OVER.

PHILIP BRUCE>> BUT IF YOU WHACK ME AT TWELVE MILES AN HOUR --

JOSEPH CHIU>> -- IF I WHACK YOU AT TWELVE MILES AN HOUR, RIGHT, THEN THAT'S A PROBLEM, BUT THAT ASSUMES THAT I DON'T SEE YOU WHILE I'M GOING TWELVE MILES AN HOUR UNTIL YOU SUDDENLY APPEAR IN FRONT OF ME.

PHILIP BRUCE>> THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A HANDS-ON RIDE TO TURN EVEN THE BIGGEST SKEPTIC INTO A TRUE BELIEVER. EVEN AN OLD DOG LIKE ME CAN EASILY LEARN THIS NEW TRICK.

JOSEPH CHIU>> COME OVER HERE AND GO AHEAD AND TWIST IT THE OTHER WAY.

PHILIP BRUCE>> I'LL SEE YOU LATER.

JOSEPH CHIU>> (LAUGHTER) OKAY. I GET THAT A LOT (LAUGHTER).

PHILIP BRUCE>> YOU GET THE SENSE THAT, IF EVERY CITY OFFICIAL TOOK A SPIN ON A SEGWAY, THEY'D NEVER TRY TO BAN THEM. IN FACT, THEY MIGHT TRY TO BAN ALL THE CARS AND MOTORCYCLES AND TRY TO FORCE ALL OF US TO COMMUTE LIKE THIS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY BAD ACCIDENTS ON THIS THING SO FAR?

PETER INOVA>> THE ONLY ACCIDENTS I'VE HEARD ABOUT ARE PEOPLE IN TRAINING AND ONE ACCIDENT IN MAY OF 2001 WHERE A GUY IN ATLANTA FELL OFF OF HIS AND HURT HIS KNEE. I HAVEN'T EVER HEARD OF AN ACCIDENT WHERE SOMEBODY ON A SEGWAY HAS COLLIDED WITH A PEDESTRIAN, FOR INSTANCE.

PHILIP BRUCE>> PETER INOVA NOT ONLY RIDES HIS SEGWAY TO WORK, HE RIDES IT AT WORK. HE'S A CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF A MEDIA PRODUCTION COMPANY IN BURBANK. HE'S ALSO A SELF-PROFESSED TECHNOLOGY NERD, A GUY WHO'S WRITTEN BOOKS DISSECTING AND CRITIQUING THE LATEST GADGETS. INOVA IS WRITING A BOOK NOW ABOUT THE SEGWAY. HE'S EVEN GOT A HARD-TO-FIND PICTURE OF A SOUPED-UP SEGWAY THE PENTAGON IS ALLEGEDLY TESTING AS A WAY TO PUT FOOT SOLDIERS ON WHEELS.

PETER INOVA>> YOU'D THINK SOMETHING THAT WAS SO SIMPLE LOOKING ON THE OUTSIDE WOULD BE SIMPLE ON THE INSIDE, BUT THERE IS A HUGE NUMBER OF LITTLE DETAILS AND TECHNOLOGIES ALL COLLIDING TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS THING WORK.

PHILIP BRUCE>> IS IT A GOOD PRODUCT?

PETER INOVA>> IT SEEMS TO BE AN EXCELLENT PRODUCT. THEY'VE GONE TO EXTREMES TO MAKE IT SAFE. THE PERSON WHO'S ON THE SEGWAY IS BEING BALANCED BY THE MACHINE AND THEY'RE USING THEIR OWN SENSE OF BALANCE TO MAKE IT MOVE AND RESPOND TO THE DIRECTIONS THEY WANT TO GO. THE DISTANCE AND THE SPEED IS ALL CONTROLLED BY THEIR OWN SENSE OF BALANCE, BUT UNDERNEATH ALL OF THAT, THERE'S A MACHINE THAT HAS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO KEEP YOU FROM FALLING OVER IN SPITE OF YOURSELF.

