2B
Wednesday, June 28, 1995
ENTERTAINMENT
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
"Secret of Roan Inish" (PG)
7:30 DAILY
"Farinelli" (R)
4:30 7:15 9:40 DAILY
"The Sum of Us"
5:30 9:30 DAILY
Braveheart® 1.00; 4.30; 8.00
Die Hard III® 1.30; 4.15; 7.00; 9.50
Bridge of Madison Co™-13 1.15; 4.00; 7.00; 9.50
While You Were Sleeping™-13 1.25; 4.00; 9.45
Apollo 13 Sleeping 1.00; 4.00; 7.00
Pocahontas® 1.00; 3.00; 5.00; 7.30; 9.30
$3 50 Adult Before Heating Dolby
00:00 PM Impaired Sleep
Dollars make sense in movies and politics
SHOWN MIX FOR TODAY ONLY
Washington, D.C. notables preview "Batman Forever" despite Hollywood bashing
By John Horn The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — Just how disgusted is Washington with Hollywood? Not very, judging by the guest list for the splashy benefit premiere of "Batman Forever."
Speaker Newt Gingrich was on hand to see the violent action film, as were Sen. Pat Leahy, D-Vt., and Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich.
Simply because President Clinton has criticized the film business didn't mean his minions need stay away from the Washington gala: Labor Secretary Robert Reich and Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala witnessed the multiple explosions and brawls, too.
Sen. Bob Dole, among the most outspoken Hollywood bashers, was invited but did not attend, organizers said. . . in all-star turnout for
The all-star turnout for the Val Kilmer film illus-
movies,TV shows and popular music
A June 14 Los Angeles Times poll showed that most people, about 70 percent, agreed with Dole's criticisms. More than 60 percent said the content of films was growing worse, and 51 percent had an unfavorable impression of movies.
trates what critics of Hollywood don't seem to understand. Movies, like politics, are all about winning.
Films often are excessive and popular music sometimes unprintably crude. But it's hardly a campaign or platform issue, since there really aren't two sides to the debate. Who is for more movie violence and nastier rap lyrics?
Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Texas, once invested in a sleazy R-rated movie project called "Beauty Queenes," and Gingrich hopes to strike it rich with both his racy novel and memoirs.
"It seems wrong that politics is now determining release dates in the creative community."
Half the problem, of course, is the audience:
A lot more people buy tickets for "Die Hard"
Politicians similarly are attracted to condemning Hollywood, because it seems to play well in the media and with the growing family values voters. There are scores of other critical issues — child nutrition, the environment, gun control — on which to plant a moral flag. Yet few have the box-office appeal of blasting
Don Murphy and Jane Hamshake producers, "Natural Born Killers"
With a Vengeance" than "Circle of Friends." If one of the tabloid TV shows somehow wrangled some Nicole Brown Simpson autopsy photographs, the ratings would be huge. Most politicians say what they believe will get them votes; movie studios make films that will sell tickets.
national Sunday TV show even though he is the company's most eloquent free-speech defender.
The criticism is beginning to take a toll. Warner Home Video apparently is delaying its director's cut video release of "Natural Born Killers," and major record labels are now scrutinizing lyrics closer than ever before.
Said Don Murphy and Jane Hamsher, producers of "Natural Born Killers," in a statement: "It seems wrong that politics is now determining release dates in the creative community. We hope postponement isn't the first step in it being canceled altogether."
Fall TV stands strong against Dole's assault
Media executives claim they won't be influenced, will aim to please viewers
By Lynn Elber The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — Oh, those devilish trick questions, like the hoary "How long have you been beating your wife?"
folks in the TV industry if the lat-
Or asking folks in the 'n'
est assault on Hollywood
values, courtesy of presi-
dential contender Bob
Dole, will influence the
fall season.
The networks flatly refuse comment; they're not wading into that quagmire, one executive helpfully explained.
But some producers are willing to respond. In television's annual ritual of reinventing itself, Dole's complaints about pop culture's sex-and-violence fixation will go unheeded, they said.
They also seek to reframe the query: Is there a problem; who's making the claim; and
emerging preview tapes, is more of what they favored this year — saucy comedies like "Friends" and socially aware dramas such as "Law and Order."
what's being left out of the equation?
