MOVIES - March 2, 1994

‘Schindler’s’ Screens: Select Germans and Israelis got their first look at Steven Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List” at special screenings on Tuesday. In Frankfurt, many guests emerged from the premiere of the Holocaust film near tears but Germany’s Jewish leader was skeptical whether the film would help combat racism. Ignatz Bubis, himself a concentration camp survivor, said, “It will always be the same people who feel affected by such films, and not the neo-Nazis.” Many Germans were almost too moved to speak as they left the charity premiere, also attended by President Richard von Weizsaecker. . . . In Tel Aviv, the film about Oskar Schindler, a war profiteer who saved about 1,200 Jews from the Nazi gas chambers, was seen by two dozen of the survivors, who emerged red-eyed from the screening. “The movie is too rosy in comparison to what actually happened,” one said. “Apparently (Spielberg) didn’t want to horrify too much.”

TELEVISION

On Dave’s Top 10: David Letterman’s old “Late Night” theme music welcomed him back onstage for his first official visit to the set where he spent 11 years. His return Monday was to NBC’s Studio 6-A as a guest on his old show, now known as “Late Night With Conan O’Brien.” “I love what you’ve done with the place,” a relaxed and gracious Letterman told O’Brien, who has met with only moderate success as Letterman’s replacement. Added Letterman, the reigning ratings king of late night with his show at CBS: “You guys do an incredible amount of comedy . . . that is very high-level, and the volume and the quality of the stuff just knocks me out. There’s nothing like this show on television and I really, really appreciate that.”

* Soap Bubbles: Tina Louise, who played Ginger on the long-running “Gilligan’s Island” series, spices up the March 22 episode of ABC’s “All My Children,” when she guests as a socialite in jail for tax evasion. . . . The newest cast member of ABC’s “One Life to Live” is Ron Palillo, known to TV fans as Horshack from the hit 1970s series “Welcome Back, Kotter.” Palillo began his recurring role as a corrupt blackjack dealer on Monday. . . . Two departures are upcoming for NBC’s “Another World.” Jensen Buchanan is leaving her dual roles as Vicky and Marley at the end of April to spend time with her baby, who is expected sometime that month. The role will be recast. And Kaitlin Hopkins, who has played Kelsey since early 1992, departs at the end of March when her story line comes to an end. . . . Antonio Sabato Jr. and Cari Shayne, who have been officially marked as departees from ABC’s “General Hospital” once their characters, Jagger and Karen, wed this month, are now expected to return to the soap on a recurring basis. . . . And speaking of “GH,” former heartthrob Jack Wagner announced on Tuesday’s “Live in L.A.” talk show that he will soon return to the show in his longtime role as Frisco. His story line pairs him with his new wife, Kristina Malandro, who plays Felicia.

* The Rematch: Jujitsu champion Royce Gracie returns to defend his title in “The Ultimate Fighting Championship II.” The live, no-rules, pay-per-view competition billed as the “Olympics of fighting” returns to the airwaves March 11 from Denver, with more bare-knuckle, free-for-all action. Battling for $100,000 in prizes will be international masters of karate, kung fu, tae kwon do and kickboxing, as well as more esoteric martial arts such as capoeira, shootfighting, wing chun, pentcak silat and ninjitsu.

QUICK TAKES

Screenwriter Gary Ross will receive the Paul Selvin Award from the Writers Guild of America, west on March 13 for his Oscar-nominated screenplay “Dave.” The annual honor recognizes the script that “best embodies the spirit of constitutional and civil rights and liberties.” “Dave” is the first theatrical release, and the first comedy to receive the award. . . . Actor Garrett Morris, shot during a robbery attempt Thursday, was upgraded to fair condition on Tuesday. He is expected to remain in Daniel Freeman Memorial Hospital for another two weeks. . . . Comedian Martin Lawrence will not appear on tonight’s “Arsenio Hall Show.” The spot has been rescheduled for the week of March 18, when his film, “You So Crazy,” opens.