Kopelson honored at Deauville

By LISA NESSELSON

DEAUVILLE, France --- Producer Arnold Kopelson expressed his thanks to a packed house Tuesday night as the 23rd Deauville Festival of American Cinema paid tribute to his career.

"After I worked on 'The Fugitive' for over six years, it grossed over $400 million and was nominated for seven Academy Awards --- that experience taught me to trust my instincts," said the hands-on pro, whose instincts have also resulted in "Platoon," "Falling Down," "Outbreak" and "Seven."

A specially produced montage incorporated clips from Kopelson's latest efforts: "Mad City," "Devil's Advocate" and "U.S. Marshals."

After a warm intro from his friend and fellow Deauville honoree Morgan Freeman, Kopelson shared the award with his wife, Anne, his producing partner of more than 25 years who "has always shunned taking screen credit but deserves it, because she's worked with me on every single film from the start."

According to Kopelson, "the start" was less than glamorous. "Anne and I started in this business literally from nowhere. We broke into the biz by selling films made by others. We attended every film festival and put press books on the windshields of automobiles to get the attention of buyers. We never had time to think about being honored because we were too busy thinking about survival."

Kopelson thanked Warner Bros. for years of support and collaboration, with special praise for head of international distribution Edward Frumpkis and ad campaign whiz Joel Wayne.

The Kopelsons are about to embark on a new partnership with Twentieth Century Fox which, the producer noted, "has granted to me and Anne every opportunity to control our own destiny and make the best films we are capable of making."

Accepting a framed diploma from mayor Anne d'Ornano at the gala dinner that followed a screening of the producer's 1989 "Triumph of the Spirit," Kopelson declared, "I just made a film ("Mad City") with Costa-Gavras, an important French director. The South of France --- that's where I really want to make a film."

Next week Kopelson will preside over another major production on French soil: His son Evan is getting married in Paris at the Ritz.