The Scene: The premiere Wednesday night of...

The Scene: The premiere Wednesday night of “Torch Song Trilogy,” the long-awaited film based on the long-running play. The reception, screening and sit-down dinner in Century City were a benefit for Hollywood Helps, a consortium of guilds, unions and professional organizations supporting people with AIDS in the entertainment industry.

The Buzz: Remembrances of friends and acquaintances with AIDS. Debates over how the film’s gay love scenes would play outside of so-called liberal Hollywood. Handicapping the Oscar chances.

Who was there: Cher, who served as spokeswoman and brought along boyfriend Rob Camiletti; screenwriter and star Harvey Fierstein; director Paul Bogart; “Torch Song” actors Brian Kerwin and Charles Pierce. Also Molly Ringwald, Jimmy Smits, John Lithgow, William and Marcy Shatner, Joan Van Ark with newscaster-husband John Marshall, Federal Express motormouth John Moschitta, and actors George Takei, Henry Polic II, Betty Garrett and Dick Sargent.

Fashion Statements: The dress code was black tie and business wear, but Fierstein wore white tennies with his dinner jacket, and Polic stood out with socks emblazoned with blue and white stars.

Entertainment: Ragtime dinner music from the Crystal Palace, a 12-piece ensemble; John Herrera performing the song “Empty Chairs” from “Les Miserables”; Cher being almost mobbed by eager photographers.

Quoted: “This is the first time that all the Hollywood unions have gotten together to do anything but strike,” Actors Fund representative Marcia Smith said.

Overheard: “I hope you like it and if you don’t--shaddup,” Fierstein cracked at the reception.

Chow: Wine and cheese for openers; papaya salad, salmon, pasta, vegetables, ice cream cake and loaded cappuccinos at dinner.

Favored Favors: Bottles of Pimm’s liquor, sound-track cassettes, chocolate reproductions of Oscar (hint, hint). Oddly, Oscar chest plates had been replaced with the masks of comedy and tragedy.

Triumphs: Drawing a large crowd despite the predictable groans of Industry types who claim that they absolutely hate these long screening affairs.

Glitches: Santa Ana winds that whipped through the towers and tunnels, turning the walk from the Cineplex to the Century Plaza hotel into the equivalent of a walk on Chicago’s North Shore in January.

Nice Touch: Behind the ragtime ensemble hung a portion of the national AIDS quilt, reminding revelers of why they were there.