'Mandolin' plays U.K.
Producing duo open new film on heels of 'Bridget Jones'
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Penelope Cruz and Nicolas Cage study the ceiling at 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin' bow in London. |
With the breakout success of their last opus, "Bridget Jones's Diary," still in the air, producing duo Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner are obviously hoping B.O. lightning will be striking twice.
"The Siamese twins of the British film industry," as "Corelli" helmer John Madden called them, were on hand for the Odeon Theatre premiere and afterward at the party at the tony St. James hang spot In and Out, which carried on the spirit of the film's sybaritic Greek setting.
Madden gave the nod to "Bridget's" runaway success by pointing out that the Odeon screening was "the only theater in London not playing 'Bridget Jones.' "
Pic's stars Nicolas Cage, Penelope Cruz (whom Madden, in reference to the pic, described as "someone who should have a song written for her every day"), John Hurt, Irene Papas and David Morrissey lit up the Leicester Square festivities and were joined by screenwriter Shawn Slovo; the book's author, Louis de Bernieres; producer Kevin Loader; and a good dozen members of the cast from Italy and Greece.
Also on hand for the pic and party were a mix of London media, showbiz and political honchos, including Tory MP Michael Portillo, helmer Mike Figgis, thesp Saffron Burrows and chanteuse Marianne Faithful.
Not on hand was co-producer-Miramax topper Harvey Weinstein, who Madden said had tried unsuccessfully to "get a Concorde plane recertified in order to attend events in New York and London on the same night."
