LOU WATERS, CNN ANCHOR: Now here's the one that Natalie's been waiting for. The bold and the beautiful climbing the red carpet at Cannes. The storied film festival is opening tonight on the French Riviera. Tim Wilcox reports on the constellation of stars and the galaxy of glitz.</s>TIM WILCOX, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The beautiful people were making sure Cannes got off to a glittering start today, Andie MacDowell joining dozens of stars for this, the 53rd festival. Gerard Depardieu is the leading man in tonight's openings film, first of hundreds to be screened over the next 12 days. They come to do deals, party and raise finance, and for a select few to be judged for a prestigious Palm D'Or. One of the jury panel this year is Jeremy Irons.</s>JEREMY IRONS, ACTOR: I'm intending to see movies at 8 o'clock in the morning. So I don't think I'll be partying that late, but you never know. Cinema and parties, they go well together.</s>WILCOX: But as the opening ceremony got under way this evening, sunshine turned to rain. (on camera): Organizers are hoping that tonight's torrential rain will quickly clear and allow big names like George Clooney, Catherine Deneuve and Gregory Peck to climb the famous red carpet without the need for umbrellas and to do the famous photo pools on the beach. (voice-over): For the moment, autograph hunters are more concerned with keeping dry. La Croisette, the historic Cannes boulevard, damper than usual, but still as glamorous as ever. Tim Wilcox, ITN, Cannes.</s>NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR: Only two stars I saw.</s>WATERS: I didn't see enough stars.</s>ALLEN: Perhaps tomorrow will be a better day.
Cannes Film Festival Gets Under Way