Movies - Nov. 20, 1989

‘Last Temptation’ Controversy, Part XXII: Hundreds of people protested the showing of “The Last Temptation of Christ” at a downtown Charleston theater on Saturday, but they were outnumbered by those who paid to see the movie. About 350 protesters gathered in front of the Capitol Plaza Theater at noon, singing, chanting and holding signs urging a boycott of the movie at the West Virginia International Film Festival. It was the first showing in a commercial theater in the state, although the film is widely available on videocassette and has been shown on cable television. Festival organizers said about 470 people bought tickets and crossed a block-long picket line without incident to see the movie. The showing ignited controversy for more than a week in Charleston, similar to protests that broke out elsewhere when the movie was first released in this country last year.