British religions groups call for boycott of controversial film

Press, 15 August 1988, Page 10

British religions groups call for boycott of controversial film

NZPA-Reuter and AAP London Some British religious groups are calling for a boycott of the controversial film, “The Last Temptation of Christ,” which has caused a furore in the United States. The Catholic Bishops of England and Wales and the Salvation Army have called the film sick and urged the public to boycott it, according to a report in the “Sunday Times.” The film, directed by

an American, Martin Scorsese, opened across the United States on Friday to packed houses, apparently given a big publicity boost by the outrage it has provoked among conservative religious groups. The film includes a dream sequence in which Christ, played by Willem Dafoe of the Vietnam war film, “Platoon," makes love to Mary Magdalene. The rock star, David Bowie, plays Pontius Pilate.

Prints of the film are expected in Britain today, and it is due to open on September 9. Government officials said the British Board of Film Classification would decide whether the film was suitable for release. The “Sunday Times” said the board’s secretary planned to seek legal advice on whether the film was blasphemous. Scorsese, a Catholic, has said the film is based on a 1955 novel by the late Greek writer, Nikos

Kazantzakis, and not on Gospel accounts. British Government Ministers already are being lobbied to invoke a little used blasphemy law to stop the release of the film. The “Sunday Times” said the film was due to open in Britain on September 9 — six months earlier than scheduled, because ' the producers, Universal Studios, wanted to cash in on the worldwide publicity over the film.

The president of the National Viewers and Listeners Association of Britain, Mary Whitehouse, said she was considering using the same blasphemy laws against the film as she brought against "Gay News” magazine in 1977. The magazine published a poem ascribing homosexual behaviour to Jesus. It was the only successful blasphemy prosecution in 55 years and there have been none since. A Conservative member of Parliament, Nicholas

Bennett, also has called on the Attorney-General, Sir Patrick Mayhew, to decide if the film’s screenings could lead to a breach of the peace and therefore be liable to criminal prosecution. “If such a film was made of the life of Mohammed or the prophet or leader of any faith, it is possible that proceedings might be taken under the Race Relations Act,” Mr Bennett said. _______