Video Nasty Debate Re-emerges

The Basketball Diaries - currently the subject of a $130 million lawsuit - is now shouldering a portion of the blame handed out by the press for the tragic Columbine High School killings. Blame has also fallen on rocker Marilyn Manson, who the Trenchcoat Mafia are said to have idolised for his dark themes of suicide and Satanism. The current suit against the 1995 film was bought about by families of three students killed by a 14-year-old, claiming it inspired the December 1997 shootings in Peducah, Kentucky. A particular dream sequence in Diaries shows Leonardo DiCaprio's character, Jim Carroll, gunning down children and teachers. Following the recent Columbine High slayings, MGM have made attempts to recall the video from store shelves as a mark of respect, but incredibly have been met with a legal problem leaving them powerless to do anything. The situation as it stands, is that MGM acquired a library of films from Polygram in January - however, rights to Diaries remain with Polygram until June 30, so MGM's "hands are tied contractually." "We felt that in view of the Littleton (Col.) tragedy, this would be a responsible thing to do," said MGM spokesman, Craig Parsons. But when lawyers advised the studio that rights belonged to Polygram, they backed off. It is as yet unclear whether Polygram Filmed Entertainment will follow up the move by MGM.