Print edition: 
Adolf Hitler was a psychopath and a monster but rose to power thanks to big business leaders and other supporters who appreciated his vow to destroy communism and control workers, Hollywood filmmaker Oliver Stone said Monday.
Stone, who is working on a 10-part documentary on the 20th century titled "The Secret History of the United States," said the German dictator was "enabled by Western bankers" and managed to "seduce" Germany's military industrial complex.
"I have no empathy for Hitler at all. He was a crazy psychopath," Stone told reporters in the Thai capital. "But like Frankenstein was a monster, there was a Dr. Frankenstein. He is product of his era."
Stone was in Bangkok to lecture high school students on the role of film in peace-building as part of a visit organized by the International Peace Foundation.
He said the aim of his documentary was to offer a fuller understanding of the 20th century and how some of those lessons may be relevant to President Obama in 2010.
"What has America become? How can we in America not learn from Germany in the 1930s," the Oscar-winning director asked.
Coleman jailed in Utah
Actor Gary Coleman was arrested in Utah on a warrant for failing to appear in court, police said.
The 41-year-old former "Diff'rent Strokes" actor was booked into the Utah County Jail Sunday, said Santaquin police officer Shawn Carter.
The Salt Lake Tribune reported that Utah County Jail records show Coleman was arrested after police received reports of a disturbance at his Santaquin home.
Producers laud 'Hurt Locker'
"The Hurt Locker" scored the top film award from the Producers Guild of America, building new momentum for the Iraq war drama in the expanded Oscar race for best picture. The film about a risk-taking bomb disposal technician beat out such celebrated nominees as "Avatar," "Inglourious Basterds" and "Up in the Air."
"The Hurt Locker," starring Jeremy Renner and directed by Kathryn Bigelow, also bested the films "Star Trek," "District 9," "An Education," "Invictus," "Up" and "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' By Sapphire" at Sunday's Producers Guild Awards at the Hollywood Palladium, the latest kudofest in the run-up to the Academy Awards in March.
Another year older
Today's birthdays: Cartoonist Jules Feiffer , 81... actor Scott Glenn , 71... singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams , 57... rock musician Eddie Van Halen , 55... reggae musician Norman Hassan (UB40), 52... actress-comedian-talk show host Ellen DeGeneres , 52... gospel singer Kirk Franklin , 40... actress Sarah Rue , 32.
