Film Pulled From Downtown Theater

Los Angeles’ Laemmle Theatres chain has struck “Colors” from the bill of its downtown movie house, and at least two other chains plan to beef up security at some theaters scheduled to open the new film today.

Distributor Orion Pictures said Thursday that it was proceeding with today’s planned opening of the Robert Duvall-Sean Penn gang movie at more than 50 Southern California theaters and that it appeared unlikely that any other movie houses would choose not to play the film.

The film has been the subject of controversy for several weeks, and fears have been expressed that it may incite violence among some of the city’s estimated 70,000 gang members. On Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council easily defeated an effort by Councilman Nate Holden to persuade Orion not to open the film in the city.

Citing possible danger to his staff, however, Robert Laemmle, co-owner of the Laemmle Theatres chain, canceled tonight’s opening of “Colors” at the downtown Los Angeles Laemmle Grande multiple-screen complex.

Laemmle said staff members had voiced concern about the film appearing in downtown Los Angeles, which is close to gang-dominated areas of the city’s East Side and South Central districts.

Officials at two other theater chains showing “Colors”--UA and Cineplex Odeon--said they would screen the film, but with added security at some locations.

Cineplex Odeon said it planned tighter security at its Fairfax District movie house on Beverly Boulevard, and UA said it planned to add private, unarmed security guards at its Coronet theater in Westwood.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Sherman Block said patrols will be beefed up tonight near theaters showing “Colors.”