MOVIES - June 25, 1990

No Disrespect Intended: Although director David Zucker said he lampoons national leaders, including the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, in “The Naked Gun,” he means no disrespect to them. “I have made, with my brother, Jerry, a series of comedy films, including ‘Airplane!’ and ‘Ruthless People,’ and everybody knows they are strictly comedies intended for laughs,” Zucker said. “Under no circumstances is any disrespect intended.” He said his earlier comments that he welcomed Iranian criticism of his film were misinterpreted. The film portrays the late leader as a terrorist ringleader with punkish orange hair under his turban. Iran protested to Turkey last week over the film, which is being shown in cinemas in Ankara and Istanbul. Other world leaders spoofed in “The Naked Gun” are Mikhail S. Gorbachev, Fidel Castro and Yasser Arafat.