Thomas Lee Wright

One of the writers of an early story treatment and screenplay for "The Godfather Part III," which Paramount Pictures purchased in 1985, has filed suit in Los Angeles Superior Court seeking credit for the movie. Nick Marino's suit seeks to overturn a Writers Guild of America arbitration ruling that denied him and his partner, Thomas Lee Wright, credit for the film, which will open in 1,800 theaters on Christmas Day.

One of the writers of an early story treatment and screenplay for "The Godfather Part III," which Paramount Pictures purchased in 1985, has filed suit in Los Angeles Superior Court seeking credit for the movie. Nick Marino's suit seeks to overturn a Writers Guild of America arbitration ruling that denied him and his partner, Thomas Lee Wright, credit for the film, which will open in 1,800 theaters on Christmas Day.

One difference between seeing a movie around Los Angeles and almost anywhere else takes place afterwards. When the audience starts its exodus, a substantial remnant stays behind in the theater, until the very last name on the final credits has faded. Credits are important in an industry town, even when they roll past faster than Niagara Falls, or in such fine print that they register on your VCR as snow.

One difference between seeing a movie around Los Angeles and almost anywhere else takes place afterwards. When the audience starts its exodus, a substantial remnant stays behind in the theater, until the very last name on the final credits has faded. Credits are important in an industry town, even when they roll past faster than Niagara Falls, or in such fine print that they register on your VCR as snow.

It was October in Germany, and Frankfurt was aflutter. The literati had gathered for publishing's preeminent international trade show. In one week, across acres of exhibits and at countless lavish parties, the world's booksellers would spend millions on current titles while agents, editors and publishers wheeled and dealed in the background, buying, selling and shaping next year's lists.

MIDDLE PASSAGE by Charles Johnson (Plume: $8.95). In the Colonial era, a free black man mistakenly boards a slave ship bound for Africa in this 1991 National Book Award-winning story. ZOOT SUIT MURDERS by Thomas Sanchez (Vintage: $10). In post-World War II Southern California an undercover agent struggles for the soul of a woman immersed in a religious cult. SILHOUETTE SUMMER SIZZLERS 1991 by Kathleen Eagle, Marilyn Pappano and Patricia Gardner Evans (Harlequin: $4.95).

The Fabulous Baker Boys (Gladden/Mirage). Shooting in L.A. Ivory-tinkling lounge musicians Jeff Bridges and bro' Beau perform the title roles with Michelle Pfeiffer tagging along for the fun. Director/screenwriter Steve Kloves. Distributor Fox. Summer release. Lethal Weapon 2 (Silver). Shooting in L.A. Richard Donner directs wacko cop/title character Mel Gibson and cautious partner Danny Glover in this sequel set three years later.

Aspiring New York actor Kurt Anthony said he was "in shock" after he went to see Wesley Snipes in the movie "New Jack City" last March. So much so, that earlier this month he filed suit against Snipes and the makers of the Harlem-set, anti-drug movie, claiming they had lifted characters and plot points from a script that Anthony had written in 1987. The complaint, filed recently in New York City, names actor Snipes, film distributor Warner Bros.

Even though "The Last of the Finest" opened citywide last Friday without benefit of press previews the fact that Brian Dennehy was billed above its title was encouraging. As it turns out, it's a terrific cop-action picture, imaginative and entertaining, that could have benefited from opening-day reviews.

AFIFEST 93 opens Thursday with a gala invitational showing of the restored version of Anthony Mann's 1961 epic "El Cid" a few tickets to which are still available for the public--and then begins in earnest Friday at Laemmle's Sunset 5 theaters, where 150 films and shorts will be screened over the next three weeks, from Friday to July 1.

"New Jack City" (citywide) is a modern gangster thriller about the crack cocaine trade in contemporary Manhattan. Much of it is set in a Harlem housing project taken over by the youthful dealers, who turn it into a nightmare fortress and drug factory. This part of the plot seems the wildest and most extravagant of inventions; the fortress itself, honeycombed with dark passages, armed lookouts, TV monitors and writhing addicts, almost like something out of "The Twilight Zone."

F ollowing are The Times' recommendations for today's schedule of the American Film Institute Los Angeles International Film Festival, with commentary by the film reviewing staff. All screenings at Laemmle's Sunset 5, 8000 Sunset. Information: (213) 466-1767. Highly Recommended: "JAMON JAMON"(Spain: 1992; Director Bigas Luna; 1:30 & 6:45 p.m.