Threefold Raves for ‘Musketeers’ Party

If the extravagance--and inventiveness--of a premiere is an indication of a studio’s belief in a movie, Walt Disney Pictures’ “The Three Musketeers” (that’s Musketeers, not Mouseketeers) is going to be a biggie.

“Mega-hit is what I hear, not being self-serving,” allowed Jordan Kerner, one of the executive producers, whose sentiments were shared by many at the studio.

“My little girl, who’s 4 1/2, thought it was short. That’s a good sign, and my boy who’s 9 kept his mouth open the whole time. That’s a good sign,” said Joe Roth, the former chairman of 20th Century Fox and producer of the film, his first for Disney.

Although box office tallies won’t be known for another week (the film opens Friday), the party following Sunday afternoon’s screening at the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood was an impressive send-off, with a budget no doubt the size of the entire budget of the Albanian film commission, or, at least, the annual bonus of a studio vice president.

Talk about theme parties. Even Alexandre Dumas, on whose novel the film is based, would have been impressed with the 17th-Century touches spun by Party Planners West. Guests wandered into a medieval-style tent on the theater’s parking lot. Inside were hanging tapestries, partial sets from the movie and a painted faux marble floor. Outside, livestock roamed and actors, dressed as peasants and musketeers, mingled with industry folk and their children.

There were carnival rides, fencing exhibitions and a corner where small children could make family crests with glitter and glue.

“It’s like a little Disneyland,” one guest said. “They should make this permanent.”

The menu wisely stopped short of the party theme, with buffet table after buffet table loaded with Along Came Mary’s turkey loaf, mashed potatoes, pasta, Caesar salad, cupcakes, brownies and cookies.

Several of the film’s stars were there, including Chris O’Donnell, Tim Curry, Oliver Platt, Rebecca De Mornay, Michael Wincott, Julie Delpy and a very pregnant Gabrielle Anwar. Others in the crowd were director Martha Coolidge; producers Steve Tisch, Howard Rosenman and Mark Johnson; Ticketmaster Chairman Fred Rosen; Miranda Richardson; Ally Sheedy; Martin Sheen (father of “Musketeer” Charlie, who didn’t attend), and John Lithgow.

When asked for their reviews of the movie, many industry folks consulted their kids. “I wasn’t so sure what was going on with the fleur-de-lis, but Phoebe had no trouble figuring out what was going on,” said Lithgow of his 11-year-old daughter.