‘Fisher King’ Provides a Little Comic Relief

The Scene: Premiere of TriStar Pictures’ “The Fisher King” Monday at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The movie--with its themes of love, redemption, friendship, compassion and homelessness--was an appropriate centerpiece of the benefit for Comic Relief (whose funds serve the homeless) and The End Hunger Network. The two agencies split the $90,000 raised.

The Power Triumvirate: Creative Artists’ Agency chief Mike Ovitz was strategically poised to schmooze in a corner just outside the theater after the screening. In their own orbits were Sony Pictures Entertainment chairman Peter Guber and TriStar Pictures chairman Mike Medavoy.

Who Else Was There: Hordes of Hollywood attorneys and handlers plus “The Fisher King” stars Robin Williams, Jeff Bridges (along with the entire Bridges acting clan), Mercedes Ruehl and Amanda Plummer, director Terry Gilliam, writer Richard LaGravenese and producers Lynda Obst and Debra Hill. Also, directors John Singleton (unmistakable in his “Boyz N The Hood” baseball cap) and Henry Jaglom, Robert Morse, Whoopi Goldberg, Billy Crystal, Gary Shandling, Teri Garr, Christian Slater, Tony Danza, Sally Field and a very pregnant Cheryl Tiegs.

Industry Work Ethic: Frank Hill, proud father of producer Debra, noted, “She always said she wanted a job where she could do a project and go on vacation.”

Movie Enjoyability Factor: The audience sat still throughout the closing credits, up to and including the credits for “Animal Colorist” and “Horse Trainer.”

Capsulizing the Story: “The truth shall set you free, but first it’ll hurt like hell,” explained Mercedes Ruehl.

Chow: Chinese food (you have to see the movie to get the joke) served in take-out cartons, Kirin and Asahi beer, thematic fortune cookies and Wet-Nap Moist Towelettes.

Dress code: Men in Hollywood emulating bankers. There was a preponderance of dark conservative business suits, white shirts and quiet ties, alas occasionally worn with ponytails and foppish moccasins. Peter Guber varied the formula a bit by teaming white socks with his dark pin-stripe suit and crocodile mocs.