The networks haven't issued a post-Dole call for producers to avoid the bawdy or bloody, Wolf and others said.
"There has been a sea change in the American audience toward violence. The bulk of the country is not embracing the same type of imagery when I was running 'Miami Vice' and it was a top 10 show," Wolf noted.
Attacks like Dole's, he maintained, were politically motivated and a prelude to censorship. Wolf considered the proposed "V-chip," which would allow the electronic blocking of programs coded objectionable, as a step in
"Gratuitous and teen-age hetero- and homosexual sex are portrayed with abandon on television now."
Conservative media watchdogs are as eager to broaden the debate: Are criticisms like Dole's or former Vice President Dan Quayle's cumulative in their effect, and is television becoming more open to rightist influence?
"One of the great myths is that there are these pigeon-like flutterings, and everybody goes nuts," said Dick Wolf, who has series on NBC and Fox Broadcasting Co.
What viewers will get next year, based on
L. Bront Bozzel head of the Media Research Center
that direction.
Veteran TV producer Leonard Hill was struck by the timing of Dole's attack. It came when Republican lawmakers were seeking to deregulate the broadcast TV industry and to eliminate the concept of public interest by the networks, he said.
he said.
"We are not a ministry and should not be presumed to be and should not be encouraged by government to function in such a fashion," Hill said.
That's fine with L. Brent Boell, head of the Virginia-based Media Research Center. He wants
television to return to the days when there was no politics, no agenda, no messages.
What he and his group want to see are more shows like "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman," respectful of religion, sexual responsibility and family.
"Gratuitous and teen-age hetero- and homosexual sex are portrayed with abandon on television now." Bozzell said.
Despite that, he sees cause for hope. Television is more willing to feature diverse viewpoints, and network executives who once avoided groups like his are now listening to their concerns.
12 packs of 7 up or RC 5-12 packs $10
with $10.00 in other purchases Limit 5
Hugh Grant arrested with prostitute in LA
British actor caught with pants down
The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — Why would Hugh Grant, the dashing young Englishman who has charmed Hollywood and women everywhere with his bashful grin, pay for sex?
The question had Hollywood atwitter after Grant's arrest early yesterday as he allegedly indulged in a sex act with a Sunset Boulevard prostitute in his white BMW.
"Last night I did something completely insane." Grant said in a statement without elaborating. "I have hurt people I love and embarrassed people I work with. For both things I am more sorry than I can ever possibly say."
It would appear that the suave, 34-year-old Grant could have anything he desires. He's got stardom, wealth, good looks and a loyal following after movies that include "Four Weddings and a Funeral," "The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain"
Calls placed to Estee Lauder Inc. in New York seeking comment from Hurley weren't returned.
His live in girlfriend is Estee Lauder's new shapey model Elizabeth Hurley, who showed up at this year's Cannes Film Festival in a jaw-droppingly revealing dress. They've been together about eight years.
Grant was in Los Angeles to promote "Nine Months" about a guy (Grant) who finds out he's going to be a father. Shortly before 1:30 a.m., vice officers allegedly saw Divine Brown, 23, walk up to Grant's car and get in.
and the upcoming "Nine Months."
"They were later observed to be engaged in an act of lewd conduct," Officer Lori Taylor said.
Both Grant and Brown were booked for investigation of misdemeanor lewd conduct in a public place and released without bail for arraignment July 18. They could get up to six months in jail.
Lewd conduct covers such offenses as fondling, oral sex and intercourse. Taylor refused to identify the sex act.
Entertainment industry observer Art Murphy doesn't think Grant's career will be damaged.
"Nowadays I think people might just raise their eyebrows at the indiscretion of it all," said Murphy, who analyzes box office performance for the Hollywood Reporter. "It depends on the public's perception of the performer. It would probably be commercially disastrous if he were playing a missionary priest opening Friday."
Grant played such a character in "Sirens."
"What's he doing out there picking up his thrills on the street? He could have sat at the Four Seasons bar and had action in three minutes," said Maryanne Norbum, West Coast bureau chief for the Globe, the supermarket tabloid.
Fans heading into a theater yesterday to see "The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill and Came Down a Mountain" remained loyal.
"He's a human being and, as humans, we make mistakes," said 24-year-old Michael Harris. "I still admire him as a comedic actor."