Redirecting Pages that Use Db Terms & PHP Like .php?area=&author=

Hello,

Some confusion about redirection.  

So far this method works for us using our .htaccess page

redirect permanent /rodenberry.html http://www.oursite.com/conent.php?area=biography&author=gene-rodenberry

BUT... only when we are going from a .html page TO our PHP-ish+Db pages...

It seems if we try to redirect from one PHP+Db pages to another via .htaccess it does not work.  So, this kind of .htaccess redirect does not work:

redirect permanent /conent.php?area=biography&author=rodenberry http://www.oursite.com/conent.php?area=biography&author=gene-rodenberry

Is that correct?  I mean, does the .htaccess redirect we have been using only work from .html page to PHP + Db style page?

And, if so... how can we redirect pages like:

http://www.oursite.com/conent.php?area=biography&author=rodenberry

to

http://www.oursite.com/conent.php?area=biography&author=gene-rodenberry