PHILIP BRUCE>> IS THERE ANYTHING TO FEAR ABOUT THIS DEVICE? PETER INOVA MAY NOT BE THE MOST OBJECTIVE SOURCE ON THAT, BUT FROM HIS OWN RESEARCH, COPS AROUND CALIFORNIA AREN'T THE ONES RAISING THE FUSS. HE SAYS THE RESTRICTIONS ARE COMING MAINLY FROM CITY HALL TYPES WHO'VE NEVER EVEN SEEN A SEGWAY IN PERSON.

PETER INOVA>> WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE PEOPLE DO, LIKE CITY GOVERNMENTS AND THAT KIND OF THING, GET ONE, PASS IT AROUND THE CITY COUNCIL, EVERYBODY GETS TO KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE, TAKE IT HOME, SHOW THE KIDS, SHOW YOUR PARENTS, ALL THESE BITS OF INPUT, AND THEN DECIDE.

PHILIP BRUCE>> SO FAR, JOSEPH CHIU HAS HAD ONLY ONE MISHAP ON HIS SEGWAY. HE HIT AN AVOCADO IN THE DRIVEWAY JUST AS THE LADY NEXT DOOR WAS SAYING HELLO. JOSEPH DROPPED LIKE A COWBOY THROWN FROM A FEISTY BRONCO. EMBARRASSING MAYBE, BUT NOT SERIOUS. HE ONLY HOPES HIS DAILY COMMUTE WON'T FALL VICTIM TO A PILE OF NEW LAWS AT CITY HALL.

JOSEPH CHIU>> A HUNDRED YEARS AGO, PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW CARS ARE TERRIBLE, DANGEROUS, THEY'LL KILL EVERYBODY, THEY'LL SCARE THE HORSES, THEY'LL CAUSE MASSIVE PROBLEMS IN THE CITIES. SOME PEOPLE WILL ARGUE THAT THEY HAVE (LAUGHTER), BUT OVER TIME, PEOPLE LEARNED TO WORK WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF HAVING CARS AROUND THEM. PEOPLE DEVELOPED RULES ON HOW TO OPERATE CARS AND TO BE SAFE WITH PEOPLE AROUND THEM AND WITH OTHER CARS. I THINK THAT IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME FOR THE SAME THING TO HAPPEN WITH THE SEGWAYS.

VAL>> YOU MAY RECALL THAT PRESIDENT BUSH TOOK A TUMBLE WHEN HE HOPPED ABOARD A SEGWAY DURING A FAMILY GATHERING, BUT THE EXPERTS SAY THEY KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. THE PRESIDENT FORGOT TO TURN ON THE SWITCH.

KCET.ORG IS THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR THE VERY LATEST ON LIFE AND TIMES. YOU'LL FIND PREVIEWS OF UPCOMING STORIES, TRANSCRIPTS AND AUDIO OF PAST EPISODES AND LINKS TO SOME OF OUR MOST INTERESTING FEATURES. JUST GO TO KCET.ORG AND CLICK ON "LIFE AND TIMES".

VAL>> HE WAS A LARGER THAN LIFE PERSON WHO MADE A LARGER THAN LIFE IMPACT. MILLIONS OF UNION WORKERS AROUND THE WORLD OWE A LOT TO HARRY BRIDGES. HE STARTED THE LONGSHOREMEN'S UNION BACK IN THE 1930'S WHEN UNIONS WERE CONSIDERED COMMUNIST. NOW HARRY BRIDGES IS A SUBJECT OF A STAGE AND FILM PROJECT. WE DROPPED BY A REHEARSAL IN THE LONGSHOREMEN'S UNION HALL IN WILMINGTON NEAR THE LOS ANGELES PORT. AMONG THE ACTORS ARE A GROUP OF MODERN-DAY LONGSHOREMEN WHO ARE GAINING A NEW APPRECIATION FOR THE MAN WHO FOUNDED THEIR UNION.

