Sophia Loren snubbed by Rome Film Festival
ROME, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Sophia Loren was offended by not being invited to the first Rome Film Festival, which got under way in the Eternal City last weekend, her sister says.
"We sat at home and ate chocolates," said Maria Scicolone.
Festival officials belatedly realized their gaffe and sent Loren a last-minute invitation, Scicolone said, but this only added insult to injury.
"A last-minute invitation does not seem to me the proper way to go about things," she said. "Sophia is not exactly an unknown."
La Stampa newspaper ran a front-page headline "La Loren Furiosa" and noted the world-renown actress was voted "the most naturally beautiful woman in the world" in a survey this month.
To show festival-goers what they missed, the 71-year-old Italian movie icon appeared on an Italian variety show, "Il Treno dei Desideri" ("The Wish Train"), wearing a spectacular low-cut evening gown, The Times of London reported.
Ironically, Loren featured prominently in a festival exhibition commemorating the glory days of Italian cinema, the Times said.
Madonna adoption goes to court
LILONGWE, Malawi, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- A Malawi children's charity went to court Monday to try to stop pop star Madonna from adopting a 1-year-old African boy.
The Human Rights Consultative Committee claims the adoption of David Banda is unlawful because Madonna has not lived in the African country.
"The laws of Malawi are clear that if one wants to adopt a child one has to stay with the child for at least 18 months for assessment," HRCC chairman Justin Dzonzi said.
"If Madonna wants to adopt this baby she has to stay here," he told the BBC.
Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie were granted an interim order last week letting them adopt the motherless baby, despite the country's laws that forbid nonresidents from adopting Malawian children.
The couple returned to Britain this past weekend without baby David after a 10-day visit to Malawi. During their visit Madonna made a $3 million donation to help children infected with HIV.
Geri Halliwell fears being stalked
LONDON, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- British pop star Geri Halliwell, once known as Ginger Spice of the Spice Girls, says she fears she is being stalked.
The 34-year-old is worried she and baby daughter Bluebell Madonna could be in danger after she spotted a stranger near her several times, London's Daily Mirror reports.
"She has seen the same person following her several times and it is making her very jittery," a police source tells the newspaper.
"As a new mum, it must be pretty frightening and she doesn't want to leave anything to chance," the source says.
Halliwell gave birth in London May 14.
Police are understood to have advised Halliwell on improving security at her $4 million London home.
It is not known if Halliwell filed a formal complaint.
GQ: 'North by Northwest' most stylish film
NEW YORK, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- "North by Northwest," starring Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint, has been named the most stylish movie of all time by the monthly men's magazine GQ.
"Films are where style is immortalized," GQ style editor Adam Rapoport told the New York Daily News. "They're something everyone has access to."
The Top 25 list, in GQ's November issue, represents six decades of timeless looks, chosen by the glossy's editors.
Grant's impeccably tailored gray suit in Alfred Hitchcock's 1959 thriller "is arguably the most legendary in the history of American cinema," GQ said.
Other winners included Richard Roundtree's long leather coat in 1971's "Shaft" and Richard Gere's head-to-toe Armani in "American Gigolo."
Also cited were Al Pacino's form-fitting double-breasted suits in "The Godfather Part II" and Steve McQueen's thick wool turtlenecks and worsted wool trousers in the 1968 cop classic "Bullitt," GQ said.
