Last night the stars in the sky were completely eclipsed the stars on the ground...movie stars, attending the premiere of "An Angel's Wing," the newest venture from Colossal Pictures. As flashbulbs went off like fireworks at a Fourth of July celebration, a parade of Hollywood's biggest names strolled down the red carpet at Graumann's. The crowd went absolutely wild when the star of the movie, Miss Lana Cooper, emerged from her limo, wearing a stunning bias-cut emerald green Vionnet original that was daringly backless. She was escorted by the film's director, debonair German auteur Kurt Edward.

There was a deliciously awkward moment in the lobby, when Hollywood's own Major Charlie Steele (in an astounding fire engine red gown) encountered the renowned director, who had been lured away from his successful partnership with her father to take a position on Colossal's payroll. Despite the apparent cordiality of the moment, it was pretty obvious to those in the know that some sparks were flying!

Although Colossal's owner, Howard Hughes, was not in attendance, his chief lieutenant Johnny Johnson seemed to do just fine in spotlight. Johnson has a resume worthy of a film itself: Great War veteran, former Wall Street tycoon (briefly), test pilot, and self-proclaimed notorious ladies' man. After working as a Hughes test pilot (in the days following the breakup of the old United States), he has moved steadily up the corporate ladder to his current position which places him at the right hand of the enigmatic philanthropist.

With Hughes out of the country trying to break Wiley Post's around-the-world speed record, Johnson has taken over day-to-day operations of Hughes Aviation and its subsidiaries, which includes presiding over last night's premiere. Never one to shy away from the camera, he took the opportunity to update us on current crop of film projects from Hughes-owned Colossal Pictures and dispel some persistent rumors.

Despite box office successes like "The Sky Fox" and "Pirate's Lullaby," Colossal has been floundering lately. Sources have let it slip that "Baroness of the Air," starring Lana Cooper, is wildly over budget. (No one appreciates reality more than we do, but building a completely authentic Bavarian castle up at Mammoth Lake seems a bit much!)

We also hear wild rumors coming out of the set of "The Privateer," a fictionalized account of Paladin Blake's exploits in the jungles of the Amazon, based on the serialized "The Golden Jaguar of the Amazon." It seems that there have been several unexplained accidents and accusations of sabotage on the set. Ironically, Blake hasn't supplied security for the film shoot and this reporter has heard rumors concerning planned litigation. (Blake is no stranger to suing Hollywood studio execs, that's for sure!)

After we had all dried our eyes after the heart-wrenching end of "An Angel's Wing," Johnson got up on stage and delivered the expected well-phrased assurances that these rumors were "obviously the work of jealous rival studios." He even hinted that there might be some involvement on the part of a "special services" unit attached to LaGuardia's inner circle. We promise to watch this story closely in the weeks to come!

—Hollywood Correspondent Louise "Sparkle" Sanders (also Senior Editor of "The Hollywood Scene" for The Tinseltown Tattler)