Friday December 8, 2000

Cast Away Premiere

Lately, movie fans have been reading all about Tom Hanks' new picture called "Cast Away." For the role Hanks had to gain a lot of pounds, then lose them, then lose even more. But at last night's premiere, Tom told our Bo Griffin the movie was worth the weight.

Tom Hanks reeled in Hollywood's biggest stars for Thursday's L.A. premiere of his new film "Cast Away." You would think he would be used to it by now, but Tom says he still gets the flutters every time he walks the red carpet.

He says, "It scares the living daylights out of me."

Talk about scared! Imagine being stranded on a deserted island for four years! That's the fate of hanks character, who survives a plane crash only to wash up on the island alone! For close to a half-hour, "Cast Away" is practically a silent movie.

Tom says, "Well you know what you get almost do anything that comes into your head... so it can be kind of freeing for a while."

Helen Hunt plays Hanks fiancée in the film. She says, "I think it's its bold and heartfelt and I think Tom is so extraordinary in it."

Including his extraordinary physical transformation. Hanks gained 50 pounds for the early scenes, then had to lose the weight to look emaciated.

Chevy Chase told us, he was Hanks' diet guru. His advice? Chase kiddingly says, "Eat, eat a lot... but make it lettuce, iceberg lettuce... plus some supplements."

And then we got the not so straight story from the man himself. Luckily wife Rita jumped in. He says, "I just ate a lot of bacon and grapefruit every day. Bacon and grapefruit... as much as you want to eat. (His wife Rita interrupts, 'Don't say that, don't say that somebody might believe you.') I know it's a joke!"

The buff Tom, even with scruffy beard, made a fan of Roseanne. She says, "Like this one scene I saw he looked really good, like he had muscles and everything. I think they put his head on another's guy's body."

So which version does wife Rita prefer? She says, "New Tom… no beard."

And like a good husband, he agreed. He says, "Old Tom bad, new Tom good!"