Happy Birthday Savoy
That grande dame of entertainment, The Savoy Cinema on O'Connell Street, celebrated it's 75th anniversary last night with a very special screening and a lavish party. As the guests arrived in black tie and ball gowns the camera flashes went off faster than George Best running to a free bar. I bumped into photographer Michael Chester, who was looking very tanned having just returned from Doha in Qatar where he was attending the Oryx Quest yacht race.
We were treated to an advanced screening of Mr. & Mrs. Smith, the new Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie movie. Jam packed full of shoot-em-up action, it was the love scenes that had us wondering about the level of on-screen chemistry. This is one flick Jennifer Aniston should definitely miss.
The pace of Mr. & Mrs. Smith varies a great deal, and I think it is a little too long, but thankfully the high octane scenes substitute nicely. At some points it is very reminisant of The War of the Roses, with the rowing and the fighting and the crashing and the .... you get the picture.
Afterwards we hopped and skipped up to the historic Pillar Room venue, next to The Gate theatre, where a lavish champagne reception greeted us along with delicious food by Unique Dining. A really magical party.
Looking spectacular on the evening were Corinna Field and Kevin Shiels; former film censor Seamus Smith and his glamourous partner Shiela, who were just back from Dubrovnik where Seamus was on the juding panel of the international film festival; Hugh M. Fitzpatrick; Gay Byrne with Kathleen Watkins and Dave Fanning with wife Ursula.
Actually Dave wasn't looking spectacular. He looked more like a scruffy student than a media celebrity with his shapeless jacket, untucked shirt and loose tie. No a good look on a middle aged man Dave.
I rounded off the night in Lillies. Alway a good conclusion.
