Cannes Lineup Missing Big U.S Films

It may have been a case of wishful thinking on the part of the organizers of the Cannes Film Festival. That was the response Thursday at Hollywood studios to the announcement that several high-profile American films the organizers were counting on will not be shown at the May 13-24 event.

Among those listed by the festival’s Gilles Jacob as not ready for Cannes include Woody Allen’s “Manhattan Murder Mystery,” Steven Spielberg’s “Jurassic Park,” Robert Altman’s “Short Cuts” and Phillip Noyce’s “Sliver.”

“I’ve done everything I could to get them,” the veteran festival organizer told Reuters news service. Expressing disappointment, Jacob said the films were either unfinished or held back by distributors.

But in Hollywood, Jacob’s disappointment came as a surprise.

A spokeswoman for TriStar Pictures, which will distribute Allen’s “Manhattan Murder Mystery” in late summer, said there never was any intention of showing the film at Cannes.

A Paramount Pictures spokeswoman said “Sliver” is being edited to avoid the adults-only NC-17 rating and will open as scheduled on May 21. But the studio never considered it for the festival.

The film that Jacob expected to close the festival, Spielberg’s “Jurassic Park,” has been replaced by a French production, “Toxic Affair,” starring Isabelle Adjani, he said.

Nadia Bronson, vice president of international marketing for Universal Pictures, which will distribute “Jurassic,” said Jacob was “hoping or praying” for the much-anticipated film to be shown. But, she said, “we never even got to the point of making a decision about it, because we knew it wouldn’t be ready.” The film opens in the United States on June 11.

Festival organizers unveiling their program Thursday boasted a record number of British and French productions--four each--in competition and a resurgence of Italian films. Only three U.S. productions will be in competition for the Palme D’Or grand prize, down from six a year ago: director Abel Ferrara’s “Body Snatchers,” Joel Schumacher’s “Falling Down” and Steven Soderbergh’s “King of the Hill.”

In all, only eight American movies will be represented out of the 62 titles to be shown at the French coastal resort. Last year, U.S. films accounted for about one quarter of the official selection, including six of the 22 productions in competition. So strong has their presence been that Cannes is often nicknamed “Hollywood on the Riviera.”

Part of the reason for the fewer American films, Jacob contended, was bad luck. Several films would have been ready just a few days later, he said.

Jacob told reporters: “Last year you complained the Americans were taking over. This year you suggest we are censoring them. It’s just the way things work out.”

Among other films at Cannes will be Wim Wenders’ “Far Away So Close,” his follow-up to the award-winning “Wings of Desire” about angels visiting Berlin, and new films by past Cannes prize winners Akira Kurosawa, Peter Greenaway and the Taviani brothers.

French director Louis Malle will head the 10-member jury.