MOVIES - April 25, 1988

They haven’t seen it yet, but conservative religious activists are already up in arms over director Martin Scorsese’s film version of “The Last Temptation of Christ,” to be released by Universal Pictures in September. The movie is based on Greek author Nikos Kazantzakis’ 1955 book, condemned as heretical by the Greek Orthodox Church. “I don’t see how a producer can stay true to the book and not come out with a movie that is offensive to the Christian community,” said the Rev. Donald Wildmon, head of the Tupelo, Miss.-based National Federation for Decency. The film, billed as a look at the human side of Christ, stars Willem DaFoe as Jesus, Barbara Hershey as Mary Magdalene and Harvey Keitel as Judas Iscariot. Universal Pictures has hired born-again Christian marketing consultant Tim Penland, who advised on the films “Chariots of Fire” and “The Mission,” to help ward off controversy.