U.S. to see film on execution; N.Z. waits

Press, 6 May 1980, Page 23

U.S. to see film on execution; N.Z. waits

PA Wellington American television viewers are to see the controversial British film “Death of a Princess” on May 12, but no decision has yet been taken as to whether it will screen in New Zealand. Television New Zealand’s acting programme controller. Mr Chris Bourn, said that there was no word on when the film about the execution of a Saudi Arabian princess for adultery would arrive in New Zealand. “We have no urgency for it. There is no priority for it. When it arrives we will audition it and decide .whether to screen it,” he said.

Mr Bourn said money paid for the right to screen the programme had been misinterpreted by the “Economist” magazine, of London, which has claimed New Zealand involvement in funding the programme. Television New Zealand had expressed interest in the film about six months ago and had done “the normal thing that all television companies do,” and pre-paid for it. By pre-paying its normal purchase price of $lOOO an hour Television New Zealand nad the rights to receive the film

and decide whether to screen it. If it was not screened, the money paid became a credit; it was not lost. In the United States the public broadcasting network will screen the film, which has raised angry Saudi Arabian protests, with one concession. . After the screening there will be a 30-minute discussion of the programme and its propriety, with a spokesman for Saudi Arabia invited to take part. Several American pub-lic-television stations have decided not to show the film. However, officials at the stations deny that their decisions have been made in response to pressure from the Saudi Government or its representatives. The “drama documentary,” is sceduled to be shown in the United States on more than 130 stations.

“Death of a Princess” has been cancelled by' the South Carolina educational television network (which includes five stations throughout the state), one in Houston, and one in Los Angeles, although it will be carried in Los Angeles by a larger pub-lic-television station.

A co-production of ATW, of Britain and

WGB-TV, of Boston, “Death of a Princess” is an attempt to explore Saudi Arabian life through the story of a 19-year-old Saudi princess who was executed by a firing squad in 1977 on orders from her grandfather, a powerful member of the Saudi royal family’. Her crime was adultery with a commoner. and her iover was also executed, by beheading in a public square. Patricia Dressier, speaking for the South Carolina stations, said the network was under no outside pressures, but its decision to cancel “Death of a Princess” had been influenced by the fact that the state's former governor, Mr John West, is at present United States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. “We are more sensitive to relationships with the Saudi Arabian Government because of Mr West’s position,” Miss Dressier said. “We felt that in light of the itnernational situation, there was no reason to broadcast a programme that we felt would be offensive to the Saudi Arabians.”

She said Mr West had not called before the network made its decision, but had telephoned after he had learned about it, to expression his appreciation.