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Sean Connery's check for Czechs

August 13, 2003

Connery's check will benefit those hit by last year's floods.

PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AP) -- After Sean Connery was forced to leave his Prague hotel during historic floods whilst shooting last year, the actor, on a handshake, promised the country's then-president he would bring the film back to the Czech capital in person if it was any good.

Connery returned to Prague Tuesday for the European opening of the "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen."

Hundreds gathered to watch Connery and other stars including Peta Wilson, Shane West and Jason Flemyng walk a red carpet into the Slovansky Dum cinema in downtown Prague on Tuesday night.

More than 1,000 others attended the opening, the proceedings of which go to the city of Prague and to Vize 97, a foundation of former President Vaclav Havel and his wife Dagmar.

At a brief ceremony, Connery said he met with Havel during the floods last year "and on a handshake I said that if the film was any good that I would bring it to Prague" and support his foundation.

"This is a check -- for 845,000 Czech koruna ($59,500) that's going to the foundation," Connery said when handing a check to the Havels, who also attended the opening.

The money will be used to help those affected by the floods, Dagmar Havlova said. Prague Mayor Pavel Bem received a check for the same amount at the ceremony.

Last year, the flooding caused by 10 days of torrential rainfall killed nearly 100 people across Europe and forced thousands from their homes.

Connery, who was filming the movie in Prague when the worst floods hit, said he was deeply touched by the scope of the flooding and the damage it caused. It was the worst flooding to hit Prague in 500 years.

"The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" is based on a comic book created by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill.

The two launched the "League" in 1999 with a series of comic books that teams up such Victorian-era literary figures as Allan Quatermain, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Captain Nemo and "Dracula" vampire Mina Harker.

Connery stars as adventurer Quatermain, a progenitor of Indiana Jones who was the hero of "King Solomon's Mines" and other tales by H. Rider Haggard.

The movie opened in the United States July 11 and took in nearly $59 million in the first four weeks.