# THIS WORKS
print (OUT $line) || die "writing 'splat' $!";

# But putting || die on another line does not. i.e:
# print (OUT $line) 
#       || die "writing 'splat' $!";

##</code><code>##

% cat id1.pl
 print (OUT $line) || die "writing 'splat' $!";

% perl -MO=Deparse id1.pl
die "writing 'splat' $!" unless print OUT $line;
id1.pl syntax OK

% cat id2.pl
 print (OUT $line)
    || die "writing 'splat' $!";

% perl -MO=Deparse id2.pl
die "writing 'splat' $!" unless print OUT $line;
id2.pl syntax OK