FIRST OFF . . .

Sir Richard Attenborough says press reports that he does not want “Cry Freedom” shown in South Africa are “nonsense,” according to the Weekly Mail, a South African opposition newspaper. Attenborough--interviewed in the capital of Swaziland, where his movie was recently released--disputed a March 27 story in South Africa’s Sunday Times that said the director had canceled release plans in the country because it was an international flop. “It is ludicrous to suggest that a film which, at present estimates, is going to take $35 million, is a failure,” Attenborough told the Weekly Mail. However, the British film maker did acknowledge that, while the anti-apartheid film has been a success in foreign countries, United States box office receipts were “disappointing.” South African censors approved “Cry Freedom,” the story of black consciousness leader Steve Biko and newspaper editor Donald Woods, but legal problems arose because the two are “banned” in South Africa and cannot be quoted. Attenborough also said that three South African government ministries had asked for--and been given--private screenings of “Cry Freedom.” Whether the film will be shown in South Africa depends on them, he said.