This fall, the board rejected a request by Paramount executives to open talks with DreamWorks.

For their part, Paramount executives continue to argue that they made a good deal, given the circumstances.

The film's distribution was badly managed by Paramount executives and barely got a release in most of the United States.

While the cinematographer wanted to shoot the scene in black-and-white, Paramount executives deemed the test footage "too experimental" and the idea was dropped.

No Paramount executive would comment on the studio's European plans.

But Paramount executives said that Mr. Cruise's public image did not hurt the film.

The completed script was shown to Paramount executives, who were very pleased.

(It cost $25 million to make, not including marketing, according to Paramount executives.)

He said he told Paramount executives: "The time is right for us as a studio to make this statement, that we feel children come first.

Radio sponsors began dropping immediately after that, though Paramount executives said no other advertisers have abandoned the TV show.