HANKS FOR THE MEMORIES HOLLYWOOD'S ACCLAIMED MR. NICE GUY GETS HIS DUE AT AFI BANQUET.

Byline: Bob Strauss Staff Writer

THE AMERICAN FILM Institute's 30th Life Achievement Award banquet felt like the most intimate gathering in the prestigious honor's history.

Maybe that had something to do with the new venue where the black-tie event was held Wednesday night: the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. Somehow, Oscar's new home had a brighter, cozier and more cordial vibe about it than the Beverly Hilton's ballroom, where most previous AFI functions were held.

But it probably had more to do with the honoree, Tom Hanks. Described throughout the evening as one of the nicest guys in show business, the back-to-back ``Philadelphia''/``Forrest Gump'' Academy Award winner (and, at 45, youngest-ever recipient of the AFI award) proved it all night with an accessibility rarely seen at these highly choreographed affairs.

Hanks immediately broke precedent with tradition by spending the dinner portion of the program hopping from table to table, chatting with just about every one of the 1,000-odd invited guests, many of whom were workers from his past films. He even gave some reporters - like this one - a little personal face time.

``I feel like those guys who went to the moon,'' the ``Apollo 13'' star said of the affection-filled evening. ``It's a spectacular feeling, I can't believe it. And there are lots of people here I haven't seen for a long time.''

Just as Hanks was finally seated at the honoree's table - with his wife, actress Rita Wilson, his four children and his mother - the last 11 seconds of the championship-winning Lakers game were projected onto a screen above the stage. While Hanks made L's and A's with his fingers, the crowd bonded in a big communal cheer. And considering the diversity in the room - beside celebrities, industry powers and Hanks friends, the guest list ranged from a contingent of dress-blued Air Force personnel to Hugh Hefner and several miles of blonde - it felt like the perfect start to a show that would repeatedly lionize Hanks as America's movie Everyman.

Kickoff speaker Steve Martin called him just that ... then set the jocular tone of many testimonials to come that expressed admiration mixed with mock (we think) jealousy of Hanks' prodigious acting gifts. This approach was employed by various comedian co-stars such as Peter Scolari (TV's drag sitcom ``Bosom Buddies''), Eugene Levy (``Splash''), Tim Allen (the ``Toy Story'' animated features) and Jon Lovitz (``A League of Their Own'').

A bevy of beautiful leading ladies (Meg Ryan, Elizabeth Perkins, Kathleen Quinlan) predictably gushed. Melissa Etheridge sang ``Streets of Philadelphia.'' Rawley Farnsworth, the Oakland high school drama teacher Hanks thanked so emotionally during his ``Philadelphia'' Oscar speech, confirmed that the star ``had enormous stage presence'' even as a kid. And such real-life figures as astronaut Jim Lovell and two veterans of Easy Company, portrayed in the Hanks-produced HBO series ``Band of Brothers,'' offered kind words.

Steven Spielberg, director of ``Saving Private Ryan'' and the upcoming Hanks starrer ``Catch Me If You Can,'' presented the award.

``I placed the burden of the film at the feet of Tom Hanks,'' Spielberg said of their D-Day masterpiece ``Ryan.'' ``He picked it up like the American flag and carried it into film history.''

Calling Hanks ``America's favorite son,'' Spielberg also noted, ``Perhaps his contribution so far is that he instills a great hope in all of us.''

In a speech expressing much love for his family and the movies that he's enjoyed throughout his life, Hanks accepted the award, saying, ``We're gonna do this again, if I have my way. ... I hope my evolution, both professional and personal, will not conclude in this rented hall.''

``The 30th AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Tom Hanks'' will be telecast at 9 p.m. June 24 on the USA Network.

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(1 -- color) Life Achievement Award recipient Tom Hanks gives his wife, actress Rita Wilson, a thank-you peck on the cheek during the AFI event Wednesday night in the Kodak Theatre.

(2 -- color) ``I placed the burden of the film at the feet of Tom Hanks. He picked it up like the American flag and carried it into film history,'' said ``Saving Private Ryan'' director Steven Spielberg, right, handing his star the AFI award.

Chris Pizzello/Associated Press