Universal Moves Up Release Day of Film ‘Last Temptation’

The controversial movie “The Last Temptation of Christ” will be released next Friday, more than a month earlier than expected, Universal Pictures announced Thursday.

The announcement--from Universal and Cineplex Odeon Films, which co-financed the film--came as a surprise strategic move in the escalating war between Universal and protesters of the fictional account of Christ’s life.

In a prepared statement, Tom Pollock, chairman of MCA Motion Picture Group, parent company of Universal, said: “The best thing that can be done for ‘The Last Temptation of Christ’ at this time is to make it available to the American people and allow them to draw their own conclusions based on fact, not fallacy.”

The day before, Pollock told The Times: “As Universal has said before, and will say again and again until someone begins listening: Our position in this is that we are backing (director) Martin Scorsese’s vision.

“It is his movie--we are doing this for him.

“And in the end, it will all come down to the movie. And the movie will speak for itself.”

Universal, which had previously said it would release the movie to theaters this fall, said the cities and theaters where the film will be shown will be announced next week.

Evangelical Christian leaders who have characterized the film as offensive and have lobbied Universal to withhold the picture reacted with surprise--and some anger--to the accelerated release schedule.

Evangelical activist Larry Poland, who heads Mastermedia--which ministers to members of the entertainment industry--said: “It’s hard to construe this as anything but an act of aggression against so many millions of concerned people.

“It’s certainly hard to view what Universal is doing as an act of charity.”

Based on a 1955 novel of the same title by Greek author Nikos Kazantzakis, “The Last Temptation of Christ” was directed by Academy Award-nominated director Scorsese and written by Paul Schrader. Willem Dafoe stars as Christ, with Barbara Hershey as Mary Magdalene, Harvey Keitel as Judas and rock star David Bowie as Pontius Pilate.

The book has had a tumultuous journey to the screen (Scorsese’s involvement has spanned 15 years), largely because of its depiction of Jesus as a man of uncertainties who not only questions his fate as the son of God, but also has a dream sequence in which he has a sexual relationship with Mary Magdalene.

Universal held a special July 13 screening of the still-uncompleted film for liberal and mainline religious leaders, who came away with mixed reactions. Some of those who viewed the film, including the Episcopal bishop of New York, described it as a thoughtful version of Christ’s “human side.” Others, including a representative of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, were more critical.

But evangelicals who have led the protests against the movie boycotted the screening. They have based their protests on an early draft of the script, on the book and on accounts of those who did attend the showing.

They have described the characterization of Christ as uncertain and the sexual content in the dream sequence as deeply offensive. Their protests have included press conferences calling for destruction of the film, requests that filmgoers boycott Universal movies and picket lines outside the headquarters of MCA Inc.

Bill Bright, president and founder of the Campus Crusade for Christ, sought to stop the film’s release by offering to raise money to reimburse Universal for its $10-million investment in the movie.

Reacting to the latest Universal decision, Bright issued a statement expressing his “distress.” He said Universal executives had demonstrated “callousness and insensitivity to the concerns of the Christian community.”

Bright also cited Chapters 8 and 28 of the Old Testament Book of Deuteronomy--which deal with curses for disobedience--and declared, “I fear the wrath of God upon our nation.”

Christian marketing consultant Tim Penland, who was briefly retained by Universal as liaison to the Christian community over “The Last Temptation,” then quit in protest, suggested that the studio was moving quickly to head off more complaints.

“What this means is that they’re (Universal) fearful of the storm that’s coming toward them. They’re hoping to get the movie out before the storm hits,” Penland said.

Universal’s announcement came at about the same time that the Rev. Donald E. Wildmon of the American Family Assn., a conservative media-monitoring group based in Tupelo, Miss., was holding a press conference outlining stepped-up protests against release of the film. Wildmon said he was taken aback by the decision to move up the release date.

“History will prove me right--or wrong. But my sincere belief is that this issue has transcended the movie, per se,” he said. “The issue is now Christian-bashing by Hollywood.

“The discrimination, disrespect and contempt that this movie shows for Christians is going to become an issue long after the movie has played.”

Wildmon said the American Family Assn. will stage a Thursday protest march at Universal and will begin an extensive mailing campaign.

About 2.5 million Christians will be sent copies of excerpts from an early script of the movie, along with petitions that they will be asked to sign and send to their local theater owners requesting them not to show the film. According to Wildmon, the campaign will cost “just under $1 million.”

The Rev. R. L. Hymers Jr., pastor of Los Angeles’ fundamentalist Baptist Tabernacle, who has been accused of anti-Semitism in his protests of the film, said: “My reaction to all this is--war!”

Hymers said he and his followers will stage a Saturday morning “mock crucifixion” in front of Wilshire Boulevard Temple, which he said is the synagogue attended by Lew Wasserman, chairman of MCA Inc.

Times religion writer Russell Chandler contributed to this story.