MOVIES - March 28, 1996

Masked Man: Oscar-winning film director Oliver Stone, wearing a black ski-mask and sunglasses, climbed onto a mule Tuesday and rode off into the Mexican jungle with Zapatista leader Subcommander Marcos. The trip followed a brief encounter between Stone and Marcos in the guerrilla stronghold of La Realidad Monday night, in which the rebel leader thanked Stone for forsaking the Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles to visit Mexico’s rebels. “We haven’t got any statuettes to give you as a prize but we want to give you a present,” Marcos said, handing over one of his old pipes to Stone. On Tuesday morning, Marcos returned to La Realidad to escort Stone and a U.S. scriptwriter into the heart of rebel-controlled territory in the Lacandon jungle. The director, whose 1995 film “Nixon” failed to win any Oscars at Monday’s ceremony, has not said whether he is on the hunt for material for a film on the Zapatista rebellion.

*

Move Over, Babe: If a pig can do it, why not a mule? Actually, Francis, the Talking Mule first spoke in a series that began in 1949 and in motion picture comedies starring Donald O’Connor (six times) and Mickey Rooney (once). On Wednesday, the Bubble Factory announced it has acquired feature film rights to “Francis.” Former MCA President Sid Sheinberg, partner in the entertainment company along with his sons Jon and Bill, expressed delight at welcoming Francis into their stable.

*

Reaching for ‘Starlight’: The musical “Starlight Express” celebrated its 12th birthday in London Wednesday and composer Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber revealed plans for a $30-million cartoon film version. The roller-skating spectacular has now been seen by more than 6.5 million people. Lloyd Webber, whose hit musicals span the globe, said three U.S. animation studios were being considered to make a feature-length cartoon version of “Starlight Express.”