LEE CAN'T DO RIGHT THING WITH ROBINSON FILM.

Byline: Tom Hoffarth Daily News Staff Writer

For the past three years, independent filmmaker Spike Lee says he has been trying to do a movie about the life of Jackie Robinson.

Lee can't help but feel that his repeated attempts to get the project off the ground are more and more like a metaphor for what Robinson had to endure in breaking baseball's color barrier 50 years ago.

Nothing worthy comes easy.

Despite script foul-ups, financial setbacks and failed promises, Lee said recently he is ``confident the film will get made . . . it's in limbo now.

``I'm hopeful with all the great interest in Jackie now, it will spark the same interest as it has with (Muhammad) Ali.''

It remains to be seen how long Lee's window of opportunity will last.

To be specific, Rachel Robinson said that Lee's option on the rights for her husband's life story ran out last September, although indications are that she is very open to having him still do it.

Lee's minute-long tribute to Robinson has aired on major-league ballpark video screens this season in coordination with Robinson tributes. Is that as far as it will get?

Rachel Robinson said she had picked Lee because ``I wanted the very best product I could get . . . I still feel that a black man can understand another black man and all the nuances of his life better than anyone else.''

In February, however, she said she would be open to meeting with other groups, trying to get it going again.

``He couldn't put the pieces together - the studios, the funds, the star, the script,'' Rachel Robinson said of Lee. ``It's not the first time the project has been aborted. I've been trying to get a movie done for the past 15 years and haven't succeeded. But I won't give up.''

Nor will Lee, who seems to use that decree as more incentive to get the film started.

Lee's affection for Robinson has been no secret. In the 1989 movie critically acclaimed for its anti-racism message, ``Do The Right Thing'' - which Lee wrote, produced, directed and acted in - he wore a replica of Robinson's jersey.

He also gave made reference to the 1950 ``Jackie Robinson Story'' in his 1996 movie ``Girl 6.''

Lee calls Robinson one of the ``most courageous figures'' in American history and has referred to him as ``a warrior'' and ``an icon.''

``We're a much greater country because of him,'' said Lee.

In turn, Lee said he sees no current athlete who is even worthy of a movie made on his life. Not one of today's athletes transcend their sport like an Arthur Ashe, Jim Brown, Curt Flood or Robinson.

``Being a great athlete doesn't make a compelling movie,'' said Lee, who made himself mainstream nearly 10 years ago in Nike ads he did (as Mars Blackmon) with Michael Jordan. ``I can't think of anyone right now (who transcends sport). I think we've got to at least give Tiger Woods a couple more years to live (to find out).''

As an independent businessman working through his 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks company, Lee has a reported $15 million budget on the Robinson project, although others have reported it to be closer to $40 million.

The last film he made, ``Get On The Bus,'' about the Million Man March on Washington, had a budget of just under $3 million. Even though that hit money snags during production, Lee was able to finance it entirely through African-American businessmen - including Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan.

Lee said last year he thought he had Turner Pictures behind him. After all, if a man like Atlanta Braves owner Ted Turner was part of it, the project could get done.

Or so he thought.

``I felt we felt we had a good home (with Turner),'' said Lee, ``but we found out he really has little to do with the company.''

Reports are that Turner Pictures turned down the project because of its lengthy script - 3-1/2 hours. Instead, Turner's company has turned to making a movie about the life of another baseball original - former Chicago White Sox owner Bill Veeck, starring Bill Murray.

Lee had once envisioned Denzel Washington to star as Jackie Robinson, but now he says even that's up in the air.

Forty-seven years ago, Robinson starred as himself in ``The Jackie Robinson Story,'' produced by Mort Briskin. Many critics today say it was an excellent performance by Robinson.

In 1986, Rachel Robinson sold the story rights to Lorimar Productions, but the company shelved the project. In 1995, Hollywood Pictures called Robinson to express interest, but they wanted to focus only on 1947 and do the film through the eyes of Dodgers GM Branch Rickey and broadcaster Red Barber. Ken Burns was to have been the researcher and Rachel Robinson was to have been paid as a consultant.

She eventually soured on the idea when Burns seemed to be going ahead with it without her help. Rather than rehash myths and legends about her husband's life, Rachel Robinson was ready to provide access to letters and more than 500 photos, which had not been published.

That is, until last December, when she compiled her own book, ``Jackie Robinson: An Intimate Portrait'' (with Lee Daniels) that had over 300 black-and-white photos - including original poison-pen letters Jackie had received during his playing days.

Lee has kept himself in the sports spotlight, from his courtside seats at New York Knicks games to his special projects for HBO. He also has worked with Turner's people, contributing to TNT's coverage of the NBA playoffs.

But even his interest in Robinson could be seen as stalled.

The 40-year-old told USA Today last week that he plans to shoot his 11th feature film this fall - doing his first original screenplay since 1991. He would not reveal much about the content except that it was about sports.

He's also been involved in a new advertising agency whose first project is doing spots for the recently delayed Mike Tyson-Evander Holyfield rematch.

David Davis, an L.A.-based entertainment analyst with Hoolihan and Lookey, does not think that financing, especially with a known quantity in Lee, can be considered the main reason that it hasn't been made.

``There's a whole history of baseball movies that have done well,'' he said, ``but I think in general, baseball movies come in and out of vogue. Maybe some believe there's too many sports films out right now.

``I think it's must a matter of timing and getting the right people involved. In this case, I think it'll get done, and fairly soon. It makes too much sense.''

So did allowing Robinson to play major-league baseball 50 years ago.

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Photo: (1--color--2) Filmmaker Spike Lee hopes to come up with his own version of the Jackie Robinson story, which first made it into film in 1950.

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(3) In 1989, Spike Lee wore a Dodgers uniform in honor of Jackie Robinson while acting in his movie, ``Do The Right Thing.''

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