MOVIES - March 21, 1996

Actor-Director Arrested: Actor-director Forest Whitaker was arrested in Beverly Hills early Wednesday on suspicion of drunken driving. Police said Whitaker, who starred in “The Crying Game” and directed “Waiting to Exhale,” failed field sobriety tests and was arrested after officers observed his Mercedes-Benz speeding and weaving on Sunset Boulevard at about 4:30 a.m. Whitaker, 34, was later released on his own recognizance and ordered to appear in court April 10.

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‘Philadelphia’ Settlement: Sony’s TriStar Pictures has acknowledged that its movie “Philadelphia,” which won Tom Hanks a best actor Oscar in 1994, was based in part on the life of Geoffrey Bowers, a New York attorney who died of complications of AIDS in 1987. The acknowledgment was part of a settlement of a $10-million lawsuit brought by Bowers’ family, who had maintained that the film was based on his life. Additional settlement terms were not disclosed.

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Another Oscar Indicator?: In a tally of more than 150,000 votes to MovieFone, the 777-FILM nationwide movie listings service, callers picked Mel Gibson’s epic “Braveheart” for both best picture and best director of 1995. They also sided with most critics’ groups and the Golden Globes in selecting Nicolas Cage as best actor for “Leaving Las Vegas.” In the wider-open best actress race, MovieFone voters--described as “avid moviegoers” who attend an average of three films a month--selected Susan Sarandon for “Dead Man Walking.” The vote has no bearing on the Oscars, which will be handed out Monday.

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More Awards: 20th Century Fox’s movie “A Walk in the Clouds,” ABC’s daytime drama “General Hospital” and KCET’s children’s show “Storytime-Para Ti” won Imagen Awards Wednesday for presenting positive portrayals of Latinos and Latino culture, as picked by a panel of entertainment industry and Latino community leaders. Also during the Beverly Hills ceremonies, a lifetime achievement award went to veteran actress Carmen Zapata, and animation producer-director Bill Melendez (“Peanuts”) picked up a creative achievement award.