MR. CHERNE'S QUESTIONS RE THE MOTION PICTURE, 'SCORPIO'

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80M01133A001100090061-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 12, 2005
• Sequence Number: 61
• Publication Date: January 1, 1975
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Release 2005/02/02 : CIA-RDP80M01133AO01100090061 '1
DCI/IC-75-0526
MEMORANDUM ?OR: CNNAR Olmer, PPIAB Staff
UBJECT
Mr. Cherne t s Questions re the Motion
Picture, "Scorpio"
1. Reference is your request for information on which
to reply to questions posed by Mr. Leo Cherne of the PPIAB
concerning the "Scorpio'' motion picture.
2. The questions you posed, and responses are as
follows
a. How did it come about the movie was filmed in
part at CIA Headquarters--an obvious break from past
CIA practice?
The decision was made by Director Helms as an
exception" after the original request of 17 February
1972 from Senator John V. Tunney of California was
followed by a meeting on 25 February between David
Silver, production manager of the motion picture, and
a CIA official, and then a letter of 28 February from
Mr. Silver.
Senator Turiney wrote that he had been told the
filming at CIA "would be a gar driving through the
entrance, past the guard gate; entering the buildin
walking down a hail and entering an office.`
fir. Silver's letter stated:
"The story deals with field agents of the CIA and
while it must of necessity have commercial ingredients,
It is in no way an exploitation film or designed for
sensationalism.
" We hope to secure permission to photograph, in
establishing long shots, entrances and exits of the
building, and closer covering shots in the main entrance
.lobby.
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 Approved For Release 2005/02/02 : CIA-RDP80M01133AO01100090061-1
Mr. Arthur B. Krim, Chairman of the Board of
United Artists Corporation, and a personal friend of
Mr. Helms, also requested that he agree to the filming
at CIA.
It is believed that Senator fey was the main
reason for the approval which was given.
b. What did CIA expect to get out of Its coopeerati i---
sincee the motion picture has such an anti-CIA focus?
The correspondence never mentioned 'Scorpio'--the
title given was 'Danger Field, : with no reference to a
novel or author. The production manager's letter said
only:
The story deals with their (CIA agents) work in
be field and their relationship with their immediate
superior, who, it is never suggested is anything but an
executive in the Agency..,
Senator Tunney's letter said, 'There is a portion
of the movie which deals with the Central Intelligence
''
Agency.
Mr. Helms, in his letter to Mr. irm, in which he
agreed to allow the filming, said, "I do want to be
sure. . that your associates are not under the illusion
that we are changing our policy. We are not.
0. Did the author of Scorpio --Mike Roote--_have
any background in CIA?
He did not. 'Fusee novel was published in 1972 with
United Artists Corporation (which produced the film)
listed as holding the copyright. Since correspondence
r* filming shots at CIA originated in February 1972, it
is assumed the novel was developed from the film script.
Assoc is ee pu .y to the DCI
for the Intelligence Community
25X
Distribution:
Orig. - Adsee.
1 - AD/DCI/IC
1 - CS Subject
I - CS Chrono
I - Chrono
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25X1
25~1 ACT/ICS/CS (L# Feb 75 )