George Clooney. Photo: wiki commons.

George Clooney was joined at the red carpet premiere of The Monuments Men Tuesday in central London by one of the men who inspired the film.

Clooney produced, wrote and starred in the movie based on a true story about art historians who went into enemy territory during World War II to rescue works of art from Nazi thieves. The motion picture also stars Matt Damon, Bill Murray, John Goodman, Jean Dujardin and Hugh Bonneville.

Joining Clooney on the red carpet at the Odeon Leicester Square was Harry Ettlinger, one of the original Monuments Men. The actor introduced him to the audience inside the theater.

“We have been able to travel with a ‘young man’ who at 13 had to leave Germany for being Jewish,” Clooney said before Ettlinger bowed in front of the audience, according to London’s Evening Standard. “He fled to New Jersey and ended up fighting for the U.S. army. We are absolutely delighted to have Harry here with us this evening.”

As a 19-year-old infantryman, Ettlinger became responsible for going into German mines where stolen art was stored, the publication noted.

Also in attendance at the film premiere was original ‘Monuments Women’ Anne Olivier Bell, who the Daily Mail reported actor Murray jokingly sat on the lap of.