UNITED KINGDOM: LATEST GUY RITCHIE FILM "SNATCH" STARRING BRAD PITT PREMIERES IN LONDON

Record ID: 390038

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: LATEST GUY RITCHIE FILM "SNATCH" STARRING BRAD PITT PREMIERES IN LONDON
  • Date: 23rd August 2000
  • Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (AUGUST 23, 2000) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF ODEON CINEMA, LEICESTER SQUARE - HUGE POSTER FOR "SNATCH" (0.42) SCU: FANS WAITING BEHIND BARRIERS (0.48) CUTAWAY OF PHOTOGRAPHERS (0.52) VARIOUS OF FANS (3 SHOTS) (1.02) VARIOUS BRAD PITT AND BRITISH DIRECTOR GUY RITCHIE ARRIVING / PITT MEETING FANS/ PITT GIVING SUNGLASSES TO FAN (1.47) PITT BEI
  • Embargoed: 7th September 2000 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAUAYNUMZIV9UN2XRT0AAUMUK1
  • Story Text: Hollywood heart-throb Brad Pitt nearly found himself 'snatched' by the long-arm of the British police when he attended the London premiere of his latest movie, 'Snatch.' Pitt caused mayhem amongst thousands of his young female stars when he attempted a 'walkabout' outside the cinema in Leicester Square. But he bargained without the intervention of Scotland Yard's Chief Inspector John Morgan - who fearing a crowd crush - had no hesitation in ordering the US superstar to, 'Go inside!' Pitt arrived at the Leicester Square venue with "Snatch" director Guy Ritchie and producer Matthew Vaughn. But while Vaughn and Ritchie posed for photographs, Pitt took the opportunity to meet some of the fans waiting behind the crash barriers.
    Police became concerned about the safety of the fans when the crowd surged forward and urged Pitt to go inside the cinema to prevent any incident. When Pitt continued on his walkabout, Chief Inspector Morgan ordered the screen idol into the cinema and a heated debate between the pair developed.
    Eventually, Pitt backed down and joined Ritchie and Vaughn to talk to the media.
    A Scotland Yard spokeswoman told Reuters that no statement has been issued over the incident but confirmed that 'police did speak to one of the stars in an effort to ease the situation and he was encouraged to move inside the cinema by police as well as his own security staff', they said.
    Since releasing his debut feature film "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels", British director Guy Ritchie has become a household name, not only through his work but also because of his relationship with the Queen of Pop, Madonna.
    Only two weeks ago, the couple celebrated the birth of their son Rocco who was born in Los Angeles but although mother and son are well, Madonna was unable to attend the world premiere of Ritchie's new movie, "Snatch". Ritchie commented on his son and the similarities between his father and his son.
    On hand to lend support however, was Ritchie's mate, Brad Pitt who flew in to London this week to support the release of the film. Without his wife American actress Jennifer Aniston on his arm, Pitt still managed to steal most of the limelight on the night while avoiding trouble with British police.
    Pitt, who plays a gypsy fighter named Mickey, in 'Snatch' said he wouldn't have missed the opportunity of working with Ritchie, who wrote and directed the film, for anything.
    "Oh it was just a laugh man, it was a good bunch of guys who don't take themselves so seriously.It's kind of a new movie. I was really fortunate they let the Hollywood guy come in. Just because I liked the story these guys were telling, I wanted to be a part of it and they let me in....He's a class act, he's original, you should be good to him," he said.
    Set in London's East End, "Snatch" tells the story of a diamond heist gone wrong in the rough and tumble world of unlicensed boxing.
    Diamond thief and courier Franky Four Fingers (Benicio del Toro) is in London en route to New York to deliver an 84-carat diamond to his boss Avi (Dennis Farina).
    While trying to offload smaller stones to Avi's cousin - Doug The Head (played by Mike Reid) - in London's Hatton Garden, Four Fingers is tempted to place a bet on an illegal boxing match and subsequently finds himself double-crossed by Boris 'The Blade' (Rade Sebedzija). Little does he know that Boris has set him up and local pawnshop owners Vinny (Robbie Gee) and Sol (Lennie James) along with Tyrone the getaway driver, are to rob him at the betting shop.
    Meanwhile, novice unlicensed boxing promoters, Turkish (Jason Statham) and his business partner Tommy (Stephen Graham) move into the big time through a fight with local villain, boxing promoter and pig farm owner, Bricktop (Alan Ford).
    The duo run into trouble when their novice fighter is knocked out by Mickey O'Neill (Brad Pitt), a wildcard Irish gypsy boxer. But the boys convince him to fight in Bricktop's rigged match, in the place of their regular boxer.
    In New York, news that Franky has been distracted by gambling forces Avi to hop on a plane to London to find him.
    They hire local legend, 'Bullet Tooth' Tony (Vinnie Jones) to find Franky and the diamond.
    With heaps of double-crossing, bluffing and double-dealing abound, the story twists almost out of control as plans go haywire, tempers fray and dogs, diamonds, caravans and boxers get swept up into a chaotic frenzy.
    Working on set with Ritchie is said to have been fun, but the director knew how to keep his 'family' in line - by introducing a fining system for anyone who was late, forgot to turn their mobile phone off and cheekiness. It was a system that worked too well for Ritchie, who winded up suffering most financially.
    The team spirit was evident at the premiere on Wednesday (August 23) when almost all of the cast arrived to lend their support. Vinnie Jones, Benicio Del Toro and Mike Reid were among the cast members from "Snatch" who attended along with Mel C, Lulu and Ronnie Wood. Unfortunately for Jason Statham, one of the lead characters, he couldn't get time off from the set of his new movie in Mexico but his girlfriend and TV presenter Kelly Brook made up for his absence by sporting a skimpy pink dress by top designer, Julian MacDonald.
    "Snatch" goes on general release in the UK on September 1, 2000.
    S380 SNATCH PREMIERE LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM 23 AUGUST, 2000 NATURAL WITH ENGLISH SPEECH AND MUSIC
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