WASHINGTON -- Hollywood's Ben Affleck lauded Canadian hero Ken Taylor and the Canada-U.S. relationship on Wednesday during a star-studded reception at the Canadian embassy on Capitol Hill as he promoted his new film, "Argo."
Any hard feelings between Taylor, Canada's one-time ambassador to Iran, and the creative forces behind "Argo" seemed a thing of the past as Affleck spoke of Taylor's courage in rescuing six American diplomats during the Iran hostage crisis in 1979.
"What this movie is about is co-operation," Affleck said. He also paid tribute to diplomats like Taylor who routinely and courageously put their lives on the line to help others.
Accompanied by his wife, Jennifer Garner, and co-stars Bryan Cranston and John Goodman, Affleck brought a jolt of star power to the gleaming embassy.
Among those in attendance were CIA Director Gen. David Petraeus, and Huma Abedin and her husband, former U.S. congressman Anthony Weiner. Affleck described Abedin, an aide to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, as a close friend who gave him guidance on State Department protocol for his latest film.
Some of the six American diplomats rescued and sheltered by Taylor more than three decades ago were also in attendance for both the reception and the subsequent D.C. premiere at a nearby cinema.
Bob Anders, now 87, called it a "great night." He recalled how he drank a few Molsons while being sheltered by Taylor, a tennis partner before Iranian militants stormed the U.S. embassy in Iran in '79.
He added with a laugh that the film was more exciting than the actual events more than three decades earlier.
Taylor had previously criticized "Argo," saying it minimized Canada's role in the crisis, particularly in its original postscript.
Affleck said Wednesday he was happy to add a new postscript to the film, adding he considered Taylor a friend and respected colleague. He added Taylor's "feathers weren't ruffled."
Taylor became an international hero following his success in sheltering the Americans for three months after Iranian militants stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran in late 1979 and took dozens of diplomats hostage.
Taylor moved the Americans around to various safe houses, and managed to secure fake Canadian passports for them from Ottawa.
"Argo" highlights little-known details about the escape of the six Americans. That story, declassified in 1997, reveals a risky plan by CIA "exfiltration" expert Tony Mendez to get them out of Iran.
Affleck stars as Mendez, who teams up with a Hollywood producer to concoct an elaborate scheme: the six U.S. citizens are disguised as a Canadian film crew scouting locations for a fake science-fiction film called "Argo."
The original postscript to the film suggested the kudos Taylor received for his role in the real-life drama were unwarranted in light of the CIA actions.
After outraged friends took in the film at the Toronto International Film Festival last month and alerted Taylor, Affleck was soon in touch. The postscript was subsequently changed to note that the CIA "complemented efforts of the Canadian Embassy."
"Argo" opens in theatres on Friday.
