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| -Lurid Crime Tales- |
| More celebrities join in bid for Polanski release |
| 2009-10-06 |
| [Iran Press TV Latest] Seven hundred celebrities and film industry figures have so far signed a petition for the release of director Roman Polanski. The French-Polish director was arrested in Switzerland on September 26 in connection with a 1978 case involving child sex charges The 76-year-old filmmaker, who had fled the US after pleading guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old girl, was arrested on an international warrant as he arrived in Zurich to receive an award for his lifetime achievement. Spanish actress Penelope Cruz and French fashion designer Sonia Rykiel were the latest celebrities to sign the petition, which was launched a week ago by the French performance and visual artists association, SACD (sacd.fr). "Filmmakers, actors, producers and technicians - everyone involved in international filmmaking - want him to know that he has their support and friendship," the petition reads. Prominent directors Woody Allen, David Lynch and Martin Scorsese were among the first to sign the petition, later joined by Adrien Brody, the actor who starred in Polanski's Oscar-winning The Pianist, actor Gael Garcia Bernal and director Guillermo del Toro. Pedro Almodovar, Monica Bellucci, Giuseppe Tornatore, Wim Wenders and Michael Mann are among the other celebrities who have signed up to the petition. The SACD petition does not comment directly on the crime for which Polanski was convicted, instead condemning his arrest at 'an international cultural event'. "Filmmakers in France, in Europe, in the United States and around the world are dismayed by this decision. It seems inadmissible to them that an international cultural event, paying homage to one of the greatest contemporary filmmakers, is used by the police to apprehend him," it said. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #10 "want him to know that he has their support and friendship," -surreal. As w/bambi - you can tell a lot about a person by who they associate with. |
| Posted by: Broadhead6 2009-10-06 22:21 |
| #9 All these folks are either fools or evil. I'm starting to think that Hollywood sees this as a stereotypical quid pro quo between a stage mom with her aspiring but underage daughter and a famous movie director. In this version of the story, Polanski's sin is not in boinking a drugged-up teenie bopper, but failing to come thru with the career goods. Unfortunate, but understandable for such a busy man. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2009-10-06 15:16 |
| #8 It's ironic that Polanski may be extradited to a country where the 'czar' appointed by Bambi to assure safe schools is on record counseling children how to have 'safe' sex with adults. Peas in a pod? |
| Posted by: Woozle Uneter9007 2009-10-06 13:03 |
| #7 All of 'em go on my shit list. No more moola from the kid. |
| Posted by: mojo 2009-10-06 12:29 |
| #6 Obviously a large number do not read the English language. The transcript that is on smokinggun.com is quite damning... All these folks are either fools or evil. |
| Posted by: BigEd 2009-10-06 11:29 |
| #5 700? Why is it that Hollywood always supports a low-life accused of something. Suppose each of the 700 petition signers, instead sent a $1000 to the victim of this pediphile. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2009-10-06 07:46 |
| #4 It seems inadmissible to them that an international cultural event, paying homage to one of the greatest contemporary filmmakers, is used by the police to apprehend him," How much more clearly can you say "our needs are above those of the law"??? |
| Posted by: gromky 2009-10-06 06:57 |
| #3 Just to show their support. |
| Posted by: Bobby 2009-10-06 05:59 |
| #2 Or their 13-year old daughters should visit Polanski for a weekend. |
| Posted by: Bobby 2009-10-06 05:59 |
| #1 Each and every one should be arrested and charged as an accessory after the fact. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2009-10-06 00:33 |