‘Day After’ wanted on TV

Press, 9 December 1983, Page 17

‘Day After’ wanted on TV

PA Wellington The Labour Party’s spokesman on broadcasting, Mr J. L. Hunt, is disappointed that the controversial American film, “The Day After,” which depicts the aftermath of a nuclear attack on an American city, will not be shown on television in New Zealand.

The film, which was shown recently in the United States to an estimated audience of 100 million, will be shown in cinemas in New Zealand. Mr Hunt said he had been told by the Minister of Broadcasting, Dr Shearer, that the film had been sold to a cinema distributor for theatre screening rather than on television.

“Sadly the impact will not be the same when it is viewed in large impersonal

commercial cinemas,” Mr Hunt said. “This is a vital issue. People all over the world are concerned about the complete »annihilation that will come from the effects of nuclear war,” he said. “I believe this important film depicts the horror that can and could occur in such an event and because of this deserves to be seen by family members in the confines of their own home. I am disappointed that the Broadcasting Corporation has declined to do this.”

In Britain, the Defence Secretary, Mr Michael Heseltine, has formally complained to the Independent Broadcasting Authority — the television and radio industry watchdog — about the content of “The Day After.”

The film, which will be shown on British television on Saturday night, has been acclaimed by the peace movement as one of its strongest weapons in the campaign against nuclear arms.

The movie was rushed to the West German capital, Bonn, earlier this month and screened a few days before ‘ the Government there voted on the deployment of new American nuclear missiles. Mr Heseltine saw the movie at a private screening in his office on Monday. He has told the Broadcasting Authority that the film gives an unbalanced portrayal of the role of nuclear weapons and has asked for the opportunity to redress the balance, “The Times” reported.

He is the first British politician to demand the right of reply to the content of a fictional film.

One television executive said that the movie was basically a dramatised story about “the nasty after-ef-fects” of a nuclear attack.

“What do you do to balance 1 it? Show the nice after-effects?” the executive said.

Mr Heseltine has been offered the opportunity to take part in a 55-minute discussion to be broadcast after the movie.

He said there was “quite obviously” a political message in the film and he had asked for the right to reply. Mr Heseltine said a panel discussion would not meet his need.