ok, here is what I did ..
took the door handle off ,
put the retaining screw back in the threads,
clamped the screw end in the vice,
gently heated the shaft right by the vice jaws,(not near the chrome)
once the shaft was red hot,
gently twisted the handle with the big grip pliers until the handle was at the required angle.
Cleaned it all up and reinstalled the handle.
