JOINT FILING AGREEMENT In accordance with Rule 13d-1(f) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the undersigned agree to the joint filing of a Statement on Schedule 13D (including any and all amendments thereto) with respect...

                                                               EXHIBIT 1

                              JOINT FILING AGREEMENT

                   In accordance with Rule 13d-1(f) promulgated under
         the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the
         undersigned agree to the joint filing of a Statement on
         Schedule 13D (including any and all amendments thereto) with
         respect to the shares of Amscan Holdings, Inc. and further
         agree to the filing of this agreement as an Exhibit thereto.
         In addition, each party to this Agreement expressly authorizes
         each other party to this Agreement to file on its behalf any
         and all amendments to such Statement on Schedule 13D.


         Dated:  August 20, 1997.


                                CONFETTI ACQUISITION, INC.

                                By:  /s/ Xxxxxxx X. X'Xxxxx
                                   Name:  Xxxxxxx X. X'Xxxxx
                                   Title: President


                                GS CAPITAL PARTNERS II, L.P.

                                   By: GS Advisors, L.P.
                                       its general partner

                                   By: GS Advisors, Inc.
                                       its general partner


                                By:  /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
                                   Name:  Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
                                   Title: President


                                GS ADVISORS, L.P.

                                   By: GS Advisors, Inc.
                                       its general partner


                                By:  /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
                                   Name:  Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
                                   Title: President







                                





                                GS CAPITAL PARTNERS II OFFSHORE, L.P.

                                   By: GS Advisors II (Cayman), L.P.
                                       its general partner

                                   By: GS Advisors II, Inc.
                                       its general partner


                                By:  /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
                                   Name:  Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
                                   Title: President


                                GS ADVISORS II (CAYMAN), L.P. 

                                   By: GS Advisors, II, Inc.
                                       its general partner


                                By:  /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
                                   Name:  Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
                                   Title: President


                                GS CAPITAL PARTNERS II (Germany) C.L.P.

                                   By: XXXXXXX, XXXXX & CO. oHG,
                                       its managing partner

                                   By: XXXXXXX, SACHS & CO.
                                       Finanz GmbH, its managing partner


                                By:  /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
                                   Name:  Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
                                   Title: Attorney-in-Fact 


                                XXXXXXX, XXXXX & CO. oHG

                                   By: Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co.
                                       Finanz GmbH, its managing partner


                                By:  /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
                                   Name:  Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
                                   Title: Attorney-in-Fact 







                               





                                XXXXXXX, XXXXX & CO.


                                By:  /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
                                   Name:  Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
                                   Title: Managing Director


                                THE XXXXXXX SACHS GROUP, L.P.

                                   By: The Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Corporation,
                                       its general partner

                                By:  /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
                                   Name:  Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
                                   Title: Executive Vice President