It was an intriguing invitation to cocktailsfrom Beth Dozoretz and RaulFernandez, honoring Mike Medavoyof Phoenix Pictures on the publication ofhis book, You’re only as Good as Your NextOne: 100 Great Films, 100 Good Films,and 100 for Which I Should be Shot. Theparty was held at the Foxhall home ofDemocratic fundraiser Beth and her husbandDr.Ronald Dozoretz.

Mike Medavoy’s life itself could be amovie. He spent his first six years inShanghai after his family left Russia, thennine years in Chile before reaching thiscountry. His career began in the mailroomat Universal Studios, he worked as anagent handling major stars, then joinedUnited Artists, later co-founded OrionPictures, became chairman of Sony’sTriStar Pictures, and in 1994 foundedPhoenix Pictures.

The book, replete with anecdotes andaccounts of both successes and failures,could serve as a blueprint for anyone,novice or old hand, seeking a place on theHollywood scene. Medavoy has a keenlyanalytical mind and his opinions on themovie business––past and present––go farin explaining the actions of certain stars,and the stories behind the making of specificfilms, both blockbusters and bombs.

If you are a movie fan, there are fascinatingstories on many of the biggest stars,including a particularly funny and raunchyone featuring Madonna on her knees.

He seems candid in his assessments,although one studio head, Peter Guber,would almost certainly disagree. InMedavoy’s portrayal, Guber comes acrossas a vindictive and stealthy Iago, exceptthat instead of being Othello-Medavoy’sjealous underling, Guber often had thepower to spike Medavoy’s projects. Andoften did.

SEEN: Jim Kimsey, co-founder ofAOL; Wilma Bernstein, preparing toreturn to Copenhagen, where she and husbandStuart are esconced while he servesas ambassador to Denmark; MarleneMalek; Ann and Lloyd Hand (she isreally pleased with the new building tohouse her jewelry business which is growingby leaps and bounds through thepower of the Internet); Grace Bender; andAniko Gaal Schott, still entranced by herrecent trip to India with the wives of theambassadors of Italy, France and Greece,and by the scholarship of the latter, EleniPhilon, who helped explain the art theywere seeing in terms of India’s history.

(He not only became the “new” FinnishAmbassador after the Lajaavas returned toFinland, he’s actually an “old” one as well,as this is his second stint here. EtelValtasaari was off visiting their daughterin Finland and their newborn grandchildand could not be at the benefit.)

Karen Montgomery, the Women’sCommittee chairman, and Barbara Ayres,who chaired the ball committee, alsogreeted the enthusiastic ballet supporterswho made up the guest list.

Founder Mary Day, who for decadeshas been the doyenne of the Washingtondance world, was roundly applauded, as itwas her impetus that led to the establishmentof the Washington Ballet, today asuccessful group with international toursand honors.

Septime Webre, the group’s talentedyoung choreographer, introduced moderndance exponent Jani Talo, saying thatthanks to the Finnish government, Janihad been released temporarily from hisconscription service to perform here. Nextcame Michele Jimenez and Run QiaoDu, who seemingly floated through thepoetic pas de deux from Don Quixote.

Paul Berry, the former WJLA-TVanchor who has raised over a million dollarsfor the children of Washington, led aspirited auction to benefit the Ballet.Probably the busiest participant was EschiWarwick, who had a property up for bid,and also bid on half a dozen items, winninga Florida deep sea fishing adventurefor $3000 for herself and guests.

Fred Hubig’s winning bid of $1200won the weekend at the river house onEschi’s Shenandoah farm. Her property,Cave Hill Farm, came through the CivilWar unscathed because it served as aprison compound to hold Union soldiers.

SEEN: Chris Miller Everett, Dr.Robert White, Washington Ballet Boardchairman Kay Kendall, Dr Ahmad andJudy Esfandiary, Nicole d’Amecourt,designer Victor Shargai, John Aniello,Hearst’s Brenda de Suze, AprilGeorgelas, Arleen and George Hesse,and Giorgio and Anna Maria Via. Twoof the peppiest couples on the dance floorwere Kathryn Leckey and Bob West(they are to wed in July) and Gail Scottwho married Fred Hubig last year.

