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CNN Sunday Morning
Profile of Roman Polanski
Aired February 09, 2003 - 10:45 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: The heat is on in Hollywood just two days before Oscar nominations are announced. The critically acclaimed drama, "The Pianist," could win a nod for Best Picture as could its director, Roman Polanski. But he's wanted on statutory rape charges dating back nearly three decades and he faces arrest if he returns to the United States. CNN's Thelma Gutierrez has more on the fugitive filmmaker.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): "The Pianist," a critically-acclaimed film based on the true story of a concert pianist confined to a Warsaw ghetto under Nazi occupation, a film by director, Roman Polanski, that received two Golden Globe nominations, a Director's Guild nomination for Best Feature Film and winner of last year's top prize at Cannes Film Festival.
LEAH ROZEN, MOVIE CRITIC, "PEOPLE" MAGAZINE: I think Roman Polanski has a good shot at getting an Oscar nomination.
GUTIERREZ: But that could be a bittersweet moment for 69-year- old director. Polanski is a fugitive, a convicted felon who fled to France some 25 years ago after he was convicted of having unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl. He was 43 years old at the time. He has not returned to the U.S. ever since.
ROZEN: He has to do one of those I'm sorry, I sinned, but is it now -- you know is Hollywood ready to forgive, if not forget. That'll be the question.
GUTIERREZ: Even if Hollywood is able to forgive and forget, the law is not and that is the issue.
GLORIA ALLRED, ATTORNEY: Well, he has the option -- if he wants to come back to the United States, I think he can come back to the United States but he's going to have to face the justice system before he faces an Oscar audience.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Move slightly more to the left.
GUTIERREZ: Polanski has directed dozens of films over a 40-year career. But he made his mark in Hollywood with the 1968 classic, "Rosemary's Baby" for which he received his first Oscar nomination. One year later, Polanski's wife, Sharon Tate, who was eight months pregnant, was murdered during a bloody killing spree by the Manson family. Soon after, the director returned home to France. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know what happens to nosy fellows?
GUTIERREZ: In 1974, he surfaced in the U.S. again with the film, "Chinatown," which earned him an Academy Award nomination. Three years later, after he was convicted of statutory rape, he fled the country prior to sentencing. Actor, Adrien Brody, who stars in "The Pianist", says Polanski's absence from Hollywood has affected the industry.
ADRIEN BRODY, "THE PIANIST": Definitely young actors have lost out in America because they haven't had an opportunity to work with him.
GUTIERREZ: Whether or not Polanski or his film is nominated, the agency that represents him told CNN the director has no plans to return to the U.S. If he does, the Los Angeles district attorney says he must surrender. The court would determine his fate.
Thelma Gutierrez, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired February 9, 2003 - 10:45 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: The heat is on in Hollywood just two days before Oscar nominations are announced. The critically acclaimed drama, "The Pianist," could win a nod for Best Picture as could its director, Roman Polanski. But he's wanted on statutory rape charges dating back nearly three decades and he faces arrest if he returns to the United States. CNN's Thelma Gutierrez has more on the fugitive filmmaker.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): "The Pianist," a critically-acclaimed film based on the true story of a concert pianist confined to a Warsaw ghetto under Nazi occupation, a film by director, Roman Polanski, that received two Golden Globe nominations, a Director's Guild nomination for Best Feature Film and winner of last year's top prize at Cannes Film Festival.
LEAH ROZEN, MOVIE CRITIC, "PEOPLE" MAGAZINE: I think Roman Polanski has a good shot at getting an Oscar nomination.
GUTIERREZ: But that could be a bittersweet moment for 69-year- old director. Polanski is a fugitive, a convicted felon who fled to France some 25 years ago after he was convicted of having unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl. He was 43 years old at the time. He has not returned to the U.S. ever since.
ROZEN: He has to do one of those I'm sorry, I sinned, but is it now -- you know is Hollywood ready to forgive, if not forget. That'll be the question.
GUTIERREZ: Even if Hollywood is able to forgive and forget, the law is not and that is the issue.
GLORIA ALLRED, ATTORNEY: Well, he has the option -- if he wants to come back to the United States, I think he can come back to the United States but he's going to have to face the justice system before he faces an Oscar audience.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Move slightly more to the left.
GUTIERREZ: Polanski has directed dozens of films over a 40-year career. But he made his mark in Hollywood with the 1968 classic, "Rosemary's Baby" for which he received his first Oscar nomination. One year later, Polanski's wife, Sharon Tate, who was eight months pregnant, was murdered during a bloody killing spree by the Manson family. Soon after, the director returned home to France. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know what happens to nosy fellows?
GUTIERREZ: In 1974, he surfaced in the U.S. again with the film, "Chinatown," which earned him an Academy Award nomination. Three years later, after he was convicted of statutory rape, he fled the country prior to sentencing. Actor, Adrien Brody, who stars in "The Pianist", says Polanski's absence from Hollywood has affected the industry.
ADRIEN BRODY, "THE PIANIST": Definitely young actors have lost out in America because they haven't had an opportunity to work with him.
GUTIERREZ: Whether or not Polanski or his film is nominated, the agency that represents him told CNN the director has no plans to return to the U.S. If he does, the Los Angeles district attorney says he must surrender. The court would determine his fate.
Thelma Gutierrez, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
