Scarlett Johansson was left at home in New York after a film studio refused to pay for the star's bloated demands to attend the Cannes Film Festival to launch Woody Allen's latest movie.

Penelope Cruz and Rebecca Hall, her co-stars in the film 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona', soaked up all the glory from crowds as they ascended the fabled red carpet of Cannes.

It must have been pretty galling for Johansson, 23, when reports trickled back to the U.S. about the ten minute standing ovation the film received Saturday night after the black-tie audience saw the film.

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Missing out: Scarlett Johansson missed out on all the praise at Cannes for her new movie Vicky Cristina Barcelona

It also stars Oscar-winner Javier Bardem, who couldn't make the film's gala for personal family reasons.

However, no one burst into tears because Johansson was absent.

"Nobody cared she wasn't there", snapped a prominent New York socialite as she noted, approvingly, that Cruz looked stunning in a low-cut gown designed by Marchesa while Hall, daughter of theatre legend Sir Peter Hall, was sparkling in a tumbling silk creation by Alberta Ferretti.

"The movie belonged to Penelope and Rebecca anyway with great help from Javier," the socialite added.

The French branch of Warner Brothers Films, distributors of Vicky Cristina Barcelona in France, had spent weeks negotiating with Johansson's representatives about flying her to Cannes.

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Lady in white: Penelope Cruz looked stunning in a flowing Marquesa gown on the red carpet at the premiere of Vicky Cristina Barcelona last night

They were willing, and happy, to pay for flights, hotel, provide a limousine, arrange for designers to show her gowns and for her to share hair and make-up designers with Cruz and Hall.

However, Johansson demanded her own exclusive make-up consultant at a cost of 5,000 Euros a day, which was felt a tad too much for a four day trip where looking after the star's tresses and powdering her nose would cost a total of 20,000 Euros.

Then there was the problem over an hotel.

The film's director and his leading ladies were delighted to be staying in the centre of Cannes to make it easier for them to attend screenings, public events and to do interviews for TV and press.

Johansson wanted to be at an hotel way out in the sticks, some 25 to 30 miles away.

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Lofty: Penelope Cruz is dwarfed by her British co-star Rebecca Hall, daughter of theatre impresario Sir Peter Hall, who dazzled in a Alberto Ferretti dress

"It was crazy. Penelope and Rebecca were going to be working very hard and it wasn't acceptable that Scarlett would be having to come in from that distance every day, most likely turning up late and it would have thrown schedules into a lot of confusion.

"Also, I think, while Woody's terribly fond of Scarlett, he was a little upset that she wasn't being a team player", an executive connected to the film told the Daily Mail.

"That said she has agreed to support the movie back in America and we're all delighted about that," the executive added.

The movie, about two American friends - Johansson and Hall - with different ideas about love who spend a summer at the Spanish coastal city of Barcelona where they meet an artist, played by Bardem, and his tempestuous ex-wife, played by Cruz.

It's great fun, and critics here have been hailing it as a return to sparkling form for Allen.

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Party time: Director Woody Allen and Penelope Cruz celebrated the movie's appraisal without Scarlett last night

The film's two stars later changed their frocks and put on some Dolce and Gabbana to attend the extravagant Vanity Fair Cannes Party over at the Hotel Du Cap's Eden Roc restaurant over-looking the Mediterranean.

They mingled with the likes of Mick Jagger, his flame L'Wren Scott, Sean Penn, (who was seen chatting with wife Robin Wright Penn, reunited after an estrangement, and Petra Nemcova, a close "friend"), Lily Allen (on her best behaviour) a contingent from Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull led by Harrison Ford, partner Calista Flockhart, Cate Blanchett, Karen Allen, Jim Broadbent, John Hurt, Ray Winstone, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Shia LaBeouf.

Then Will Smith, with wife Jada Pinkett Smith, pitched up with an entourage. There was dancing and much merriment way into the early hours of Sunday morning with after-after parties that went on till three and 4 a.m. yesterday.

Other stars at the swanky Vanity fair party included Joan Collins, Faye Dunaway, Joely Richardson and Natalie Portman.