Talladega Nights pip the Queen at UK box office

LONDON, Sep 20 (Reuters) U.S. car-racing movie ''Talladega Nights'' shot straight to the top of the UK box office over the weekend, edging out Helen Mirren's acclaimed regal portrait in ''The Queen,'' according to Screen International.

The story of NASCAR racing champion Ricky Bobby and his rivalry with a French interloper brought in 1.03 million pounds, compared with 856,273 pounds for the portrait of royal family life after the death of Princess Diana which won Mirren best actress at the Venice Film Festival this month.

Third was another newcomer, director Brian De Palma's ''The Black Dahlia,'' an adaptation of James Ellroy's novel about two 1940s L.A.

cops hunting the killer of a Hollywood starlet.

Fourth down from top was three's-a-crowd comedy ''You, Me and Dupree, one above ''Little Man,'' down from second.

Sixth, down one place, was ''Little Miss Sunshine,'' featuring a family determined to get their daughter into the finals of a beauty pageant.

New at seven was ''The Night Listener,'' a thriller starring Robin Williams as a radio show host who strikes up a telephone relationship with a teenager who claims to be one of his biggest fans.

Eighth was the fifth of this week's newcomers, ''D.O.A. Dead or Alive,'' the movie adaptation of the popular video game series.

At nine, down from four was secret service mystery ''The Sentinel'' and at ten, down seven places, was apocalyptic thriller ''Right at Your Door.'' Reuters BDP DB0922