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> IAN RUSKIN IS AN ENGLISH ACTOR. HE'S PLAYING THE PART OF HARRY BRIDGES, THE FIERY LABOR LEADER FROM AUSTRALIA WHO FOUNDED THE LONGSHOREMEN'S UNION IN AMERICA.

IAN RUSKIN>> I CAME ACROSS HIM BY BEING IN A PLAY. I WAS CAST TO PLAY HIM IN A PLAY ABOUT EIGHT OR NINE YEARS AGO.

VAL>> SO YOU HAD TO CHANGE YOUR ACCENT SLIGHTLY FROM BRITISH TO AUSTRALIAN?

IAN RUSKIN>> WELL, YES, YES. I MEAN, HE HAD A KIND OF -- YOU KNOW, HE TALKED A BIT LIKE THAT. HE WOULD SAY, SEE, THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT HE DIDN'T HAVE A VERY, VERY STRONG ACCENT. HE HAD A SORT OF AUSTRALIAN, BUT, YOU KNOW, HE LOST A LITTLE BIT OF IT, ALTHOUGH I THINK HE KEPT A BIT OF IT ON PURPOSE JUST TO BE DIFFERENT (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> MORE THAN SIX DECADES HAVE PASSED SINCE HARRY BRIDGES BEGAN HIS LONG FIGHT FOR WORKER RIGHTS AND YET SOME OF THE ISSUES SOUND SURPRISINGLY CONTEMPORARY.

[FILM CLIP]

IAN RUSKIN>> THAT'S SET IN 1960. WHAT THEY CALL THE M & M AGREEMENT, THE MODERNIZATION AND MECHANIZATION AGREEMENT. BUT THIS WAS THE AGREEMENT TO ALLOW CONTAINERS FOR THE WATERFRONT WAS CONTAINERS. THIS WAS HARRY TRYING TO SELL THE IDEA TO THE RANK AND FILE BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM DID NOT LIKE IT.

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> IAN DIDN'T HAVE TO LOOK FAR FOR HIS FELLOW ACTORS. HE FOUND THEM IN LOCAL 35 OF THE INTERNATIONAL LONGSHOREMEN'S AND WAREHOUSEMEN'S UNION. THEY'VE TAKEN TO THEIR ROLES EFFORTLESSLY.

VAL>> WELL, FROM WHAT I SAW, THESE GUYS ARE REALLY GOOD.

JOSEPH DONATO>> WELL, THE ONES THAT ARE STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE ARE DEFINITELY HERE TO SEE AND TO WATCH AND TO BE A PART OF HISTORY BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THIS WILL BE.

[FILM CLIP]

IAN RUSKIN>> HE WAS A VERY EXCITING MAN. HE ALWAYS SAID HE WAS A WORKING STIFF. ON THE OTHER HAND, HE COULD MEET PRESIDENTS AND ROYALTY AND THE BOSSES AND HE WAS UNIMPRESSED BY POSITION. HE LIVED IN A LITTLE HOUSE, HE DROVE AN OLD CAR. THERE WERE ALWAYS STORIES ABOUT ONE TIME THE UNION GOT HIM A CAR, A NICE NEW CAR. HE SAID, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE HELL IS THIS? I DON'T WANT THIS. GET RID OF THIS. HE WENT BACK TO HIS OLD FORD FALCON. BUT HE ALSO KNEW ORSON WELLES. HE'D GO AND HAVE LUNCH WITH ORSON. AND HE KNEW CHARLIE CHAPLIN. HE LOVED KNOWING MOVIE STARS.

VAL>> AND SO IT SEEMS APPROPRIATE THAT IAN RUSKIN HAS ENGAGED THE TALENTS OF A MAJOR HOLLYWOOD FILMMAKER. HASKELL WEXLER IS A TWO-TIME OSCAR-WINNING CINEMATOGRAPHER. HIS CREDITS INCLUDE "ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST". HE WILL INCORPORATE FILM OF THE STAGE PERFORMANCE INTO A LARGER DOCUMENTARY ABOUT HARRY BRIDGES.

