Movie fans in America are suing the major studios and film critics for allegedly misleading the public with favourable reviews whose quotes are exploited on movie adverts. The lawsuit claims that the critics' opinions have been compromised by studio hospitality.

The legal action, brought in Los Angeles by a group called Citizens for Truth in Movie Advertising, along with four individuals, claim that the seven major studios and a number of film companies quote effusive reviews from journalists who have been too royally entertained to be subjective in their criticism.

It also names six reviewers as benefiting from "junkets" - trips in which air fares and hotel bills are often paid for by the studios.

The lawsuit claims that the adverts which quote these reviewers mislead people because they do not reveal the hospitality they have received.

The lawsuit alleges that this breaches Californian law which bans false and misleading advertising, thus making the companies guilty of "fraudulent concealment" and unfair business practices.

The action follows a growing debate about film advertising. One studio was exposed last month as running favourable quotes from a film critic who did not exist, while another used staff posing as cinemagoers to give endorsements.

Studios have cut back significantly on their largesse recently after attacks from established critics' groups who are scornful of the reviewers they call "blurbmeisters".

There are objections to the fact that some journalists are given special access to stars, have their photos taken with actors on set, and get flown, at studio expense, to exotic locations on the tacit understanding that they will be generous in their reviews.

Peter Bart, editor-in-chief of Variety, the entertainment industry daily, said that he does not allow staff to take free trips and have their hotels paid for, and that any gifts beyond token ones were unacceptable.