Theaters anticipate heated premiere for Moore's 'Fahrenheit 9/11' film
By MEGAN ANGELO
Bucks County Courier Times
John Toner of the County Theater knows what to expect Friday night: People will show up wanting tickets for Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" and leave wanting answers.
But the executive director of the small Doylestown movie house is ready for them.
The theater has carefully prepared literature that balances the strong anti-war and anti-Bush overtones in "Fahrenheit" with sources of opposition.
Fliers stating the theater's impartiality and listing a number of Web sites contesting the film's claims will be made available to patrons in the lobby.
"We're a divided country right now, and there are very strong feelings on both sides of the issues," Toner said. "We just felt it was our responsibility to provide access to other viewpoints. People can choose to take it or not."
Closely Watched Films Inc., a tax-exempt, Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation, owns and operates the County Theater.
The Civic Theatre of Allentown also will show the film, as it planned to do even before Michael Moore had found a major distributor to back "Fahrenheit." But the Allentown theater has decided to leave it up to the audience to debate the fairness of the film.
Scott Snyder, managing director, said he believes "it's not appropriate for us to insert ourselves into that dialogue at this time.
"There's always another side of the story with a film," Snyder said. "In this instance, that other side is very easy to find."
Doug Geer, a member of the board of directors of the Hiway Theatre in Jenkintown, echoes Snyder's position.
"We're trying to let the film stand by itself," he said.
Geer said he hopes those who see the film will return to the Hiway to share their reactions at a "Fahrenheit" forum that the theater will host in July.
"We're hopeful that it will be a lively discussion," he said.
All three small theaters report they are expecting record turnouts Friday.
Many area cineplexes won't have to worry about crowd control, however.
AMC Neshaminy Theatre at the Neshaminy Mall in Bensalem is the only Lower Bucks theater planning to show "Fahrenheit 9/11" Friday. The movie will be shown on two screens at the 24-screen complex.
The theater doesn't plan to hand out anything, said Rich King of AMC. King said most people realize theaters are like bookstores and offer a wide selection of content with many different viewpoints.
Regal Entertainment Group, which owns a half-dozen stadium theaters in the area, has slated the film to run in only one: the Regal Warrington Crossing 22.
"We've programmed the film primarily in locations that traditionally play alternative films such as documentaries," said Regal spokesman Dick Westerling.
He insisted that is standard procedure and said groups that oppose the film's release have not pressured Regal.
One such organization is the Sacramento-based Move America Forward, which urges visitors to its Web site to rally against local showings of "Fahrenheit" and refers to Michael Moore as a "Bash America" filmmaker.
On his own Web site, Moore has posted a scathing statement calling the coalition a "fake grassroots front group" and reporting that one Illinois theater owner has received death threats from film protesters.
Move America Forward spokesman Siobhan Guiney said the organization does not endorse such tactics. But she said the group does believe "Fahrenheit" is a damaging piece of work.
"Mr. Moore plays fast and loose with the facts, and most people won't do any critical evaluation," Guiney said. "We feel that this is not the time to have a piece of propaganda that undermines the morale of our military."
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