VAL>> YOU COULD BE DOING A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR MOVIE, BUT YOU'RE DOING THIS. HOW COME?

HASKELL WEXLER>> WELL, IF THE CHOICE BETWEEN MAKING MEANINGFUL DOCUMENTARIES AND MAKING CRAPPY FEATURES IS THE CHOICE THAT I HAVE, THEN, OF COURSE, I WOULD PREFER MAKING DOCUMENTARIES. BUT I MAKE DOCUMENTARIES ALL THE TIME AND ALWAYS HAVE.

VAL>> ALTHOUGH HARRY BRIDGES BOULEVARD IS JUST A BLOCK AWAY FROM THE UNION HALL, A LOT OF UNION MEMBERS DIDN'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT HARRY BRIDGES OR HIS LONG BATTLE WITH THE U.S. GOVERNMENT.

IAN RUSKIN>> HE HAD TWENTY-ONE YEARS OF HEARINGS AND TRIALS ACCUSED OF BEING A COMMUNIST, THE LONGEST I THINK IN AMERICAN HISTORY. IT'S AMAZING. IN 1941 -- THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE THINGS I DISCOVERED -- THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PASSED A BILL TO DEPORT HARRY BRIDGES BY NAME, ALL OTHER LAWS NOTWITHSTANDING.

VAL>> THAT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL TO WRITE A LAW WITHOUT FIRST --

IAN RUSKIN>> -- AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WENT TO THE HOUSE AND SAID YOU CANNOT DO THIS. BUT THAT'S THE ONLY TIME THEY'VE EVER DONE THAT.

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> HARRY BRIDGES WAS A MAN AHEAD OF HIS TIME. HE WAS OPPOSED TO RACISM AND KNEW THAT, IF BLACKS WERE NOT ALLOWED IN THE UNION, THEY WOULD WORK AGAINST THE UNION DURING THE STRIKE. THEN HE DEFIED THE LAWS AGAINST MIXED MARRIAGES.

IAN RUSKIN>> WELL, THEY WENT TO RENO TO GET MARRIED AND THEY WERE TURNED DOWN.

VAL>> BECAUSE SHE WAS JAPANESE?

IAN RUSKIN>> JAPANESE-AMERICAN, ANTIMISCEGENATION LAW. THERE'S A GREAT THING HARRY SAID. HE SAID THAT I KEPT SAYING THAT I'M THE FOREIGNER. SHE'S AN AMERICAN. SO THEY GOT MARRIED AND THAT LED TO A LOT OF STATES CHANGING THAT LAW.

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> IF HARRY BRIDGES WERE ALIVE TODAY, HE WOULD TACKLE THE ISSUE OF GLOBALIZATION WITH THE SAME FERVOR AS HE EMBRACED OTHER CONTROVERSIES.

IAN RUSKIN>> I THINK HE WOULD SAY YOU HAVE TO GO AND ORGANIZE OTHER COUNTRIES. YOU HAVE TO ORGANIZE THE WORKERS WHO ARE WORKING FOR THAT VERY LOW WAGE AND MAKING THE PRODUCT THAT WE BUY IN AMERICA. HE HAD NO PROBLEM WITH THE UNION TAKING ALL KINDS OF STANDS ON FOREIGN POLICY. IN FACT, THERE'S A FAMOUS -- THE BILL MOYER'S INTERVIEW WHERE HE SAID, "INTERFERE WITH THE FOREIGN POLICY IN OUR COUNTRY? SURE AS HELL, THAT'S OUR JOB, THAT'S OUR RIGHT, THAT'S OUR PRIVILEGE, THAT'S OUR DUTY."

