European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 29, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse Fatal sex the attraction in a Basic instinct by Bernard Weinraub the new York times in the 1987 film fatal attraction Michael Douglas played a happily married Man who has a weekend fling with a woman who turns out to be psychopathic and violent. If fatal attraction served As a metaphor for the 1980s, with its theme of the dangers of extramarital sex and one night stands then Basic instinct the red hot movie released this month is a movie of the 1990s. Its underlying theme seems to be the dangers of sex period. In the new film a troubled san Francisco police detective played by Douglas investigates the Savage murder of a onetime Rock Star. The evidence a blood soaked ice pick a woman a White Scarf tied to the bedpost and the residue of sex. The detective embarks on a sensual violent journey in which he confronts Catherine Tramell an alluring suspect played by Sharon Stone who keeps ice picks around the House writes books about fictional murders that Are too True for Comfort and seduces women As Well As men including the detective Nick Curran. Every time Nick Douglas Rolls into bed with Catherine the threat of death by ice pick looms. But the provocative author is not the Only suspect. A the script the movie is open to interpretation a says Douglas of Basic instinct his most erotic and controversial film since fatal attraction. He says that in appearing in the film produced by Carol co pictures he wanted a to do a More dangerous sexy thriller than he has done since that hit. A i still Haven to resolved the message of this film in my mind a he went on. A i swear i Haven to. Some of it has to do with choosing his words carefully he adds a there does seem to be a chord Here Between sex violence and Stone agrees. A certainly this is a time when people have a lot of fear about sex and the film brings up that Issue a she says. A but to me this is really a very dark and twisted love Story. The character is lets face it kind of loony tunes. She a very intense very very controlling. But its also a thriller a two Box of pop com few recent movies have stirred As much discussion As the $30 million plus Basic instinct. The script by Joe Eszterhas sold for a record $3 million in a transaction that set Hollywood buzzing even in the easy Money Days before the recession. During filming Gay demonstrators in san Francisco protested what they saw As the movies treatment of lesbians As crazy or murderous. Eszterhas engaged in Public spats with the director Paul Verhoeven Over what Eszterhas regarded As the directors insensitive interpretation of the script. The dutch born Verhoeven established his rep not Michael Douglas in Basic instinct a there does seem to be a chord Here Between sex violence and tation with action filled or erotic films like Soldier of Orange turkish Delight a Petters and the fourth Man before coming to the United states to make the successful Rob Ocop in l 87 and total recall in 1990. Adding to the controversy about Basic instinct were its sex scenes. The motion picture association of America wanted to give the steamy film an unusual and potentially financially crippling nc-17 rating no moviegoers under 17 allowed. Alarmed the films distributor Tri Star pressed the reluctant director to alter scenes to win the movie an r rating. A actually i did no to have to Cut Many things but i replaced things from different angles made it a Little More elliptical a bit less direct a says Verhoeven. Some 35 to 40 seconds were Cut from the movie the original version will probably be shown in Europe. From his standpoint sex was not the focus of the film. A i always thought the movie was about evil a Verhoeven says. A i always thought that with an Economy falling Down with the dangers of life All around you a the danger of aids the danger of crime a people Are More aware of the fact that evil is an existing everyday Factor in your but the sexual Content of the film helped determine the Choice of its female Star. Stone who played Arnold Schwarzenegger a wife in total recall was cast in Basic instinct Only after belter known actresses like Michelle Pfeiffer Kim Basinger Geena Davis Ellen Barkin and Maricl Hemingway rejected her part largely because it demanded so much nudity and sexual simulation. Stone and the director say that what intrigued them about the movie was the fact that the character of Catherine is As Verhoeven says Quot Brilliant powerful in Complete control not a Stone says half joking a people who have seen the movie stand two feet away from me. They speak to me in careful tones. They done to condescend to me at All the protests by Gay activists that provoked so much publicity during filming Are brushed aside with impatience by the director. A i had no pressure from anybody not from Carol co not from Tri Star not from anybody to change anything about the so called Gay Issue a says verhoe Van. Quot i did it the Way i wanted. I was you might say politically Correct. Tie Gay characters Are positive. And the reaction is totally cafes says its movie circuit will pick up Basic instinct by june at the Prince of Bel air staying in no cd a lineup by John Carmody the Washington Post on the programming front Abc entertainment has renewed fresh Prince of Bel air for a third season. Fresh which anchors the stateside monday night lineup is ranked 19th among 118 series aired so far this season on the four networks one of seven Abc shows in the top 20 this fast fading year. The network Points out that fresh which stars will Smith is the highest rated prime time sit com among teens and second Only to foxes Beverly Hills 90210 As the most popular of All prime time to shows among teen agers. The network has renewed six shows for next fall the others being Blossom cheers Law amp order Seinfeld and wings. Abc entertainment has signed the Cammish for a second season a and a full order of 22 episodes at that. Cammish which concludes abcs uninspired saturday night lineup occupies 83rd place in the sea son to Date rankings. A Rumor do Jour Margaret Larson will replace Faith Daniels As the news Reader for the today show. Daniels will continue As Host of a closer Ixion with Faith Daniels. Larson sat in for Katie Couric recently on the morning show and did Well. Ann Curry continues As Anchor of Abc news at Sunrise. A one new series apparently set for the fall lbs schedule is picket fences created and produced by David e. . Law Kelley. The one hour drama will Star Tom Skeritt As sheriff of a Small Wisconsin town and Kathy Baker As his doctor wife. Broadcasting Magazine says 13 episodes have already been ordered. Seeking a spot in the fall Abc schedule is a Pilot from ambling television called class of 61. Its publicity brochure describes it As following three West pointers a their families their friends and the women they loved As their lives Are a torn apart by the civil the class of �?T61 included George Armstrong Custer and Henry a. Dupont in Case you think you be already seen the movie. March 29, 1992 sunday a Page 11
