YOU could tell Kristin Scott Thomas was the biggest star present because she had discreetly "stuck her name sticker on her yellow handbag instead of wearing it on her jacket, writes Ian Katz in Los Angeles. Brenda Blethyn sported hers prominently on a lapel but the functionary on the door insisted on seeing her invitation all the same.
These are difficult times for the gatekeepers to the annual round of Oscar parties. Few of this year's nominees are the kind of indigenous super-celebrities who feature weekly on the TV entertainment shows and in the gossip columns.
Instead there is a gangly, middle aged, Australians theatre actor who until six months ago was virtually unheard of north of Darwin, four British actresses, the best known of whom was only dimly recalled from "that film with Hugh Grant", and a group of directors who would seem more at home in Cannes.
"The lunatics have taken over the asylum for once," grinned Anthony Minghella, director of The English Patient, hotly favoured to take the award for best film tonight.
Four years ago, when the British Academy of Film and Television Arts threw its first party to honour Oscar and BAFTA nominees, the event fitted comfortably into the back garden of the British consul general, Mr Merrick Baker Bates.
This year it easily filled the ballroom of Santa Monica's exclusive Shutters Hotel and came with all the trappings of a Hollywood A list party - paparazzi, publicists and desperate pleading for tickets.
Amid the orgy of boosterism over the strong British showing in this year's awards, it was easy to miss the inconvenient detail that only one of the productions in the best film category, Shine, was made with substantial amounts of British money. Even Mike Leigh's Secrets and Lies, regarded as the most unequivocally British of the nominated films, was made largely with French money.
Nominees have grappled manfully with their demeanour too keen and you'll seem desperate; too relaxed and they'll call you an ingrate.
"It would of course be wonderful to win but if we don't win it's not the end of the world," said Scott Hicks, director of Shine, nominated for five awards.