Edition: U.S. / Global

James Brady Relives the Day He Became a Symbol

By KAREN DE WITT, Special to The New York Times
Published: December 18, 1990

They looked almost like twins, the former White House press secretary James A. Brady and the actor Beau Bridges. Almost but not quite. And Mr. Brady was not about to let distinctions disappear. He kept reminding Mr. Bridges that Barbara Bush recently said the actor was "too ugly to play Jim."

On the first day of filming "The James Brady Story" here, the actor and the press secretary traded quips to lighten what both see as a movie with a dual message: the need for gun control and the triumph of the human spirit over tragedy. The HBO movie is about Mr. Brady's rise to White House press scretary and his paralysis after being shot during John W. Hinckley Jr.'s attempt to assassinate President Ronald Reagan in 1981.

Today's visit was not the first one back at the Washington Hilton for Mr. Brady and his wife, Sarah. Mr. Brady said he would not watch the filming of the assassination attempt. "I was there the first time," he said. Mr. Brady said it was painful to be in the hotel, on the scene where he was shot. But he said: "I've learned to live with it. This hotel is probably going to be here longer than I am." Getting Into the Characters

Mr. Brady has not recovered from the gunshot wound to his head. With paralysis affecting much of his body, he sits in a wheelchair and speaks in a slow, measured cadence. Associates say that he remains in considerable pain and tires easily.

Mr. Bridges said he was attracted to the role after reading the book about the former press secretary's life, "Thumbs Up," by Mollie Dickenson "He's got this great sense of humor and a real mischievous side that I identify with," Mr. Bridges said.

Steven Flynn, a 29-year-old actor who plays Mr. Hinckley and bears a remarkable resemblance to the gunman, purposely avoided the Bradys.

"I've been trying to stay out of their way, not because they've asked me to, but just because it might be painful," said Mr. Flynn, who spent the morning doing scenes with a crowd portraying reporters and photographers. "I've seen the videos of the incident, and it's creepy. As an actor, you use all these methods to get into character, but I only start thinking about this role when I'm about to do it. It's too disturbing to think about it beyond that."

The script was written by Robert Bolt, who was persuaded to write it by his friend, David Puttnam, the film's executive producer. Mr. Bolt, whose works include the script for the film "Lawrence of Arabia," recovered from a stroke and had many of the same brain-injury symptoms suffered by Mr. Brady. The Issue Behind the Filming

Sarah Brady is portrayed by Joan Allen. Mrs. Brady, who along with her husband has lobbied for a gun-control law that would require a seven-day waiting period so that purchasers could be checked out by the police, stood quietly talking with reporters.

"I can't help but think that this film will help in the effort to get a handle on gun control," Mrs. Brady said. "We have warfare in our streets."

The issue of gun control was the dominant theme on this first day of filming.

Mr. Bridges recalled having a gun thrust in his face 10 years ago in Los Angeles during a holdup of a fast-food chicken shop. Mr. Brady, who as press secretary was noted for his witty comments, punctuated the story with comments like a deacon during a sermon.

"The guy stuck this gun in my face and told me to lay down on the floor," Mr. Bridges said.

"Got your attention," said Mr. Brady.

"He became the most important person I ever met," Mr. Bridges said. "The guy who ran the place smacked the guy's gun out of the way when he stuck it in his face. I wanted to yell, 'Oh, leave him alone!' The gunman kept saying, 'I'm nervous. I don't want to hurt anyone.' I was freaked by the whole thing. I stood there as if my spirit had left my body and I was watching the scene."

2 Playing Themselves

Today's cast included two photographers who had been present at the actual assassination attempt. Bernard Boston, a Los Angeles Times photographer who then worked for the Washington Star, ran to the scene from the hotel. Ronald A. Edmonds, an Associated Press photographer, was on the spot and won a Pulitizer Prize for his photographs.

Mr. Edmonds, a modest man, was in the crowd scene.

"I'm just an extra in this," he said. "I don't have a starring role." Around his neck was the Nikon F-3 with which he shot his award-winning photograph. It was the first time since March 1981 that he had taken it out. Among some photographers, it is a tradition to retire a camera that has won a prize.

The film is to be shown on HBO in the spring.

Photo: James A. Brady, left, in Washington with Beau Bridges, who portrays him in "The James Brady Story." (Jose R. Lopez/The New York Times)