Studio’s Phone Lines Jammed by Protesters

Telephone lines at Universal Pictures were jammed Monday as conservative Christians protested the release of the film “The Last Temptation of Christ.”

American Family Assn. Executive Director Donald E. Wildmon claimed that Universal was receiving about 10,000 telephone calls a day in response to a call to flood the studio with messages seeking to stop release of the movie.

There was no independent way to confirm Wildmon’s claim, but the main listed number for MCA Inc., the parent company of Universal Pictures, remained busy throughout Monday. A call to the main switchboard normally gets a ring.

The film, based on the novel of the same name by Nikos Kazantzakis, depicts a speculative last temptation of a dying Jesus Christ, who hallucinates that he abandons his godliness to live as a man and make love to Mary Magdalene.

Those who have seen a rough cut of the movie said Christ then decides to reject the temptation and fulfill his destiny as redeemer by dying on the cross.

Christian leaders who viewed the film are divided about its meaning, while conservative groups have refused to attend a screening and condemned it outright. The movie will be co-distributed by Universal and Cineplex Odeon Films.

A spokesman for Universal refused Monday to comment on a demonstration held Saturday at the studio gates and another planned for Wednesday at the home of Universal Chairman Lew Wasserman.

He said the studio would stand by a statement issued last week that called attempts to block the film “censorship.” The statement said Universal would proceed with plans to distribute the movie.