[FILM CLIP]

IAN RUSKIN>> HE HAD A LOT OF OPPOSITION AND HE WOULD COME TO MAKE SPEECHES AND PEOPLE WOULD BOO HIM. ONE GUY SAID TO ME ONCE, HE SAID HARRY BRIDGES HAD THE SKIN OF A RHINOCEROS. HE'D STAND THERE AND HE'D JUST LET THEM BOO. SOMETIMES HE'D TALK VERY, VERY QUIETLY AND SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, AND THE GUY WOULD SAY, SHUT UP, WHAT'S HE SAYING? THEN GRADUALLY HE'D START TO TALK LOUDER.

VAL>> AND YET, FOR ALL HIS FIRMLY-HELD PRINCIPLES, HARRY BRIDGES WAS ALSO A PRAGMATIST.

IAN RUSKIN>> I WOULD SAY HE WAS A MARXIST IN HIS PHILOSOPHY. BUT HE ALWAYS SAID THIS IS A CAPITALIST SYSTEM AND, WHEN YOU NEGOTIATE, THE OTHER SIDE HAS TO GET SOMETHING AS WELL. WE CAN'T GET IT ALL. HE HAD A VISION AND HE WAS ALSO A PRAGMATIST.

VAL>> THE PLAY IS CALLED "FROM WHARF RATS TO LORDS OF THE DOCK: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF HARRY BRIDGES". IT'S BEING PERFORMED ONLY ONE TIME, THIS SATURDAY AT THE BEAUTIFUL AND HISTORIC WARNER THEATRE IN DOWNTOWN SAN PEDRO. ACTORS ED ASNER AND ELLIOT GOULD WILL ALSO BE PARTICIPATING AND AFTERWARDS THERE'S A STREET PARTY.

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VAL>> WE THOUGHT WE'D TRY SOMETHING NEW. WE'VE JOINED FORCES WITH OUR FRIENDS AT KPCC PUBLIC RADIO HERE IN PASADENA. YOU MAY HAVE LISTENED TO THE STATION'S LONG-RUNNING PROGRAM, FILM WEEK, WITH LARRY MANTLE. WELL, WE'VE GOT THE FIRST INSTALLMENT OF FILM WEEK ON LIFE AND TIMES. LARRY MANTLE AND HIS PANEL OF CRITICS ARE HERE WITH THE WINNERS AND LOSERS IN LOCAL THEATRES.

LARRY MANTLE>> THANKS, VAL. FOR OUR VIEWERS WHO HAVE HEARD FILM WEEK ON 89.3 KPCC, IT'S A PLEASURE TO COME YOUR WAY ON TELEVISION THIS EVENING WITH FILM WEEK ON LIFE AND TIMES. I'M LARRY MANTLE. COMING UP WITH OUR CRITICS, WE'LL BE HEARING REVIEWS OF THREE FILMS THAT ARE OUT THIS WEEK, INCLUDING ONE THAT'S SET IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. "SEABISCUIT" TELLS THE HEROIC TALE OF A JOCKEY, A TRAINER, A HORSE OWNER AND THE HORSE HIMSELF.

[FILM CLIP]

LARRY MANTLE>> WELL, JOINING ME THIS WEEK ARE FILM CRITICS, PETER RAINER OF NEW YORK MAGAZINE AND LAEL LOWENSTEIN OF VARIETY. PETER, WHAT DID YOU THINK OF "SEABISCUIT"?

PETER RAINER>> WELL, "SEABISCUIT" IS A VERY POPULAR CROWD-PLEASING TYPE MOVIE. IT'S VERY MUCH, I THINK, AN OLD-FASHIONED TYPE OF FILM IN THE WAY IT'S CONSTRUCTED AND I THINK, ON A SENTIMENTAL LEVEL, THE FILM WORKS VERY WELL. THE PROBLEM I HAVE WITH THE MOVIE IS THAT SEABISCUIT, THE HORSE, IS CARRYING SO MUCH METAPHORICAL WEIGHT IN THIS MOVIE. I MEAN, THE POOR COLT IS CARRYING THE WEIGHT OF AMERICA'S HOPES AND DREAMS ON HIS SHOULDERS. ALL THE ASPIRATIONS OF DEPRESSION-ERA AMERICA, YOU KNOW, PLUS HE'S RESTORING THE SPIRITUAL GRACE OF THE THREE PEOPLE WHO WERE FEATURED IN THIS MOVIE, THE TRAINER, THE OWNER AND THE JOCKEY.

