Help: file() function returns "Message to long" warning. What is this about ?

[Jerry]

Hi people:

I'm experiencing the following problem and don't know what it is
about. Any help greatly appreciated:

My script retrieves the data from a remote file using the file()
function. However, when I run the script it returns the following
error (or warning):

"Warning: file("http://........") - Message too long in
/usr/www/users/sico/script.php on line 41"

What is that error about?
Is there any length limit on the file() function?

Jerry