FIRST OFF . . .

A special investigator for the Humane Society of the United States will look into alleged cruelty to animals during the filming of the movie “Project X,” it was announced Thursday. However, Huston Dyre of the Los Angeles Animal Control Department said that no official complaint has been made to his department, adding the American Humane Assn., which observed the on-set treatment of the animals during its filming, “gave it a good rating.” The 20th Century Fox film deals with chimpanzees used by military scientists to gauge the effects of radiation on military pilots. The Humane Society decided to investigate the allegations--including ones that trainers struck the animals with clubs--after being notified by television personality Bob Barker.