Video watch parties are springing up all over, now that the search for "The White River Kid" is over.

The elusive movie - shot in August 1998 at Hot Springs and in surrounding areas - finally surfaced in, of all places, Romania and Brazil.

Through a series of coincidences, actor Christopher Crane of Little Rock, formerly of Hot Springs, received a video copy and has allowed others the pleasure or distaste of watching it.

"I told a few people I had it and it was a domino-effect watch party," Crane said recently on a visit to Hot Springs.

Curious as to why the movie was never released in the United States, Crane kept a vigil and doggedly checked the Internet once a week in hopes of one day discovering the movie's progress. "I went to IMBD.com that lists every movie ever made with info about who's in it and user comments," Crane said.

He was cast in a speaking part with the movie's all-star cast: Antonio Banderas, Ellen Barkin, Beau Bridges, Kim Dickens, Bob Hoskins, Swoosie Kurtz, Randy Travis and Arkansas' Wes Bentley who plays the title role. (Bentley is now riding the wave of success for his work in the movie, "American Beauty.")

Crane says he feels those, such as his wife, Pamela, who stood in for actress Ellen Barkin, and spent the summer working on "The White River Kid" deserve to see it. Many folks in Little Rock's acting community played small roles and danced in scenes shot at Boot Scooters Kountry Klub at Hot Springs.

Earlier this year, in his search for the film, Crane's Internet sleuthing skills paid off.

He discovered a blistering review of the movie.

Rich Roesing, a film connoisseur who posts reviews independently and writing from Sofia, the Bulgarian capital says, "It's usually a warning sign when an American movie is released on video in Bulgaria before its theatrical release in the USA. This movie is no exception to that rule, and the embarrassed actors are probably hoping that the movie never makes it back to its country of origin."

Two days later, Luiz Carlos de Azevedo of Brazil, posted his review on the Internet.

Crane wrote to both reviewers and offered to pay all expenses of forwarding the movie to the states. Amazingly, the Brazilian writer sent the movie to Crane with a thank you note saying no reciprocation was needed. "It is reward enough for me just knowing that such a small gesture can bring you a slight degree of satisfaction."

Now Crane is passing on his "good fortune."

"I think this expression brings people so close together - the kindness of people - it makes a big impact on me that there is still kindness and human compassion. It costs a pretty penny to obtain the film and send it overseas."

Crane passed the movie to Eric E. Harrison of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette who says, "If 'The White River Kid' ever sees the cinematic light of day, it is likely because Bentley in the wake of "American Beauty," is becoming a pretty big name. If Banderas' name were a sufficient draw, one could reason, the thing would already be out by now."

But Crane is one of a few with mixed feelings, he said.

"Some absolutely love it and some don't get its campiness. Some say it's bad and never want to see it again."

Mixed feelings also are expressed by Phil Dickson of Hot Springs, production assistant in props, who saw the film last week with his girlfriend.

"I would probably be disappointed to walk into a theater and see it. But it's hard for me to be objective having been there on the set. I see it as a series of scenes and of what was happening to me personally. It's like looking through an album of vacation pictures, many are bad, but tomorrow I would do it all again because of the experience."

From Crane's point of view, the movie is successful because he finally can add his offbeat part to his acting portfolio.

"In the next year or so, I'm going to L.A. to give it a go. I have enough reel now to get doors open. I just want to act. I'm not a long-haired, bearded redneck, but I can play one."

Crane is convincing in the film. He plays the vicious town bully, Houston Bunn, delivers his lines, laughs menacingly and swings a mean-looking chain. He and his brother waylay a group of unsuspecting "foreigners" to steal their van - a Mexican polyglot named Morales Pittman (Banderas); a con man Brother Edgar (Hoskins); a killer/folk hero, the Kid (Bentley); and a diner waitress Lisa Weed (Dickens).

As he swings his chain at Brother Edgar, he is overcome by Morales Pittman who slits his throat with a knife, one of a few violent scenes. As he lays dying beside his brother, who has just received a shot in the head from the Kid, a pack of wild hogs stampedes them. The confusion gives the Kid time to escape with his cohorts saying the two brothers deserve to die because they're "wollygums."

It's the stuff that is either turning arm-chair audiences on or off.

"The popcorn was good," says one movie watch party patron.

David Leland based his screenplay for "The White River Kid" on the book, "The Little Brothers of St. Mortimer" by Arkansas native John Fergus Ryan.

"The novel itself is a satire rich in humor all tongue-in-cheek," Crane says. "David Leland, who adapted it, is English and I think it's difficult for him to write and adapt the language and colloquialisms we have, but what a wonderful screenwriter he is."

The talented cast, proven director Arne Glimcher, cinematographer Michael Chapman and money behind the film were a definite formula for a good movie.

"It's hard to put your finger on what went wrong, so many will never see it," Crane says.

What does Crane think of the stars he met?

* Antonio Banderas - "He went out of his way to be nice to me and the fans on set. I told him I had been in many theatrical productions and he said , 'I envy you for being able to do that.'" When Crane kidded him about the large number of women who showed up on the set to see the Latin lover, Banderas said, "I'm no lover, I'm Latin."

* Bob Hoskins - "Bob can be cross and nice. He was a prankster. The first day on set before he shook my hand, I looked up to see him in the van (that was part of the movie set). He was mooning me."

* Kim Dickens - "She's a New Yorker and from L.A. now, but she originally comes from Alabama. I think she, like all southerners, knows the roles in the movie were overplayed," Crane said.

* Randy Travis - "He is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet and he caters to his public. He's a joy to be around."

* Swoozie Kurtz - "She likes weird stuff and this role is right up her alley with tongue-in-cheek satires. She played it up and played it like it should have been played. She stayed within the confines of her character." Kurtz wears an massive Elvis wig in the movie and prays to Elvis because she says he cured her cancer.

* Beau Bridges - "He had a small part (as a hillbilly) but he was honest in his portrayal," Crane said.

* Wes Bentley - "This was his first big movie. His big eyes conveyed thoughtful emotions."

Crane says, "I got a taste of the big time film industry, its excitement and a glimpse of the stars. Now I'm ready to go on to my next movie."