Despite ‘Insider’ Knowledge, It’s Hard to Kick the Habit

At the reception immediately following the premiere screening of “The Insider”--writer-director Michael Mann’s movie about tobacco company executive turned whistle-blower Jeffrey Wigand--a well-dressed guest queried, “So where are all the movie stars?”

“They’re all outside on the patio smoking,” answered a Disney executive. (The culprits: Martin Landau, Russell Crowe, Amanda Plummer.)

There’s nothing like a little irony to spice up an evening, although Mann was quick to note, “This is not an anti-smoking movie. I wouldn’t presume to tell people what they should or should not do.”

Even so, Mann and co-writer Eric Roth both quit smoking three weeks before shooting began. “We went to a famous hypnotist,” said Mann.

Mingling among the celebs and movie execs was the real Jeffrey Wigand, who called the experience of watching a film based on the most excruciating chapter of his life “surreal.” Wigand now runs a foundation called Smoke-Free Kids, which dispenses information to grammar- and high-school students about the hazards of smoking.

Several of the film’s stars were on hand, including Al Pacino, Crowe (who plays Wigand), Christopher Plummer (who plays “60 Minutes” journalist Mike Wallace), Gina Gershon and Philip Baker Hall, as well as John Lithgow, Carrie Fisher and Harry Hamlin.

Plummer, who brought his wife, Elaine, and his actress daughter Amanda, said of playing the well-known news veteran, “He’s such a terrific personality and it’s fun to play larger-than-life creatures. I’ve played lots of legends before, [but] it was fascinating because he’s alive”--and none too happy about the way he feels he’s depicted--”and that added a little tension to the exercise.”

The affair, which was held Thursday entirely at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, was catered by Alligator Pear; the menu included asparagus strudel, beef en crou^te entreco^te, poached salmon and poulet en crou^te.