News In Briefs

Running With Nazis

November 1, 2006 - 12:03PM
The US actor Alec Baldwin wants to be removed as narrator of an Arnold Schwarzenegger documentary called Running with Arnold, saying filmmakers went too far by including images of Nazi rallies.
Baldwin wrote in a posting on The Huffington Post website that he agreed to narrate the documentary about the political rise of the actor-turned-governor based on reading the script.
He said that when he saw the film as he recorded the tracks he was "somewhat dismayed by some of the images".
"The filmmakers hammer Schwarzenegger over his private behaviour and his record as Governor," Baldwin wrote, noting he is not a supporter of the Governor.
"But Schwarzenegger deserves to be treated fairly and the film's images of Nazi rallies were over the line."
The California Governor's office declined to comment today.
Baldwin, who could not be reached for comment on Monday, wrote that he asked that his voice be removed and said he returned payment. He also had his attorney issue a cease-and-desist demand against the filmmakers.
The producer, Mike Gabrawy, said Baldwin had the script for more than a month and that they tried several times to set up screenings with the actor, even delaying recording the narration to accommodate him.
The film includes a photograph of the former Austrian President Kurt Waldheim, who was invited to Schwarzenegger's wedding but did not attend.
In the photo, Mr Waldheim is dressed in his World War II Wehrmacht uniform.
In 1987, Mr Waldheim was barred from entering the United States following an investigation into his activities as a lieutenant in a German unit associated with Nazi atrocities. Mr Waldheim insisted he was innocent.
Another image in the documentary shows the Nazi party paperwork of Schwarzenegger's father, Mr Gabrawy said. Other images of the Third Reich have been replaced.
Mr Gabrawy said he learned Baldwin did not want to be associated with the film days after the narration was recorded.
"What's really shocking about this situation is that this is not really a critical look at Arnold - there's a lot more we could've done to be critical," said Mr Gabrawy.
Mr Gabrawy said distribution of the film was going ahead.
-AP

posted by Steve @ Wednesday, November 01, 2006