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Advancing to a Retrospective

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The scene: Tuesday’s opening of American Cinematheque’s “Weekend with Arthur Hiller,” a retrospective film tribute at the Directors Guild Theatre. Starting Friday and continuing through Sunday, Hiller’s films--including “Love Story,” “Plaza Suite” and “Silver Streak”--will be screened, and the director will be present. (Tickets are $5.) The event kicked off with a “special advance screening” of Hiller’s newest romantic comedy, “Married to It.” Just how “advance” the screening was isn’t exactly clear. The film had been scheduled to open this month, according to a spokesperson at the financially troubled Orion Pictures Corp., but now it won’t be released until some time next year. Asked why the film’s release was postponed, producer Thomas Baer said, “Orion trouble.”

The buzz: Several people wondered, given Orion’s problems, how the film company could spring for the Taittinger champagne spewing forth at the dessert reception after the reception. (Orion didn’t. Taittinger donated the bubbly.)

Who was there: The usual suspects from the entertainment industry--producers, agents and managers. Plus “Married to It” stars Stockard Channing, Ron Silver (arriving with Tawny Little--but they’re just friends) and Beau Bridges, Lloyd Bridges, Neil Simon, Dinah Shore, Carl Reiner and Orion executives Marc Platt and David Forbes.

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Overheard: A Hollywood manager said to Hiller: “I was moved by it. Is that a good sign?”

Quoted: “I have an ego like everybody else--it needs help,” Arthur Hiller told the crowd.

Chow: Health-sensitive desserts, including gourmet fruits like golden raspberries and champagne grapes, plus oatmeal and white currant cookies, macadamia nut brownies and macadamia peanut butter cookies. OK, so maybe they’re not so health-sensitive.

Freebie factor: Each guest went home with a marriage-minded garter, sachet and movie poster.

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