Celebs fueled the buzz surrounding the NYC premiere of The Aviator at the Ziegfeld Theater, followed by a grand after-party at Gustavino’s. The Martin Scorsese film, which garnered six Golden Globe nominations (and won for best picture and best actor), stars award recipient Leonardo DiCaprio as Howard Hughes, the eccentric billionaire film director, producer, studio owner, and aviation innovator. The film chronicles his flamboyant younger years, from the late 20s through the mid-40s, when Hughes, famous for designing and test-piloting aircrafts, set new records for speed and transcontinental flights. Along the way, he romanced some of Hollywood’s most beautiful starlets, including Katharine Hepburn, played by Cate Blanchett; Ava Gardner, portrayed by Kate Beckinsale; and Jean Harlow, played by Gwen Stefani.

DiCaprio arrived with his longtime squeeze, model Gisele Bundchen, his parents, and other members of his ever-present entourage. Blanchett did her best to work the red carpet, but was oddly pulled away from the question-hurling paparazzi by her manager and publicist. Also in the mix: Co-stars Beckinsale, John C. Reilly, Willem Dafoe, Sir Ian Holm, Alan Alda, and Scorsese (who left before the party with his flu-suffering wife, Helen Morris); Joan Allen; Jimmy Fallon; Josie Maran; Stephen Baldwin, whose brother Alec Baldwin is in the film, portraying Juan Trippe, founder and prez of Pan Am; Lauren Bacall; Cindy Adams; Marty and Cornelia Bregman; Rufus Wainwright; Nipsey Russell; Tony Lo Bianco; Robert Wuhl; Celia Weston; Giancarlo Esposito; Amy Sacco; and Graham King. Following this NYC test run, interest in the film took off...into the wild blue yonder.