People talk 3/18/04

Actor Danny Aiello tries hand at singing

SADDLE RIVER, N.J. -- Danny Aiello, whose films include "Do the Right Thing" and "Moonstruck," is recording his first album -- at age 70. "I've always loved to sing," Aiello told The Record of Bergen County. "I've been singing since I was a kid," he said. "I Just Wanted to Hear the Words" should be released in April, he said. The CD includes his renditions of standards such as "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To" and "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter." Singing a cappella was a childhood passion, especially outside one of his favorite candy stores in New York City, said Aiello, who has sung in several of his films.

Film opens to somber mood after bombings

MADRID, Spain -- Pedro Almodovar's film "Bad Education" made its debut -- an opening that had been postponed after last week's terrorist bombings. Almodovar canceled the gala screening after Thursday's Madrid train bombings, which killed 201 people and injured more than 1,600. "We have been through a hard time of great pain, and so we decided to drop everything festive," he said at Tuesday's opening. The film follows two boys who contend with sexual and psychological torment at a Roman Catholic school.

"I'm getting more and more serious and possibly more and more sad," Almodovar told a news conference, Spanish news agency Efe reported. "I'm aware of the change, but I don't know where it will take me."

"Both my school years and the 1980s left their mark on me, and that influence and the tone of the periods can be seen in the film -- the '60s as dark years, and the '80s full of color and freedom," he said.

"Bad Education" will kick off the Cannes Film Festival in May.