“White tie and decorations” is derigueur attire for men at the Red CrossBall, always outstanding for its elegance ina town where over-the-top charity galas arethe rule.

The pomp begins with the receivingline in the Gold Room. It was especiallycolorful this year because several of theambassadors’ wives wore outfits echoingtheir country. Kathleen El-Maaroufi, wifeof Moroccan Ambassador AbdahllahMaaroufi, chose a golden caftan, FaikaAtallah, wife of Tunisian AmbassadorHitel Atallah, wore a regional dress ofwhite and gold with a matching headdress,and Mimi Logoglu, wife of TurkishAmbassador Osman Logoglu, wasresplendent in a fabric of black and gold.

Ecudoran Ambassador Yvonne A-Bakiopted for a slinky strapless black satin, andconfided that, with 14 years of politicalexperience behind her, she will run forpresident of Ecuador in the next election.

Each guest was ushered into the GoldRoom to be greeted by Ball ChairmanDiana Ecclestone (striking in anAmerican-Beauty-Rose red Vera Wanggown, topped by a $4 million diamondtiara loaned by Van Cleef and Arpels forthe evening), then by the ambassadors andtheir wives, and then announced by theformer U.S. Chief of Protocol,Ambassador Marion (‘Joe”) Smoak.Each year Smoak makes sure every ambassadorstands before the properly drapedflag of the respective country, according toprecedence and protocol.

(“You’ll be standing and shaking handsfor two hours, so wear comfortable shoes,”counsels Garnett Stackleberg, who for 40years as Washington liaison has shepherdedthe ambassadors to Palm Beach forthe ball. She answers their wives’ packingquestions on what to wear for the whirlwindthree days, and troubleshoots theoccasional crises of cancellations and substitutions.)

Honorary International Chairman,Celia Lipton Farris, gives the annualFriday luncheon at Mar-a-Lago for thejust-arrived ambassadors, as well as twohundred other Ball supporters. Mar-a-Lago,now a private club, is the magnificentproperty Donald Trump boughtfrom the estate of Marjorie MerriweatherPost.

It was Mrs. Post who began the traditionof bringing the ambassadors down forthe ball on her private plane, aided byGarnett and her late husband, BaronConstantine Stackelberg. Nowadays it isDonald Trump who brings them on his727 jet, planned to hold 125, but reconfiguredby “the Donald” to seat 23 in ultimateluxury, complete with cloud-softleather seats and sofas, mahogany paneling,Waterford chandeliers, and a bedroomwhose bath boasts gold plumbing fixtures.

Diplomatic Host Chairman PatrickPark, aided by Mary Fairbanks, againgave a very special dinner honoring theattending ambassadors, held at the restaurantL’ Europe this year instead of in Park’smagnificent home. (Why the change? Hishouse has been bought by one ofWashington’s most popular couples, hotelman Bill Tiefel and his wife Norma.)

Park, a food and wine connoisseur, providedfour excellent wines for his 200guests, including a fine vintageChampagne and a Mouton Rothschild.L’ Europe outdid itself on the dinner as wellas the spectacular cocktail hour horsd’ouevres, which ranged from caviar todelectable foie gras sauteed before youreyes.

Fun-loving, effervescent ball supporterBrownie McLean told how she was talkingto a couple of friends on the Sundaymorning before the ball, and suggestedthey come over for a drink that evening.“Suddenly,” said Brownie, “ I ended upwith sixty friends in my living room.” Shesimply ordered in a big wheel of Brie, anda huge tranche of the best foie gras shecould find.

This year’s ball was even more impressivethan last, and Diana Ecclestone graciouslythanked those whose generousdonations this year had helped make theevening a million dollar plus success, especiallythanking Jeanne Habicht and MayBell Lin for their quiet, continuing efforts,month in and month out over the years.