The line was already formed when we entered the theater. Folks, many of whom we knew, stretching double wide from the buffet tables set up at the front of the room, below the screen, clear to the back wall.

It was Premier Night again, sponsored by the League of Women Voters.

And Chuck was in a suit. Almost worth the admission just to see that.

See P is back from her six months teaching in China. Our Doc was there, in the back. Said he only got beeped three times throughout the film, which I guess is a light night for him. As was one of the heelers' vets, but I don't think he got beeped.

But we were all supposedly there for the premier of The Count of Monte Cristo. And I suppose we were, but I suspect most people were there to visit.

And for the food. The League puts on a good buffet. All the standard foods, fresh veggies and fruit, but add in champagne punch. (Real champagne... one of the ladies noticed youngest son, and made a point of telling him to get his drink from the second bowl. Not the first.)

At this point, the wife observed that he was probably the only person in attendance under the age of 21. Apparently not the social function for the younger crowd.

But they missed the guacamole-crab dip. The Deviled eggs (hand made, by the way... decided to be a pig, since we were near the end of the line and took two). Two types of Swedish meatballs, two types of buffalo wings. Fancy pasta-cheese-dill rolls. Some finger sandwiches with almonds and mushrooms.

Youngest son lived mainly off the desserts. Angelfood cake with chocolate frosting, some fancy rolled chocolate sticks, and best of all, some thin, lacy anise-flavored cookies.

Film did not start on time. But since there would be no second showing, Chuck was in no hurry (he was smiling widely at the three or four couples that, despite the feast before them, had to go get popcorn and drinks for the flick). After he announced the feature would start in three or four minutes, he turned to the lady who runs the whole show (who was sidling in to her seat directly in front of me) and let her know he could wait longer, if people needed more time.

She let him know he could start as soon as she reached her seat.

The heck with the rest of them.

And so it did.

Normally I would be pleased at the thought of going to a movie and not having to watch all the commercials and trailers at the beginning. But the projectionist hadn't got quite exactly the right spot.

We caught maybe three seconds of the end of the Star Wars Episode 2 trailer.

Drat! I want to see that trailer! The wife and boys did, when they saw Ice Age. And also on a network premier.

But not me. And now I still haven't seen it.

The Count of Monte Cristo?

Good flick. Realistic without being graphic. Predictable, even if you don't remember the story, but still well done. And well cast. The bad guys looked slimy, and all the good guys looked likable, even if they were criminals.

Was surprised to see how rugged, pretty and unspoiled the coast of France looks. Until the credits, where we saw that it was filmed in Ireland.

Well, no wonder.

And yes, Chuck turned the house lights on when the credits came on. And most folks did not care. We sat until the bitter end, as usual.