Film critic Pauline Kael critiques some films in her book, "When the Lights Go Down: Film Writings, 1975-1980". Kael also talks about seeing the people's faces when they exit a movie, knowing they did not receive the experience they had hoped for. The trend of films, explained Kael, is to return to a type of blandness.

Film critic John Simon and Studs Terkel discuss various movies, filmmaking techniques, and how film is a newer form of art. Terkel plays an audio clip from an interview he did he with Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni.

Erica Jong discusses the paperback release of "Fear of Flying," reading excerpts as well as several of her poems from her previous collections, "Half-Lives," and "Fruits and Vegetables."

Film director King Vidor discusses his films, their themes, and where film was heading at the time of his interview with Studs Terkel. Columbia College’s Bob Edmonds joins them and further discusses Vidor’s work.