Arts and entertainment reports from The Times, national and international news services and the nation’s press.

MOVIES

‘Fear’ Is First: “Primal Fear” captured the prime spot at the box office during the weekend, knocking “The Birdcage” out of the No. 1 position it has held for the past four weekends. But the two films were in an extremely tight race: Paramount’s courtroom drama starring Richard Gere took in an $10.3 million for the top spot and MGM/UA’s “The Birdcage” was close behind with $10.1 for second place, according to early industry estimates. “The Birdcage” continues its flight to the $100-million mark with a cumulative take of $88.5 million. New Line’s “A Thin Line Between Love & Hate,” starring and directed by Martin Lawrence, opened with $9.1 million for third place. Universal’s “Sgt. Bilko” was fourth with $6.4 million and Warner Bros.’ “Executive Decision” was fifth with $5 million.

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Not the Year of the Pig: The celebrated movie “Babe,” about a talking pig, has been given the chop by Chinese censors, U.S. film industry sources said Sunday. The international box-office hit was among 10 foreign movies proposed to be shown in China this year under an unwritten quota system allowing new releases to reach Chinese audiences. Chinese movie industry sources said domestic film authorities might be nervous that the film could impede local movies from doing well at the box office. Chinese film officials could not be reached for comment. China’s censors also scratched the James Bond movie “GoldenEye” and “Apollo 13,” which glorifies the U.S. space industry at a time when China’s is in some disarray.

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The Hughes’ News: Film directors Albert and Allen Hughes, whose movies include “Menace II Society” and “Dead Presidents,” are about to leave Walt Disney Co. and join Universal Studios, a division of Seagram-owned MCA. The Hughes Brothers’ Underworld Entertainment record company also will end its association with Capitol Records and enter into a four-year distribution deal with MCA-affiliated Interscope Records.

TELEVISION

Brando’s Remarks: Marlon Brando said during an interview on CNN’s “Larry King Live” on Friday that he was angry at some Jewish filmmakers in Hollywood for not being more sensitive to the suffering of others--allowing many stereotypes on film, though none of Jews. “Hollywood is run by Jews. It’s owned by Jews and they should have a greater sensitivity about the issue of people who are suffering. . . ,” the actor said. “I am angry with some of the Jews,” he said elsewhere in the hourlong interview. “They know perfectly well what their responsibilities are.” Brando, 72, denied his comments were anti-Semitic and called Jews “amazing people.” At one point, Brando qualified his remarks, apparently blaming “the old-time Jews that ran Hollywood.” Brando’s remarks were criticized by the Jewish Defense League, which threatened to boycott his upcoming movie “The Island of Dr. Moreau.”

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Pilots Take Off: Filmmaker Robert Altman (“The Player,” “Short Cuts”) will executive-produce “Gun,” an ABC pilot starring Rosanna Arquette, Peter Horton and James Gandolfini. The Kushner-Locke anthology drama, about a gun that falls into the hands of a different set of characters each week, will also feature a variety of prominent guest stars. Other recently announced network pilots include “Lawyers,” a new CBS comedy pilot co-created by Diane English (“Murphy Brown”) and starring movie actors Peter Gallagher and Jami Gertz.

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And the Question Is: “Jeopardy!,” the long-running syndicated game show, has become the latest official sponsor of the 1996 Olympic Games. To celebrate the Olympic spirit, “Jeopardy!” will tape its first-ever international competition in Culver City on Wednesday, featuring eight competitors from around the world. Winning contestants from “Jeopardy!” shows in Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Russia, Sweden, Turkey and the United Kingdom will compete in what is being billed as the “Olympic Games Tournament.” The four-day contest is scheduled to air July 15-18 on KABC-TV Channel 7. The Olympics begin July 19 in Atlanta.

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STAGE

Flashes in La Jolla: The La Jolla Playhouse has announced the lineup for this season’s “flash” performance series. “Politically Incorrect” host Bill Maher will perform his stand-up comedy at the playhouse June 29 at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. The clowns Mump and Smoot (Michael Kennard and John Turner) will be at the playhouse Nov. 15 and 16 for three performances of “Mump & Smoot in Something.” Anna Deavere Smith’s “Twilight: Los Angeles 1992,” the acclaimed one-woman show that reflects on the events following verdicts in the Rodney G. King beating trials, will have its first San Diego run from Dec. 10-14. Tickets for all performances are on sale now for playhouse subscribers; they go on sale to the public May 6 at noon.