Celebrating a 67th birthday at a midnight showing of a blood and guts horror movie may not be most people’s cup of tea, but it was just fine for Italian director Dario Argento, who accepted best wishes at the Toronto screening of his new film “Mother of Tears, his long-awaited finaled to “The Three Mothers” trilogy.
At the urging of festival programmer Colin Geddes, the raucous crowd sang “Happy Birthday” to the embarassed director, who says he doesn’t like watching movies with crowds, estimating perhaps this showing was the third time he had watched his film with people.

The film featured some gory bits that had audience members squirming in horror and delight. But the icing on the cake may have been a false fire alarm that when off partway through the screening, prompting Geddes to quip after the credits rolled, “This movie is so hot the fire alarm went off.”

Director Dario Argento poses with his daughter and cast member Asia Argento at the premiere of “Mother of Tears: The Third Mother” during the 32nd Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto, September 6, 2007. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni