‘BOSTONIANS’ AT CENTER OF DISPUTE

The new year may be only three days old, but the first good quarrel is already under way over an alleged snubbing of “The Bostonians” by the Writers Guild West.

The literary reputation of Henry James may never be the same.

The guild’s film society was offered “The Bostonians,” a film adaptation of the James classic, for its influential January-February screening series. But the critically acclaimed, little-exposed drama was passed over for “Dune,” “Passage to India,” “Beverly Hills Cop,” “Runaway,” “Mrs. Soffel,” “Micki & Maude” and “That’s Dancing,” a Hollywood retrospective that stands as an especially improbable monument to the screenwriting craft.

Producer Ismail Merchant and director James Ivory, whose previous collaborations with screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala include “The Europeans” and “Heat and Dust,” blasted the decision from their New York office Wednesday. Merchant attacked the society for passing up a chance to bring a literary classic to the attention of “what is called creative Hollywood--if there is such a thing.”

The society’s screening selections take on added weight this time of year because of their potential impact on Writers Guild and Oscar awards. (A number of society members are Academy Award voters.) “The Bostonians,” which stars Vanessa Redgrave and Christopher Reeve, wound up on several East Coast best 10 lists but played just one week in Los Angeles for Oscar consideration.

Arthur Knight, chairman of the film society’s selection committee, did not attend the meeting on January-February offerings but has since lobbied unsuccessfully for inclusion of the film.

“The criterion for these decisions has become what makes a good show for members rather than what’s a good picture,” said Knight, who co-founded the committee 21 years ago to bring attention to worthy foreign and independent films. “In a way, I welcome this (dispute) because it may jolt the committee back to its original concept.

Guild publicity director Allen Rivkin, who oversees committee meetings, called the decision to bypass “The Bostonians” a “matter of taste” and accused Merchant of taking a cheap shot for publicity purposes.

Daily Variety reported earlier this week that Jhabvala was quitting the Writers Guild in protest, quoting Merchant as its source. Merchant concedes now that Jhabvala said simply that she would quit the guild, if the film makers felt it imperative.

Jhabvala said Wednesday that resigning over “The Bostonians” would only trivialize the basic issue.

“I could understand some other guild turning down a movie based on Henry James, but why writers?” she said from her New York home. “Writers are always complaining that they are ignored. But if they have so little respect themselves for what writing can achieve, then the industry can hardly be expected to (have respect).”

“The Bostonians” will return to Los Angeles in late January or February. The Merchant-Ivory-Jhabvala team begins production in April on an adaptation of E.M. Forster’s “A Room With a View,” starring Maggie Smith.

BOX OFFICE: No surprise here. Eddie Murphy, “Mr. Box Office” per Newsweek magazine, helped “Beverly Hills Cop” make 1984 the first one-hit Christmas in more than a decade.

“Cop” added another $20 million in ticket sales Friday through New Year’s Day to bring its one-month total to $84.1 million, the fastest-grossing non-summer movie ever.

“Pinocchio” took advantage of the competition to gross $8.8 million, breaking Disney’s weekend record for an animated film.

Then came “2010” ($6.6 million); “Protocol” ($6.3 million); “City Heat” ($6.1 million); “Micki & Maude” ($5.5 million); “Starman” ($5.5 million); “Dune” ($5 million); “The Cotton Club” ($4.5 million); “The Flamingo Kid” ($4.4 million in a comparatively small run of 615 theaters), and “Johnny Dangerously” ($4.4 million).

“Flamingo Kid” and “Protocol” showed the greatest momentum, both doubling their take from the preceding weekend. “Dune” was at the opposite end of the scale, barely holding even.

The real Christmas box-office story isn’t “Cop’s” anticipated success but the disappointing returns for its key rivals--”2010” ($28.2 million to date), “City Heat” ($26.9 million) and “Dune” ($20.7).

Part of the problem was timing, according to Universal Pictures marketing chief Marvin Antonowsky. “2010,” “Dune” and “Starman” seemed to be more science-fiction than moviegoers wanted at once. And the simultaneous late release on Dec. 21 of four comedies--”Protocol,” “Micki & Maude,” “Johnny Dangerously” and “The Flamingo Kid”--made it hard for any to shine.

TAFT TALE: Robin Williams and Kurt Russell will bring the exotic locale of Taft, Calif., to the big screen in “Best of Times,” director Roger Spottiswoode’s first film since “Under Fire.”

Williams plays a young bank executive who still hasn’t been forgiven for dropping the big pass against arch rival Bakersfield in his high school days. Russell, owner of an auto detailing shop, was the quarterback. Twelve years later, the pair and the entire town get a chance to replay the big game.

Shooting starts next week in Taft for Kings Road Productions, which teamed Steve Martin and Lily Tomlin to great success in “All of Me.”