ALL VERY WELL PLAYED BY CHRIS COOPER, JEFF BRIDGES AND TOBY MAGUIRE, BUT I THINK THAT OVERALL IT'S A LITTLE BIT TOO KEN BURNSISH, THIS MOVIE FOR ME. THERE ARE ACTUALLY A LOT OF DOCUMENTARY INTERLUDES IN TONE AND VOICE-OVER NARRATION BY DAVID MCCULLOUGH ABOUT THE HISTORY OF AMERICA. I THINK THAT IT MISSES, IF I CAN BE BLUNT, THE KIND OF STABLE SMELL THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT TO GET FROM A MOVIE LIKE THIS THAT WOULD REALLY BRING OUT, YOU KNOW, THE REAL TANG OF THIS LIFESTYLE AND THE WHOLE RACETRACK WORLD. IT SORT OF JETTISONED IN FAVOR OF HIGHER AMBITIONS, WHICH I THINK ARE NOT AS INTERESTING.

LARRY MANTLE>> WELL, WHAT DID YOU THINK, LAEL? DID IT WORK FOR YOU?

LAEL LOWENSTEIN>> YOU KNOW, I DID WORK FOR ME. YOU KNOW, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LIKED ABOUT IT IS IT'S THE KIND OF MOVIE YOU COULD BRING YOUR KIDS AND YOUR GRANDPARENTS TO AT THE SAME TIME. IT'S A VERY WELL-MADE FILM BY GARY ROSS WHO DID "PLEASANTVILLE". IT'S GOT A NUMBER OF HIS REPERTORY CAST IN THERE AND IT REALLY BEAUTIFULLY EVOKES THAT PERIOD OF AMERICAN HISTORY WHICH IS SO INTERESTING AND NOT OFTEN DISCUSSED, THE 1930'S. I AGREE WITH YOU ABOUT THE SENTIMENT. THE WEIGHT OF THAT DOES PLAY HEAVY IN THE FILM, BUT ON THE WHOLE, I THOUGHT IT WAS QUITE BEAUTIFULLY DONE AND VERY EFFECTIVE. THE SCORE BY RANDY NEWMAN ALSO WAS QUITE POWERFUL.

LARRY MANTLE>> ALL RIGHT. THE FILM IS OUT IN THEATERS ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, "SEABISCUIT".

PETER RAINER>> YEAH. I WOULD HAVE PREFERRED, THOUGH, IF EVERY TIME THE WORD FUTURE WASN'T MENTIONED IN THIS MOVIE THAT THE SCORE SWELLED. I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALMOST LIKE, OKAY, THE COMPUTER PROGRAM, AND THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE IN THIS MOVIE.

LARRY MANTLE>> A SECOND FILM THIS WEEK IS "BUFFALO SOLDIERS". IT'S SET DURING THE END OF THE COLD WAR ERA IN GERMANY AND IT'S A MOVIE THAT'S RATHER CONTROVERSIAL. THE DARK COMEDY SAT ON THE SHELF FOR TWO YEARS BEFORE IT WAS FINALLY RELEASED, THAT DUE TO THE SEPTEMBER 11 TERRORIST ATTACKS. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

[FILM CLIP]

LARRY MANTLE>> WELL, THE WAIT FOR THIS FILM TO MAKE IT'S WAY TO THEATERS, LAEL LOWENSTEIN, WORTH THE WAIT?

