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American Morning

Showbiz Today Reports: In Hawaii, Disney Gives 'Pearl Harbor' $5 Million Premiere

Aired May 22, 2001 - 10:37   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Nearly 60 years ago -- it was a day that lived in infamy.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Now Hollywood is pulling out all the stops to celebrate "Pearl Harbor."

KAGAN: Let's go to Mike Okwu, in New York, for "Showbiz Today," and find out more about the premiere of "Pearl Harbor."

Hi -- Mike.

MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, you two. And good morning, everyone.

This is a gig I certainly would have liked. Hollywood went Hawaiian last night as Disney brought its blockbuster "Pearl Harbor" to the hallowed waters where the historical battle occurred almost 60 years ago.

CNN's Paul Vercammen was on hand for Disney's first strike in the fight for the summer box office.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAUL VERCAMMEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hawaiian hospitality, military pomp and circumstance, and Hollywood glitz met in the estimated $5 million premiere of "Pearl Harbor." The bash, believed to be the most expensive premiere in movie history, launched a film based on a seminal event in world history, Japan's 1941 attack here in Pearl Harbor.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get out of the way!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VERCAMMEN: Ben Affleck stars as a hotshot pilot.

BEN AFFLECK, ACTOR: I've been to some really rinky, cheesy little premieres. This definitely is the most biggest, most spectacular thing I've ever seen. VERCAMMEN: An estimated 2,000 guests watched the movie on the flight deck of the USS Stennis, including Cuba Gooding Jr., who plays the legendary seaman Dorie Miller.

CUBA GOODING JR., ACTOR: Usually, you do a movie and just hope that people find it, and then you represent it. This thing was, like, Thanks for your performance -- OK, here we go. It's like a rush, like strapping myself to the shuttle and going to the moon.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You'll wait your turn.

AFFLECK: Yes, ma'am.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VERCAMMEN: Some critics predict "Pearl Harbor" will make huge stars of Kate Beckinsale and Josh Hartnett.

JOSH HARTNETT, ACTOR: It was really tough pretending I was in love with Kate -- come on, like, one of the sweetest and craziest really nice, nice girls.

KATE BECKINSALE, ACTOR: Just on a superficial level, it's wonderful to have such a big premiere, but I think, emotionally, it's full of so much because we all know the survivors are here, and we're going to share the experience of making, you know, the movie with them.

VERCAMMEN: The film reteams superproducer Jerry Bruckheimer with director Michael Bay.

MICHAEL BAY, DIRECTOR: That's great. Even the canopy like that is great.

"Pearl Harbor" has not really been covered like it's been covered in this movie ever before.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (Singing "The Star-Spangled Banner")

FAITH HILL, PERFORMER: It was an honor. I was fortunate enough to see the movie right before it was finished, and that sealed the deal for me. After seeing it, I just felt that I had no choice but to be a part of it.

VERCAMMEN (on camera): The premiere of "Pearl Harbor" got off in spectacular fashion. What remains to be seen is if the film gets off the flight deck at the box office when it debuts on Friday.

Paul Vercammen, CNN Entertainment News, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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