Two families are squaring up for the battle of the movie giants.

British hit The Full Monty is going head to head with odds-on favourite American blockbuster Titanic at tonight's glittering Oscar's ceremony in Los Angeles.

And cheering on The Full Monty, currently at odds of 33-1, will be writer Simon Beaufoy's parents, Madeleine and Roger, at their Glusburn home.

Meanwhile, rooting for Titanic will be Norman and Jean Threapleton from Guiseley whose grandson Jim hit the headlines when he began dating the film's leading lady, Oscar-nominated actress Kate Winslet.

The Beaufoys will be glued to their TV screens with everything crossed for The Full Monty - starring Shipley-based actor Steve Huison - which has been nominated for best picture and best original screenplay. They are throwing a party for friends who will join them to watch the Oscars broadcast live on BBC 2 from 2am tomorrow.

And they will have a bottle of champagne handy to toast their son, a former pupil of Ermysted's Grammar School, Skipton, who hopes to snatch one of the top awards.

Mrs Beaufoy said: "We could have gone out there but we decided to stay at home. We don't want to cramp his style. We are very excited. It is a very glamorous affair. We will be having an open house for friends and they are welcome to have a glass of champagne."

On Sunday the couple will be attending a screening of Among Giants - also written by Simon - at the opening of the new Showcase cinema in Sheffield. It is a love story involving people who paint electricity pylons in Yorkshire.

Meanwhile, Mr and Mrs Threapleton are pinning their hopes on Titanic. The couple haven't even seen the box office smash but hope to get a glimpse of their grandson who has travelled to Hollywood for the awards with Kate Winslet, 22. Jim, 24, an assistant film director, met the actress in Morocco last year while both were working on the film Hideous Kinky.

Mr Threapleton, 79, who is president of Guiseley Cricket Club and a former president of Guiseley Football Club, said: "We won't be staying up to watch the Oscars but we'll be recording it, following it closely and hoping Kate does well.

"We're not filmgoers so we haven't seen the film and hadn't even heard of Kate before the film hit the headlines. But we'd be very pleased for her if she won an Oscar and it would certainly be a family talking point for some time to come. We haven't met Kate yet but look forward to doing so."

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