Venice, Italy (ap)
SHARON STONE set off a chain boat-collision in the city's canals, cracking the head of one of the paparazzi rushing to get pictures of the star's bare-footed arrival for the Venice Film Festival.
Stone, all diva in a white trouser suit and giant pearls, took off her red high-heel stilettos on arrival Tuesday to board a water taxi -- setting off a full-speed chase by pursuing photographers.
The boat carrying the "Basic Instinct" star's bodyguards accelerated as well, setting off waves that smacked one of the photographers' boats into a pole and another water taxi. One of the photographers was nursing a slight head wound and new stitches Wednesday.
Stone was the only non-cast celebrity at a party for Clint Eastwood and "Space Cowboys" co-stars Tommy Lee Jones, James Garner and Donald Sutherland.
On Thursday, Stone hosts a party for an AIDS foundation, with admission costing between $ 1,000 and $ 2,000 depending on the distance from the star.
Richard Gere made a more low-key arrival in St. Mark's one-time powerful republic. The first Hollywood celebrity to show up for the 57th edition of the film festival, Gere declared Venice "wonderful" as he toured the cathedral and the ducal palace with partner Carrie Lowell.
Gere is promoting his latest film, Robert Altman's "Dr. T and Women," also competing for Venice's Golden Lion award.
