A Swingin’ Time for the Terminally Hip

The Scene: Sunday’s premiere of Miramax’s “Swingers” at the Vista Theater, the Egyptian / Art Deco gem in east Hollywood. A party followed at the nearby Derby club, which specializes in ‘40s big-band swing. It’s where the Smashing Pumpkins generation meets the music of Bob Dole.

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Plot Synopsis: The low-budget, indie comedy chronicles a brokenhearted actor’s search for a girlfriend. He’s taken by friends through L.A.’s “cocktail nation” retro bar scene. “It’s a fun little movie I hope the audience gets a kick out of,” said writer-star Jon Favreau. “We weren’t trying to make ‘Apocalypse Now.’ I mean, it’s about a guy trying to get a phone number.”

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Who Was There: Stars Favreau, Vince Vaughn, Ron Livingston, Patrick Van Horn, Alex Desert and Heather Graham; director Doug Liman; producers Victor Simpkins and Nicole LaLoggia; plus 500 guests, including Fran Drescher, Jeff Goldblum, Matthew Perry, Ben Stiller and Wes Craven.

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The Buzz: That this should be the season’s major indie hit. “I came expecting ‘The Brothers McSwingers,’ ” said a producer. “But this was a lot more than that.”

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Chow: There was an Italian buffet from Louise’s Trattoria, but what fueled the party were the free Absolut martinis. One guest described the drink as “the heroin of the terminally hip.”

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Most Cogent Observation: Arthur Liman, the director’s father, is best known as the Senate Iran-Contra Committee’s counsel. Asked to contrast Washington and Hollywood, he said, “It’s the difference between Oliver North and Oliver Stone.” He paused, then added: “Though they are both paranoid.”