-Caveat Lector- U.S. Films Casualties in China By JOE McDONALD .c The Associated Press SHANGHAI, China (AP) -- Private Ryan is out, and heroic Chinese fighting Americans in Korea are in. ``Saving Private Ryan'' and other U.S.-made films have been removed from Chinese cinemas, casualties of anger at NATO bombing of China's embassy in Yugoslavia. They have been replaced with Yugoslav films or documentaries about the 1950-53 Korean War, in which Chinese troops fought for North Korea against U.S.-led United Nations forces. ``During the widespread student protests, the company thought it was not the proper time to show any U.S.-made movies,'' said a manager at Guangdong Province Film Distribution Co. who would not give her name. Other casualties were the Will Smith thriller ``Enemy of the State,'' whose opening in Guangzhou last weekend was canceled, and the Disney cartoon ``Mulan,'' taken off some Beijing screens. State-owned film distributors in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou said they decided on their own Saturday to cancel U.S. films. The China Film Distribution and Broadcasting Association later issued a letter urging other distributors to do the same, said Ma Shijun, an official of the association. Some theaters in Beijing replaced American movies with Yugoslav-made movies, Ma said. Beyond its symbolism, a ban on U.S. films has only a limited impact. Despite the popularity of ``Titanic'' and other films, China lets in only about 10 foreign titles a year to protect its own industry. In Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong, ``Saving Private Ryan'' was replaced with two Korean War documentaries -- ``Attack Invaders'' from the 1950s and 1997's ``Trial of Strength.'' The choice reflects the parallels seen by China's leaders between Yugoslavia and events a generation ago in Korea: a fellow socialist underdog resisting unjustified American-led aggression. Many of today's senior Chinese military men were in uniform during the Korean War, which left a deep mark on the psyche of the influential People's Liberation Army. Many generals still regard the United States with distrust. The trend toward more patriotic fare extends to television. On Saturday, as protesters stoned the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, state TV showed ``Hero Sons and Women,'' a black-and-white Korean War movie from the 1950s. Shanghai television this week showed ``The Bridge,'' a Yugoslav film about Josip Tito's resistance forces in World War II fighting the Nazis. It wasn't clear when American films would return to Chinese screens. ``We will resume showing U.S. films as soon as the Chinese people are satisfied with the explanation and apology of NATO and the United States,'' said the Guangdong manager. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
