CBS bans advertising for film The Truth which is based on a discredited 60 Minutes story

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Film The Truth stars Robert Redford as Dan Rather with Cate Blanchett
Movie is based on a discredited 60 Minutes II news story from 2004
Story alleged that George W Bush had failed to fulfil National Guard duties
However, the story was later shown to be based on forged documents
CBS said it is refusing to advertise the movie over 'inaccuracies'

Published: 09:53 EST, 16 October 2015 | Updated: 16:45 EST, 16 October 2015

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CBS has banned adverts for an upcoming film starring Cate Blanchett and Robert Redford which is based on a discredited news story the network carried.

The Truth, in which Redford plays Dan Rather and Blanchett takes on the role of news producer Mary Maples, revisits a 60 Minutes II story which questioned George W Bush's war record.

CBS today confirmed it has turned down a multimillion-dollar advertising deal to promote the movie, branding it a disservice to the public and journalists, saying it contains inaccuracies and distortions.

CBS bosses confirmed they had turned down a multi million-dollar advertising deal for The Truth, starring Robert Redford as Dan Rather, which is based on a discredited 60 Minutes II story about George W Bush

The 60 Minutes story focused on papers which alleged Bush had failed to fulfill his obligation to the National Guard, the he had disobeyed orders, and that influence was exerted to improve his record.

Four of the papers, known as the Killian Documents, were handed to Maples by Lt. Col. Bill Burkett, a former US Army National Guard officer.

The documents then formed the basis for the 60 Minutes piece, which aired just months before the 2004 election, though they turned out to be forgeries that CBS had failed to authenticate.

CBS was forced to apologize for the story, and Maples was fired along with three other executives.

Sony Pictures Classics said it had asked to promote the film on Stephen Colbert's Late Show, the CBS Evening News, CBS This Morning and '60 Minutes'.

Sherri Callan, president of Callan Advertising, the company that places ads for Sony, said their offer was rebutted, a position that CBS executives confirmed today.

CBS told Callan it was not comfortable accepting the ads because of inaccuracies and distortions in the movie, and that it would offend longtime CBS News employees.

Gil Schwartz, longtime chief spokesman for CBS Corp. and a character in the movie, said: 'It's astounding how little truth there is in 'Truth'.

'There are, in fact, too many distortions, evasions and baseless conspiracy theories to enumerate them all.

'The film tries to turn gross errors of journalism and judgment into acts of heroism and martyrdom.

'That's a disservice not just to the public but to journalists across the world who go out every day and do everything within their power, sometimes at great risk to themselves, to get the story right.'

'Truth' is told from the points of view of Mapes and Rather, who left CBS News on bitter terms in 2006. He unsuccessfully sued the network and has complained of being 'erased' from CBS history.

Rather and Mapes have always contended that despite the discredited documents, the underlying story about Bush was true.

In the movie, Rather is portrayed sympathetically by Redford, the actor who played crusading journalist Bob Woodward generations ago.

The story was based on documents that alleged Bush had failed to fulfil his durty to the National Guard and had exerted pressure to have his record changed, which later turned out to be forged

One of the final scenes shows Rather signing off from his last CBS Evening News broadcast, with staff members giving him a standing ovation when the camera light switched off.

Brad Fischer, one of the film's producers, expressed surprise about CBS' public denunciation.

'I don't think anyone expected them to send flowers,' Fischer said. 'To get an official statement from them that is negative was not surprising to anyone involved in the film.

'I think the one thing that surprised everyone was the tone and the emotional nature.'

Redford and Rather have appeared on NBC's 'Today' show to talk about the movie, and Blanchett was on ABC's 'Good Morning America.'

CBS News's 'Sunday Morning' broadcast considered Redford for an interview but it was barred by Executive Producer Rand Morrison, said an executive familiar with Sony's promotional plans.

Blanchett appeared on CBS' 'Late Show' on Oct. 8, however. Colbert asked her about the film and played a clip of her Mapes portrayal.

In the movie, the independent panel charged with examining CBS' reporting was depicted as hostile and eager to probe into whether Mapes was politically motivated to go after Bush, at the time in the midst of a tough re-election campaign.

The panel's report said the facts did not conclude CBS was motivated by an anti-Bush attitude. But producers were criticized for a 'myopic zeal' in rushing the story to air.

Some at CBS News are angered by an implication that news executives were pressured to quash the story by corporate owners Viacom, which had business reasons to maintain friendly relations with the Bush administration.

A low-level producer is depicted in the movie giving an angry speech about Viacom as the story was falling apart.

Mapes was only months removed from a career triumph — breaking an award-winning story about mistreatment of prisoners in Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison, a story embarrassing to the Bush administration whose veracity wasn't questioned.

The issue presented to filmgoers is whether the so-called 'truth' of a story matters more than faults in trying to nail it down.

Fischer points out that portions of the film are unflattering to Mapes, particularly the rush to get the story on the air.

Fischer said filmmakers were attracted by the intersection of news, politics and business and the story's status as one of the first to be undone by an Internet outcry.

'I'm excited for people to see the film, and talk about the issues and ask the questions themselves,' he said, 'because I don't think the movie really draws a conclusion about these things.

'I don't think it's our job as filmmakers to draw a conclusion, but rather to pose the questions.'