Storm over Reagn film

Controversy is raging over a TV film that depicts Ronald Reagan as a bigot and his wife Nancy as a pillpopping control freak.

The CBS two-parter, to be shown in America next month, fails to credit the former president with some of his most significant achievements and puts into his mouth controversial statements that he never uttered.

His millions of conservative supporters in the U.S. are furious about the show and claim Hollywood Left-wingers are out to destroy his legacy.

Reagan, who was president from 1981 to 1989,

is now 92 and suffering from an advanced case of Alzheimer's disease. He knows little of what is going on in the outside world.

One scene in the film shows Mrs Reagan pleading with her husband to dedicate more funds to help Aids victims. He replies: 'They that live in sin shall die in sin,' and refuses to discuss the matter further.

There is no evidence that anything like this ever happened or that Reagan ever made such a remark.

Elizabeth Egloff, who wrote the final version of the script, acknowledged last night that the conversation never took place.

But she insisted: 'We know he ducked the issue over and over again, and we know she was the one who got him to deal with it.

'Biographies show that Mr Reagan had trouble squaring homosexuality with the Bible.'

Lou Cannon, who has written several biographies about Reagan, said: 'He is not intolerant. He was a bit asleep at the switch, but it's not fair to have him say something he didn't.'

The film, called The Reagans,

also suggests without any evidence that Reagan informed on communist actors during his Hollywood career at a time when a film industry blacklist was operating.

'I've never called anybody a commie who wasn't a commie,' the script has him saying.

Nancy, played by Judy Davis, is portrayed as a loyal and protective wife, but also as a control addict who had significant influence over White House staff and policy decisions.

There is no mention of the economic recovery or the creation of wealth that took place during the Reagan years.

'I fully expect it to be largely unfavourable to my dad,' said Michael Reagan, a radio chatshow host. 'Hollywood has been hijacked by the liberal Left.'

The suspicions of Reagan supporters have been heightened by the casting. The president is played by arch-liberal James Brolin, who is married to Barbra Streisand, one of the former president's harshest critics.

And the film is backed by Leslie Moonves, the CBS chairman noted for his anti-conservative views.

But producer Neil Meron stood by its impartiality, saying: 'This is not a vendetta; it is not revenge. It is about telling a good story in our honest sort of way. We all believe it's a story that should be told.'