MTV has `Episode I' video clips

If you're standing in line counting down to the day you can buy tickets to "Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace," you might want to get somebody to hold your place Monday afternoon. Otherwise you'll miss another premiere -- a music video chock-full of footage from the year's most anticipated film.

The video, "Duel of the Fates," serves up scenes with "Menace" stars Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman and the irreverent computer robot R2-D2. There is also behind-the-scenes footage, including clips of composer John Williams meshing the sounds of the London Symphony Orchestra with the movie soundtrack.

MTV plans to premiere its world exclusive during its hourlong "Total Request Live" music block starting Monday at 3: 30 p.m. Shortly thereafter, it will add the video to its regular rotation.

MTV sister channel VH1 will partially scoop its sibling by airing a snippet of the video at 2 o'clock Monday afternoon, but won't air the video in its entirety until Monday evening at 6, when it will runit five times in a row. Rival cable music channel The Box will debut the video at 4: 30 p.m. Monday.

Pub Date: 5/01/99