Following sequence of events occurred:
1 From an xterm on machine alpha (Redhat Linux 6.2 patched to May 1/2003)
   ssh to machine beta and login  (beta runs RH 7.3 patched to MAy 1/2003)
2 on beta export DISPLAY=alpha:0.0
3 on beta execute soffice (version 644)
4 load a pre-existing presentation file (made with OO 1.0.1 on windows 2000)
which contains 3 slides with backgrounds. ITC11.sxi
5 things go crazy with many, many instances of each of the OO windows being
drawn in outline with now contents drawn. Eventually OO crashes.  The shell
window used to start it either has an error essage "X IO error" or "sh:
crash_reporter" not found.

I repeated the exercise from beta's console, logging on and starting X and GNOME
  . Executing the soffice command.  The problem did not appear. The presentation
loaded normally.

I then installed OO 1.0.3.1 on beta and repeated the remote access and X display
 case again.  It too worked properly.  It appears to be a regression bug.

I would send the file in question but you can reproduce the problem directly.
I did the following :
logon to beta from alpha
display alpha:0.0
start OO 644
select New -> presentation
in the wizard
Page 1 select Introduce new product template
Page 2 select Dark blue with orange
       select screen
Page 3 accept defaults of noeffect/medium
Page 4 enter foo, bar, baz in the fields
Page 5 Choose all the checked items
       click on create, Watch the death-throes.

I also experimented with using the wizard but acccepting always the "<original>"
template choices (ie no background).  That seemed to work OK.