TWENTIETH CENTURY-FOX FILM CORPORATION HARVEY BERNHARD: THE MAN BEHIND THE "OMEN" TRILOGY He has been called the devil's godfather, but that's all right with veteran film producer Harvey Bernhard, the man responsible for "The Omen" and "Damien--Omen II," two of the most successful "devil" films in recent years. Bernhard has just completed production on the final – and most terrifying -- chapter of the "Omen" trilogy. Titled "The Final Conflict," the 20th Century-Fox release stars Sam Neill as the adult Damien Thorn, with Rossano Brazzi, Don Gordon and Lisa Harrow also starring. "We're going all out to shock audiences with this one, "warns Bernhard. "We are putting on the screen something that has never- been shown before--infinite evil." Introduced in the first two "Omen" films as the son of Satan, Damien Thorn is now 33, still devoutly committed to evil, and -- as trusted advisor to the President of the United States – is one step away from the most powerful position on earth. "My connection with the "Omen" films goes back a long way, "explains Bernhard. "I first decided to take the plunge as an independent producer in 1970 and made 'The Mack,' a successful black exploitation film. It gave me the funds to go on to make other films. The first of these was 'The Omen.' "The film was conceived at a lunch meeting I had with a friend who was a born-again Christian," recalls Bernhard. "He asked me if I'd read the Book of Revelations, told me what they contained, and right then and there I started scribbling a rough treatment. When I had it down on paper, I called a screenwriter, David Seltzer, who wrote the final screenplay. "Richard Donner, who serves as executive producer on 'The Final Conflict,' directed the first 'Omen' film. After that we did 'Damien--Omen II,' with Don Taylor directing on location in Chicago." The third chapter of the Damien Thorn saga was filmed entirely on location in England and directed by Graham Baker. A first-time feature director, Baker was chosen to give the film a totally original visual style, one that would highlight the sinister nature of Damien Thorn. Bernhard, a genial and easygoing man with some 30 years experience in various show business ventures, began his career in Las Vegas, where he developed the city's first lounge acts. In 1956 he partnered with Sandy Howard to produce local live TV shows, like "Nightcourt," "Emergency Ward" and "Police Station." Bernhard then became executive in charge of production for the David L. Wolper Company, supervising classic American TV shows like "National Geographic," "Hollywood and the Stars," "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich," "Animal World" and "D Day." The company also produced three feature films: "If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium," "The Devil's Brigade" and "The Bridge at Remagen." Wolper's company also made a series of documentaries on Africa with William Holden. In fact, during his time with Wolper, Bernhard had his hand in upwards of 2,000 documentaries. But it was the "Omen" films which gave Bernhard his greatest successes. "What we are saying in 'The Final Conflict' is that evil is not in the bowels of the earth, it is all around us," Bernhard remarks. "The devil, like Jesus, was created in man's image. His weapons are man's inhumanity to man, man's greed, violence, cruelty--and that, unfortunately, is the world we are living in today." "The Final Conflict" is a Harvey Bernhard Production in association with Mace Neufeld. Sam Neill, Rossano Brazzi, Don Gordon and Lisa Harrow star in the 20th Century-Fox release. The film was directed by Graham Baker from a screenplay by Andrew Birkin. Richard Donner was executive producer.