‘Stella’ Party Takes Off at DC 3
The scene: Premiere of Touchstone’s “Stella,” the campy re-make of the melodrama “Stella Dallas,” starring Bette Midler, Trini Alvarado, John Goodman and Stephen Collins. The event was also a benefit for AIDS Project Los Angeles and the American Foundation for AIDS Research. After a screening at the Avco in Westwood, guests motored over to DC 3 by the Santa Monica airport for a late dinner and live jazz music. The event netted more than $140,000 (Disney underwrote the party), to be split equally between the two groups.
The buzz: Reactions to the film were mixed. Although Midler promised a “seven hankie” picture to the theater audience, some felt it was more boring than weepy, dubbing it a seven pillow movie. However, grown men confessed to occasional teardrops and, said one, “It could have been a disaster,” whatever that means.
Who was there: Midler, Alvarado, Goodman and expectant bride Annabeth, Sandra Bernhard, Patrick Swayze and wife Lisa Niemi, Jeff and Marilyn Katzenberg, Linda Gray, Jackie Collins, “Stella” director John Erman, Pia Zadora, Marsha Mason, APLA board chairman David Wexler, event co-chairman Barry Krost.
Dress mode: Hollywood casual: Heavy on suits and black leather with an occasional sequined dress. Some women sported real fur coats, causing animal rights activists to hiss, “That’s obscene!” when they passed by.
The food: Come for the movie, stay for the food. DC 3’s tempting offerings included salad, onion rings and French fries, grilled chicken, tuna and swordfish, eggplant salad, asparagus, potatoes, buffalo mozzarella, pesto and tomato appetizers and, for dessert, chocolate truffles, cookies and mini creme brulees, which one man was seen scooping up with the handle end of his fork. Manners? Who needs ‘em?
Overheard: One young woman to another: “I only watch ‘thirtysomething’ when their lives are going downhill.”
How many of these conversations have you had?: A screenwriter spotted comedian Sandra Bernhard and said, “I don’t know if you remember me, but we had a meeting for my screenplay.” “Yes,” Bernhard replied, “I do. Whatever happened with that?” “Nothing,” the writer said. “How nice,” said Bernhard. “How unusual.”
Snapshot: It wasn’t enough for Trini Alvarado to just stand there and pose for a picture. A publicist thought she should have a prop, so she took a plate with a half-eaten roll on it from a nearby table and handed it to Alvarado, who said, “I’m supposed to pretend I’m eating this?” The roll was then returned to the table.
