Tom has the last sword

Tom Cruise missed the start of his new film The Last Samurai when he stayed outside for more than an hour to greet fans at the premiere.

He and his girlfriend Penelope Cruz were deafened by screams and cheers as they arrived at the Mann Village Theatre in Los Angeles.

Cruise, 41, darted across the street to sign autographs and shake hands with hundreds of fans.

"It's great to see everybody out here for this great film," said Cruise. "It's hard to ignore it when so many people arrive for the start of a film - one they won't even see tonight. I guess I must be doing something right."

He paused for a moment as a security guard whispered that the film was starting and then opted to remain outside with his fans. He went in an hour later.

Cruise had martial arts training for The Last Samurai in which he plays a US soldier thrown into the centre of the Japanese wars.