'Philadelphia' Benefit Nets $50K

More than 700 people packed into two theaters in Loews Cinema in Harvard Square Monday night to see the New England premiere of "Philadelphia" as part of an AIDS benefit.

The film stars Tom Hanks as a homosexual lawyer with AIDS suing a law firm for firing him because of his sexual orientation. Denzel Washington plays Hanks' attorney, who overcomes his personal prejudice against homosexuals to represent Hanks in court.

The Harvard AIDS Institute raised about $50,000 from the event, according to organizer Victoria A. Riccardi.

Max E. Essex, chair of the Institute, said the funds would support AIDS education, provide training for scientists and clinicians and support vaccine and drug research.

"This film has a powerful and important message about AIDS discrimination," said Essex, who is also Lasker professor of health sciences at the School of Public Health. "It's a message that I think we should all be involved with, but one that has not really received enough attention in the public at large."

Individual sponsors and representatives from local companies, such as banks, law firms and biotechnology firms, attended the private showing. Sponsor tickets were $150, and tickets per company were $1,000.

Tristar Pictures, which produced the film, has debuted the movie as a fundraiser for local AIDS organizations in other cities, including New York and Philadelphia.

Riccardi called the showing a success.

"We got great publicity for the Institute, and we reached a whole group of people from a lot of different areas to share with them our mission and why the institute does need their support," Riccardi said.

Loews Theater provided free soda and popcorn to the audience and donated two theaters for the fundraiser. The Charles Hotel donated space and food for a buffet dinner after the movie, which approximately 500 guests attended.

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and several local television news anchors attended the showing.

Members of the audience, who came from all walks of life, said their reasons for attending differed markedly. But they all said they support the fight against AIDS.

Joel D. Evans, a member of the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, said he hoped to learn more about the Institute's purpose at the event.

He said the AIDS Action Committee directs services to people with AIDS, participates in community education and directs political action. "We consider ourselves a partner of the Harvard AIDS Institute," he said.

Al Petras, project manager for Boston Edison, said he saw the movie as a an educational tool. "Our company feels that education is the key to stop the spread of the disease," he said. "As such, I am quite a willing supporter of events such as this."

Others attended for more personal reasons. Theodore S. kolzak, an individual sponsor, said he supported the Institute because his son had died of AIDS. The late Steven F. Kolzak '76 had been senior vice-president of Columbia Pictures and the original casting director of the TV series Cheers, he said.

Another sponsor, Martha E. Fish, said she saw the event as an opportunity to break down the stigma associated with homosexuals.

"I'm a member of the gay and lesbian community, and I'm supporting the Institute," said Fish. "I think [the event] is a good way to integrate the gay and lesbian community with the straight."

Vivie Hengst, who had donated $100 to the Institute, said, "It was very good, very sad. Our check should've been bigger. I though we should've given more."

Others said they supported the film's message but were disappointed by its presentation.

"I thought it was intense and had a powerful message," said sponsor Terry Schubach. "But I think the execution could have been better."

Institute Executive Director Dr. Richard G. Marlink, Vincent McCarthy, a homosexual attorney, and Richard L. Friedman, managing general partner of the Charles Hotel all spoke at a dinner reception following the movie.

The film opens Friday at the Loews Janus theater in Harvard Square.