MOVIES - Oct. 23, 1987

“The Telephone” director, Rip Torn, says problems editing the film--the focus of an unsuccessful court bid this week by star Whoopi Goldberg to halt its release--were created by her Dutch cinematographer husband, David Claessen. In a printed statement, Torn said Goldberg insisted that Claessen be hired as one of two cameramen on the film. In turn, Claessen “insisted there be no comedy (and) also declined in many of the scenes to include substantial portions of other actor’s heads.” Torn said he was breaking his rule about “hanging out family wash” because Goldberg had “dragged ‘The Telephone’ through the mud and it needs at least a rinsing of the truth.”