Paris Scene

After an enthusiastic response at the Venice Film Festival, first-time director Antonio Banderas and his Academy Award-nominated wife, Melanie Griffith, hit Paris’ Ritz hotel to promote their new movie, “Crazy in Alabama” (La tête dans le carton à chapeaux). Curled up on the couch next to her dark-eyed Spanish heartthrob, Griffith, dressed in a colorful two-piece suit, gently caressed Banderas’ arm, her golf-ball-sized diamond wedding ring sparkling across the gilt salon.

In this captivating drama/ black comedy set in the ’60s, which opens in France October 6, Griffith plays the eccentric Aunt Lucille who murders and decapitates her abusive husband then flees her backwoods Alabama hometown to seek fame and fortune in Hollywood, toting his head in a hat box. At the same time, her young teenage nephew, Peejoe, is sucked into the racial upheaval of the Deep South, and soon finds himself fighting for Negro and women's rights.

Since Banderas grew up under Franco’s dictatorship in Spain, the movie’s theme of fighting for freedom is close to heart. “I can see the same determination in Peejoe as I had myself as a 15-year-old,” he said.

Griffith, 42, first read “Crazy in Alabama,” written by Mark Childress, shortly after it was published six years ago, fell in love with it and immediately acquired the rights to turn it into a film. She then suggested to Banderas, the well-known Spanish actor and her husband of three years, that he direct it.

By the time Banderas met Childress on the set of “The 13th Warrior,” he had the whole movie already planned out. “He told me exactly how the movie would be shot,” Childress remembered. “And he was the only director in Hollywood who wanted to keep the balance of the darker and lighter side of the story.”

Banderas and Griffith clicked while filming the romantic comedy, “Too Much,” in the spring of 1995. A year later, the couple exchanged vows during a quiet civil ceremony in London and soon they welcomed their baby girl, Stella del Carmen. “I was looking for Antonio all my life,” four-time-wed Griffith told Good Housekeeping. “It is almost like déjà vu, I feel like I’ve dreamed him.”

“Crazy in Alabama” is the first film under the married couple’s Green Moon Production’s banner, made in collaboration with Columbia Pictures. It marks the directorial debut for Banderas, who after starring in more than 51 movies takes control behind the camera. “I was afraid to begin,” admitted Banderas about directing... especially a film starring his wife. “Playing with emotions is very crispy. But I had a lot of time to prepare Melanie before we started filming.”

Recently, Banderas starred as a muslim diplomat in the violent Michael Crichton-based tale “The 13th Warrior,” which opened in French theaters last month. “I think I am prepared to direct,” commented an assured Banderas. He has already started the pre-production of the second movie he will direct, set in his Spanish hometown Malaga, a story about the war in Spain seen from the eyes of an American.

“This will close the circle of how I spent my life,” Banderas said proudly. Currently, he is co-producing “Loving Lulu” with Griffith, who also stars in the movie, which will be released next year. In November, Banderas leaves for Jerusalem to play a Catholic priest in the brutal thriller “The Body,” which is about the discovery of the bones of Jesus Christ, and next year you can see him as a Jesuit linguist in the futuristic thriller “The Sparrow,” which he also co-produces. Starring in an upcoming John Waters movie, Griffith will act as a Hollywood movie star kidnapped by underground gangsters who want her for their own movie. “That’s pretty much what I did with her,” laughed Banderas, ready to face any challenges to make his dreams come true.





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							Paris Scene By Marie Ekberg Melanie Griffith and Banderas Talkin’ “Crazy in Alabama” After an enthusiastic response at the Venice Film Festival, first-time director Antonio Banderas and his Academy Award-nominated wife, Melanie Griffith, hit Paris’ Ritz hotel to promote their new movie, “Crazy in Alabama” (La tête dans le carton à chapeaux). Curled up on the couch next to her dark-eyed Spanish heartthrob, Griffith, dressed in a colorful two-piece suit, gently caressed Banderas’ arm, her golf-ball-sized diamond wedding ring sparkling across the gilt salon. In this captivating drama/ black comedy set in the ’60s, which opens in France October 6, Griffith plays the eccentric Aunt Lucille who murders and decapitates her abusive husband then flees her backwoods Alabama hometown to seek fame and fortune in Hollywood, toting his head in a hat box. At the same time, her young teenage nephew, Peejoe, is sucked into the racial upheaval of the Deep South, and soon finds himself fighting for Negro and women's rights. Since Banderas grew up under Franco’s dictatorship in Spain, the movie’s theme of fighting for freedom is close to heart. “I can see the same determination in Peejoe as I had myself as a 15-year-old,” he said. Griffith, 42, first read “Crazy in Alabama,” written by Mark Childress, shortly after it was published six years ago, fell in love with it and immediately acquired the rights to turn it into a film. She then suggested to Banderas, the well-known Spanish actor and her husband of three years, that he direct it. By the time Banderas met Childress on the set of “The 13th Warrior,” he had the whole movie already planned out. “He told me exactly how the movie would be shot,” Childress remembered. “And he was the only director in Hollywood who wanted to keep the balance of the darker and lighter side of the story.” Banderas and Griffith clicked while filming the romantic comedy, “Too Much,” in the spring of 1995. A year later, the couple exchanged vows during a quiet civil ceremony in London and soon they welcomed their baby girl, Stella del Carmen. “I was looking for Antonio all my life,” four-time-wed Griffith told Good Housekeeping. “It is almost like déjà vu, I feel like I’ve dreamed him.” “Crazy in Alabama” is the first film under the married couple’s Green Moon Production’s banner, made in collaboration with Columbia Pictures. It marks the directorial debut for Banderas, who after starring in more than 51 movies takes control behind the camera. “I was afraid to begin,” admitted Banderas about directing... especially a film starring his wife. “Playing with emotions is very crispy. But I had a lot of time to prepare Melanie before we started filming.” Recently, Banderas starred as a muslim diplomat in the violent Michael Crichton-based tale “The 13th Warrior,” which opened in French theaters last month. “I think I am prepared to direct,” commented an assured Banderas. He has already started the pre-production of the second movie he will direct, set in his Spanish hometown Malaga, a story about the war in Spain seen from the eyes of an American. “This will close the circle of how I spent my life,” Banderas said proudly. Currently, he is co-producing “Loving Lulu” with Griffith, who also stars in the movie, which will be released next year. In November, Banderas leaves for Jerusalem to play a Catholic priest in the brutal thriller “The Body,” which is about the discovery of the bones of Jesus Christ, and next year you can see him as a Jesuit linguist in the futuristic thriller “The Sparrow,” which he also co-produces. Starring in an upcoming John Waters movie, Griffith will act as a Hollywood movie star kidnapped by underground gangsters who want her for their own movie. “That’s pretty much what I did with her,” laughed Banderas, ready to face any challenges to make his dreams come true.