It was Brit night at the Bafta Film Awards last night, as The Full Monty swept the board while US blockbuster Titanic sank without trace, at the nearest thing the British film industry can boast to the Oscars ceremony.
Celebrities in ball gowns and high heels or dinner suits had to splash up and down a sodden red carpet as they arrived at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London. Monty won best film, and its star Robert Carlyle was named best leading actor at the awards. Tom Wilkinson, who played the stripping troupe's unlikely dance instructor won best supporting actor, and the film was also named most popular in the audience award.
Titanic, which won 10 Oscars in February and also had 10 Bafta nominations, went away empty-handed.
Best British film was carried off by Gary Oldman's gritty Nil by Mouth, about an alcoholic wife-beater, set in his native south-east London.
The best actress award went to Dame Judi Dench for her portrayal of Queen Victoria in Mrs Brown. Sigourney Weaver picked up best supporting actress for The Ice Maiden.
Baz Luhrman got best direction for his wacky version of Romeo and Juliet. Sean Connery endured some ribbing from his fellow Scotsman Billy Connolly as he collected his Academy fellowship - won by only a handful of actors before him, including Charlie Chaplin and Lord Gielgud. He appeared genuinely moved by the honour.