‘Colors’--Different Hues

When a major studio allows its money to go into a film such as “Colors,”the decision should be applauded (“ ‘Colors’--A Gang Film That’s Caught in a Crossfire,” by Patrick Goldstein, April 14).

Congratulations must be given to director Dennis Hopper, screenwriter Michael Schiffer, the cast and crew who made this film possible. Those who protest “Colors” think they are acting on good intentions, but who doesn’t?

At best, they advocate the censorship of the marketplace, which will just reinforce industry prejudices. At worst, they advocate flat-out censorship plain and simple, which puts them in the company of Nazis, Communists and religious fundamentalists. But that’s a whole other story in itself.

The current gang crisis was caused by many factors, among them just simple ignorance. “Colors” should go a long way toward eradicating that ignorance and, hopefully, it will also make inroads against the assumptions of many industry figures. But it would be as hard to eradicate that as it would be to eradicate gangs.

MICHAEL SNIDER

Los Angeles