LAEL LOWENSTEIN>> NOT REALLY. OBVIOUSLY, THIS FILM HAS THE WORST TIMING OF ANY FILM IN RECENT MEMORY. IT'S A VERY, VERY DARK COMEDY ABOUT THE AMERICAN MILITARY AND JOAQUIN PHOENIX PLAYS THE CENTRAL CHARACTER WHO'S UP TO EVERYTHING FROM DEALING HEROINE TO DEALING MOP-N-GLO. HE'S A VERY CYNICAL GUY WHO'S ACTUALLY KIND OF LIKABLE IN SPITE OF IT ALL, BUT HE EMBARKS ON A ROMANCE WITH ANNA PAQUIN AND THERE'S A MEAN CHARACTER, HER DAD, SCOTT GLENN. ON THE WHOLE, THE FILM DOESN'T QUITE CARRY OUT ITS INTENTIONS. I FELT IT SORT OF DOESN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT IT WANTS TO BE, WHETHER IT'S A COMEDY OR SORT OF A CRITIQUE. IT DIDN'T QUITE WORK FOR ME.

LARRY MANTLE>> PETER, WHAT DID YOU THINK OF "BUFFALO SOLDIERS"?

PETER RAINER>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S A MOVIE THAT'S BEEN SANCTIFIED A BIT BY THIS LONG DELAY IN RELEASE, THAT PEOPLE ARE EXPECTING MORE FROM THIS THAN IT REALLY DELIVERS. THE IDEA THAT NOT ONLY IS WAR HELL, BUT PEACE IS HELL TOO, I THINK IS THE THEME OF THE MOVIE AND IT SHOWS YOU IN ITS HIGHEST AMBITION AN AMERICAN ARMY FORCE THAT IS REALLY KIND OF POST-VIETNAM IN THE DOLDRUMS AND NOT REALLY SURE WHETHER THEY'RE HEROES OR WINNERS OR LOSERS, SO IT PLAYS OFF ON ALL THOSE IDEAS. BUT AS A "MASH"-LIKE BLACK COMEDY SET IN A MILITARY SITUATION GOES, IT'S VERY LOW-GRADE SATIRE AND KIND OF AN ERSATZ COMEDY. IT'S REALLY MORE "BEEFALO" THAN "BUFFALO" SOLDIERS.

LARRY MANTLE>> OUR FINAL FILM IS "CAMP" AND THE TITLE OF THE MOVIE SERVES A DOUBLE MEANING. IT'S FROM WRITER-DIRECTOR, TODD GRAFF, AND IT'S SET IN THE WORLD OF PERFORMANCE CAMPS FOR HIGH SCHOOL KIDS. HERE'S A TASTE.

[FILM CLIP]

LARRY MANTLE>> WELL, PETER RAINER, I UNDERSTAND YOU ACTUALLY ATTENDED A CAMP SOMEWHAT LIKE THIS. IF NOT LITERALLY LIKE THE MOVIE, AT LEAST A PERFORMING ARTS CAMP. DID YOU THINK THIS CAPTURED THAT WORLD?

PETER RAINER>> NO. I THINK WHAT IT CAPTURES IS MOVIES LIKE "FAME" AND "SMILE" AND VIRTUALLY EVERY HOLLYWOOD MUSICAL EVER MADE, AND "AMERICAN IDOL". ALL OF THESE ELEMENTS SEEMED TO GO INTO THIS MOVIE WHICH IS A REAL CROWD -- I MEAN, IF YOU THOUGHT "SEABISCUIT" WAS A CROWD-PLEASER, THIS ONE IS LIKE, YOU KNOW, SIPHONING YOUR TEAR DUCTS. IT'S ABOUT ALL THESE KIDS WHO ARE QUITE TALENTED AND SOME OF THEM GET TO REALLY BELT OUT SOME TERRIFIC NUMBERS. BUT THEY ARRIVE AT THIS CAMP SORT OF FULLY FORMED AS PERFORMERS. THE REASON THAT WE'RE REALLY WATCHING THIS MOVIE, I THINK, PER THE DIRECTOR-WRITER TODD GRAFF IS THAT THESE KIDS ARE ALL TRYING TO FIND THEMSELVES THROUGH THEIR ART.

