Slow Night, but the Food Looked Good

The Scene: Monday’s launch of Savoy’s “Steal Big, Steal Little” at the Mann National in Westwood. Afterward, at the Armand Hammer Museum, was the season’s first full-blown, red carpet, trees-dripping-in-lights premiere party with a lineup of Mexican and Italian buffets by Someone’s in the Kitchen.

Who Was There: The film’s star, Andy Garcia; co-stars Alan Arkin, Joe Pantoliano, Charles Rocket and Rachel Ticotin; director/co-screenwriter/co-producer Andrew Davis; plus 1,000 guests including Quentin Tarantino, Alan Thicke, Bob Saget, Dennis Franz, Arnold Kopelson, Peter Dekom, David Colden and Savoy execs Lewis Korman, Robert Fried and Bob Levin.

Observed: It wasn’t exactly the night of a thousand stars. When co-star Rachel Ticotin walked in with boyfriend Peter Strauss the paparazzi reacted as though Madonna had arrived with Elvis. It was a slow night.

The Back Story: Savoy has had a less-than-stellar batting average in feature films. They just announced they’ll be focusing more on television.

The Buzz: Savoy didn’t get into TV soon enough--this movie’s going to tank. To one guest, the film’s convoluted plot involving a wealthy Santa Barbara family, an evil twin brother, Mafia hit men, corrupt police and joyful peasants was “like a really weird episode of ‘Falcon Crest.’ ”

Overheard: “The only hope for this movie is if Andy Garcia gets arrested picking up a hooker on Sunset Boulevard.”

Quoted: “It’s a comic fable with a moral undertone about the preservation of family and community, and the fight for that,” said Garcia. “I think when you see it, there’s a special kind of vibe you get from it, aside from content, kind of what sticks on the screen, is the special chemistry that was among all the people who made it.”

Hollywood Wisdom: “No matter what, I’ve learned to say, ‘It’s wonderful,’ ” said an industry pro. “Let them take it as they may. I mean, there must be something in it that’s wonderful.”