Copyright Houston Chronicle Publishing Company Division, 
The Hearst Corporation (the "Houston Chronicle") Mar 16, 1988
WASHINGTON - Burt Lancaster was the fast-talking tough guy, James
Stewart his drawling partner with homespun common sense as they rode
into town to fight for a principle - only this time it was real life,
not a movie.
The two Hollywood
legends began a two-day whirl of lobbying in Congress and on television
talk shows Tuesday to plead for the preservation of their film classics
against modern moguls out to ``make a buck.''
Lancaster shook his finger at a packed room, arguing passionately
for a halt to the controversial coloring of black and white films.
Media entrepreneur Ted Turner has led the colorization field,
releasing computer-colored versions of such classics as ``Casablanca
''and Stewart's ``It's a Wonderful Life.''
``All of this is done for them to make a buck,'' said Lancaster. ``Let them go out and make an honest buck.''
Stewart said in his halting cadence that he agreed with Lancaster,
``but for me to say the same thing would take so very much longer, I
better not say it.''
The two were
joined in their rounds by directors Peter Bogdanovich, Fred Zinneman and
several other top American film makers. The Hollywood push for
legislation included testimony before a congressional committee two
weeks ago by directors Steven Spielberg and George Lucas.
Stewart said he came to Washington because he was appalled by the
colorization of Frank Capra's ``It's a Wonderful Life,'' after Turner
bought the rights to the movie.
| [Illustration] |
| Photo: James Stewart, Burt Lancaster; Credit: Associated Press |
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