THAT'S REALLY WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. IT'S ALL LIKE A PSYCHODRAMA, SO TO ME THAT'S A LITTLE BIT DENIGRATING IN A WAY ALMOST TO WHAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY UP TO BECAUSE IF ALL THIS IS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, FINDING YOURSELF ON STAGE, WELL, I MEAN, MUSIC AND ART AND PERFORMING IS A BIT MORE THAN THAT TOO. ALL THE VARIOUS SNIPPETS THAT WE SEE OF THE SHOW THAT THEY PRODUCE, MOSTLY BY STEPHEN SONDHEIM, I THINK ARE NOT FOR THE SIMPLE JOY OF SEEING PERFORMANCE. IT'S ALL FOR THIS OTHER, YOU KNOW, PSYCHODRAMATIC STUFF, WHICH TO ME IS PRETTY TREACLY.

LARRY MANTLE>> WHAT DID YOU THINK, LAEL?

LAEL LOWENSTEIN>> I DIDN'T MIND THAT TREACLY ASPECT OF IT. I THOUGHT IT WAS PRETTY ENTERTAINING AND I WAS REALLY ASTOUNDED AT THE LEVEL OF TALENT OF THESE YOUNGSTERS. YES, THEY'RE FULLY FORMED BY THE TIME THEY GET THERE, BUT IT'S NOT SO MUCH ABOUT, HEY, LET'S PUT ON A SHOW. IT'S MORE ABOUT, HEY, LET'S FIGURE OUT WHO WE ARE AND WHAT ISSUES WE'RE GRAPPLING WITH AS TEENAGERS, WHETHER IT'S SEXUALITY OR OTHER KINDS OF INSECURITIES. IT WAS A FUN, ENTERTAINING AND I THOUGHT WELL-CRAFTED FILM.

PETER RAINER>> BUT DIDN'T YOU THINK, WHEN SEABISCUIT RAN THROUGH THE CAMP AT THE END OF THE MOVIE....(LAUGHTER).

LARRY MANTLE>> (LAUGHTER) WELL, THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR OUR INAUGURAL EDITION OF FILM WEEK ON LIFE AND TIMES. I'M LARRY MANTLE. THANKS TO OUR CRITICS THIS WEEK, LAEL LOWENSTEIN OF VARIETY AND PETER RAINER OF NEW YORK MAGAZINE. WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US AGAIN NEXT WEEK ON LIFE AND TIMES FOR ANOTHER EDITION OF FILM WEEK.

VAL>> YOU CAN LISTEN TO A FULL HOUR OF KPCC'S FILM WEEK EVERY FRIDAY MORNING AT TEN A.M. ON 89.3. LARRY AND HIS FRIENDS WILL HAVE MORE TO SAY ABOUT THE FILMS YOU JUST SAW AND A FEW OTHERS.

THAT'S OUR PROGRAM. I'M VAL ZAVALA REPORTING FROM PASADENA. FROM ALL OF US AT LIFE AND TIMES, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

LIFE AND TIMES WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF
THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

VAL>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, AMERICA'S NEW RACE FOR SPACE AND THIS TIME THE ONE WHO GETS THERE FIRST COULD WIN A FORTUNE.

>> WE'VE PUT TOGETHER A TEN MILLION DOLLAR CASH PURSE AND IT'S GOING TO BE OFFERED TO THE FIRST PRIVATE TEAM WHO CAN BUILD THE SPACESHIP AND CARRY THREE ADULTS, FLY A HUNDRED KILOMETERS, TWO MILES UP INTO SPACE, COME BACK DOWN, AND THE IMPORTANT PART IS MAKE THE TRIP AGAIN WITHIN TWO WEEKS.

VAL>> THAT'S TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES.