October 14, 2002

Plagiarised Piccies?

A British screenwriter claims he spotted a serious case of double exposure when he saw Robin Williams' latest film, One Hour Photo. John Wrathall has declared that this latest riff on the lonely man theme which sees a Travis Bickle type ditching the taxi for the dark room, bears an remarkable resemblance to his film Magic Moments, an eight-minute short released in 1997.

Whereas William's 'Sy the Photo Guy' becomes obsessed with a supposedly perfect family as he develops their snaps in One Hour Photo, Wrathall's script focused on a female lab technician who comes over all Glen Close about a customer, played by Dougray Scott. Screened at film festivals world-wide five years ago and also gaining a British cinema release, Wrathall's script was brought to the screen by director Saul Metzstein who went on to make 2001's Late Night Shopping.

"The similarities between the two films are uncanny," the more than slightly miffed screenwriter explained to The Independent. But he also feels complimented over the possible plagiarism, adding "One Hour Photo is, however, a very good film and if there's any 'foul play' involved, it's flattering that it should be by someone with good taste." This gracious sportsmanship might not, however, stop him bringing legal action against the makers of the film, Twentieth Century Fox, who frostily said they had no comment to make about the claims. Lawyers, start rubbing your hands together with glee.

© Empire 2002

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