MOVIES - Nov. 23, 1987

“To compare ‘(The Adventures of Baron) Munchausen’ to ‘Heaven’s Gate,’ ‘Howard the Duck,’ and ‘Ishtar’ is spurious,” fumed “Munchausen” executive producer Jake Eberts on Sunday. Disputing entertainment trade paper Daily Variety’s reports that the movie is headed for a $10-million budget overrun and is the “symbol of all that is wrong with the industry,” Eberts said the Columbia Pictures film, recently in the news with director Terry Gilliam’s firing and rehiring, will probably come in less than $6 million over its $23.5-million budget. The producer also took issue with Variety’s claims that “Munchausen” got in trouble because ex-Columbia chairman David Puttnam waffled on budget and contract details. “Columbia behaved impeccably,” Eberts’ statement said. Variety editor Tom Pryor couldn’t be reached for comment.