Dallas got the rare opportunity for a little Hollywood glamour on November 8 when movie studio A24 brought the world premiere of its Oscar hopeful The Iron Claw to Texas Theatre in Oak Cliff.
The Iron Claw tells the story of the legendary Von Erich wrestling family, who ruled over the Texas area of the sport in the 1970s and '80s, performing many of their matches in the now-defunct Sportatorium in Dallas.
Director Sean Durkin, stars Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, and Stanley Simons, and Kevin Von Erich were the guests of honor at the screening, introducing the film and reappearing for a standing ovation at the film's conclusion.
Those special guests and others participated in a red carpet outside of the theater prior to the screening, the extended nature of which caused the start time of the film to be delayed by about 30 minutes.
The packed crowd of nearly 700 invite-only guests, which included many members of the Dallas film community, the wrestling community, and a phalanx of A24 staffers, were given the first chance to see the 130-minute film, which isn't scheduled for release until December 22.
Many of those who attended the screening then went to a post-screening party at Longhorn Ballroom, which happens to be just about a mile away from the old Sportatorium location.
The celebratory mood of the evening was enhanced by the announcement just prior to the start of the screening that the Screen Actors Guild strike had come to a close.
A24, which is an independent studio, was able to include actors in its premiere as it had been given special dispensation by the guild for previously agreeing to its terms.
Photo courtesy of A24.
Stanley Simons, Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Sean Durkin, and Harris Dickinson at world premiere of The Iron Claw at the Texas Theatre in Dallas.
Dallas restaurateur Al Biernat, RIP.
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