Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Exiled From Hollywood, an $84,000 cure, and No Ceasefire
More than three million Americans have Hepatitis C. A cure is now available, but at $84,000, insurance companies will only pay for the sickest to be treated. We take a look at that, and we meet a screenwriter who made films overseas because she was blacklisted by Hollywood.
By Madeleine Brand • • 51m ListenJohn Kerry’s cease fire proposal rejected and violence spreads to the West Bank as the conflict between Israel and Hamas reaches day 18. We update the latest and also talk about Egypt’s role in mediation. A much-improved cure for Hepatitis C has been approved, but at $84,000 for a regimen, insurers and Medicaid are balking. A screening series -- “Hollywood Exiles in Europe” -- of films made overseas by blacklisted Hollywood filmmakers kicks off tonight. And in our weekly movie round-up: “Lucy,” starring Scarlett Johansson, new films by Rob Reiner and Woody Allen, and the trailer for “50 Shades of Grey.”
Banner Image: Edward Dmytryk testifying before the House Un-American Activities Committee
In this episode
5 storiesNo Ceasefire in Gaza
More than 800 Palestinians have died in the current conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Tonight, Israel’s security cabinet unanimously rejected a cease fire agreement proposed by Secretary of State John Kerry. And violence has spread to the West Bank in “the day of rage” protests.
Read the story7 minEgypt’s Role in Mideast Peace
John Kerry is in Egypt trying to broker a cease fire between Hamas and Israel. Egypt has often acted as a go-between for the the two sides of the conflict, dating back to the late 1970s. The situation is more complicated this time around, though, as Egypt deals with its own internal conflicts.
Read the story7 minNew Hepatitis C Treatment
It’s estimated that three to four million Americans are infected with the Hepatitis C virus. And because it’s a slow-moving disease, most of those people don’t even know they’re infected. Most people who have the disease will never suffer serious medical problems. But for the twenty percent that do, the disease can be deadly.
Read the story8 minExiled from Hollywood
Tonight, the UCLA Film and Television Archive kicks-off a screening series called “ Hollywood Exiles in Europe ” with the 1950 film “Christ in Concrete.” Director Edward Dmytryk made “Christ in Concrete” in England because he couldn’t make it in Hollywood. He’d refused to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee.
Read the story13 minHoffman’s Last Film, 50 Shades Trailer, and More Film News
In our weekly film round-up, we take a look at “Lucy,” starring Scarlett Johansson, “A Most Wanted Man,” starring Philip Seymour Hoffman in his last role, and new films by Rob Reiner and Woody Allen. We also talk about the much-anticipated trailer for “50 Shades of Grey”, which just dropped.
Read the story11 min
