GREED NEVER LEFT | 68
With his 1987 classic, Wall Street, director Oliver Stone gave the world a morality tale—only to watch a generation of would-be Gordon Gekkos get the wrong message. Michael Lewis explores the fresh challenge of Stone’s much-anticipated sequel. Photographs by Annie Leibovitz.

MICHAEL DOUGLAS, TAKE TWO | 72
After struggling with his own famous but distant father, Michael Douglas has seized a second chance at the role of family man. As the actor brings Gordon Gekko back to the screen, Evgenia Peretz hears about the star’s new emotional investments. Photograph by Annie Leibovitz.

THE CITY BOY | 75
Jimmy Buffett and Patrick Ecclesine spotlight Herman Wouk, who has poured 94 years of wisdom into his latest book.

BETTING ON THE BLIND SIDE | 76
Back in 2004, when Wall Street was in full subprime-craze mode, a reclusive stock picker named Michael Burry read the fine print—and made a fortune. In an excerpt from his new book, Michael Lewis explains why Burry saw what no one else did. Photograph by Jonas Fredwall Karlsson.

LARRY FINK’S $12 TRILLION SHADOW | 82
As co-founder and C.E.O. of the world’s largest asset-management firm, BlackRock, Larry Fink invests more than $3 trillion—and services another $9 trillion—for a client list that includes Fannie Mae, A.I.G., and the New York Fed. Suzanna Andrews tackles the question: Could one man be too big to fail? Photograph by Nigel Parry.

THE SOUND OF SONDHEIM | 87
Leslie Bennetts and Jason Schmidt spotlight the new revue marking composer Stephen Sondheim’s 80th birthday.

LEHMAN’S DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES | 88
For the wives of top executives at Lehman Brothers, standing by their men meant painful compromise—and mandatory hiking. In an excerpt from her new book on the defunct firm, Vicky Ward reveals the light of Lehman’s families. 

THE ODDEST COUPLE | 93
David Hyde Pierce and Ruven Afanador spotlight Dame Edna Everage and Michael Feinstein, Broadway’s craziest combo.

A MAN OF DARKNESS AND DREAMS | 94
The suicide last month of designer Alexander McQueen was as confounding as many of the wunderkind’s couture shows. Was it prompted by drugs, health problems, or the death of his mother? Speaking to insiders, Ingrid Sischy learns that McQueen’s restless talent came with a price.

BIG TROUBLE AT 11:35 | 98
As David Letterman’s accused extortionist, 48 Hours Mystery producer Joe Halderman, heads to court, Mark Seal delves into the alleged romantic triangle involving Late Show staffer Stephanie Birkitt that plunged the entertainment mogul and the hard-news veteran into shocking legal combat.

SWINGING ON SINATRA | 103
James Wolcott and Mark Pillai spotlight Twyla Tharp’s Come Fly Away, a danger-zone dance homage to Frank Sinatra.

CAMERON OBSCURA | 104
In recession-battered Britain, where class divisions run deep, Tory leader David Cameron is a master of congenial compromise—and the likely next prime minister. Michael Wolff examines how the aristocratic Cameron and his Conservative Party have defused the hot-button issues. 

PROMISES TO KEEP | 107
Burt Bacharach and Rodney Smith spotlight the revival of Bacharach’s first and only Broadway musical, Promises, Promises.

SORORITY ON E. 63RD ST. | 108
During much of the 20th century, the women-only Barbizon Hotel was an elite fortress for single girls seeking fame and fortune in New York City. But for every Grace Kelly or Ali MacGraw, there were many more who never made it big. Michael Callahan chronicles the heyday of a double-edged sisterhood.


Fanfair

30 DAYS IN THE LIFE OF THE CULTURE | 45

Bright Young Things: Hayley Bloomingdale’s fashionable turn | 45

Bruce Handy on a runaway hit; Elissa Schappell’s Hot Type | 46

Lisa Robinson discusses a classic with Keith Richards and Mick Jagger | 48

Doug Stumpf is charmed by a Russian tradition; Bond No. 9 finds inspiration on the High Line; Chanel’s palette gets brighter; Kiehl’s collaborates on a new label | 50


Vanities

GRETA EXPECTATIONS | 52

Jim Windolf explains today’s pop-music charts to the middle-aged; Howard Schatz captures Jane Lynch in character | 54

George Wayne stumps Harold Ford Jr. | 55

Columns

THE NEW COMMANDMENTS | 58
Blue-chiseling the Ten Commandments, Christopher Hitchens decrees which should stay and which should go, adding a few new ones of his own. Illustration by Edward Sorel.

GREAT CARSON’S GHOST! | 62
Surveying the talking wounded—Jay Leno, David Letterman, and Conan O’Brien—in late-night’s succession war, James Wolcott summons the regal specter of Johnny Carson.

HALL OF FAME | 63
Dr. Mehmet Oz nominates the philanthropists of the Bravewell Collaborative for backing true health-care reform. Photograph by David Bowman.

DATELINE: PRETENDABAD | 64
Visiting Islamabad, William Langewiesche discovers a soul-less metropolis ready for revolution.

JUDGMENT IN PARIS | 66
Luc Sante spotlights the Musée d’Orsay’s brutal new exhibit, “Crime and Punishment.”

60 MINUTES POLL | 26

EDITOR’S LETTER WILD ON THE STREET | 28

CONTRIBUTORS | 32

LETTERS NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET | 36

FAIRGROUND | 40

OUT TO LUNCH JOEL OSTEEN | 56

PROUST QUESTIONNAIRE YOGI BERRA | 132


Vanityfair.com

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Log on to VF Daily, where our new blogger, Juli Weiner, riffs on politics, scandal, the economy, gossip, and more. Plus: watch exclusive video of Christopher Hitchens deconstructing the Ten Commandments.

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CURTAIN CALL DESIGNER ALEXANDER MCQUEEN AFTER A SHOW IN PARIS, IN 2009 | 94   

TORY STORY BRITAIN’S CONSERVATIVE LEADER, DAVID CAMERON | 104 

MODEL GUEST LEFT, ONETIME BARBIZON HOTEL RESIDENT CARMEN DELL’OREFICE | 108