HEAVEN TO THEM: Despite some criticisms that...

HEAVEN TO THEM: Despite some criticisms that Oliver Stone’s film “Heaven and Earth” favors the Viet Cong, it’s a huge hit in Little Saigon. Steven Tran, manager of Garden Grove’s Thu Do Theater, where it plays in Vietnamese, says the movie--set in Vietnam--is the most popular movie it’s ever run. . . . Says Tran: “People say they can feel this movie because it brings back so many beautiful and painful memories. Some see it two, three and even four times.”

WELCOME BOOST: Does it help sales when they make a hit movie from your book? “Schindler’s List” by Thomas Keneally, a UC Irvine writing teacher, has enjoyed only modest sales the past 10 years. But a reissue of the novel on the heels of the highly acclaimed Steven Spielberg movie based on it has reached No. 1 on the Publisher’s Weekly trade paperback list. . . . Says Keneally: “All writers know this is irrational. The book is no better or worse than it was a year before its movie-less existence. Nonetheless, it’s very welcome.”

SITCOM POTATO: When it came to corn, TV producer Paul Henning could grow it as tall as anyone: “The Beverly Hillbillies,” “Green Acres” and “Petticoat Junction.” The communications division at Rancho Santiago College in Santa Ana will pay tribute to Henning tonight (F1). And it’s managed to talk 10 stars from those shows--including “Green Acres” lead Eddie Albert, above--into showing up. A real tribute to Henning, who will also be there: They’re all coming for free.

JAROCHO PROUD: The Ballet Folklorico “Quetzalli” de Veracruz will present traditional Mexican dances Sunday at 4 p.m. at UCI’s Bren Events Center--including one rousing number to live jarocho music. “Jarocho” harks back to the Spaniards’ arrival in Mexico, whose inhabitants were derisively dubbed jarochos, meaning dirty or filthy. But troupe manager Stephen Heath explains: “The term evolved and is now a source of pride to the Mexicans who don’t want to lose touch with their heritage.”