::: George Christy ::: From the Beverly Hills Courier

ÒHis role of a lifetime,Ó claimed attorney Peter Dekom to his bride Kellie Choate about Tommy Lee JonesÕ performance in Paul HaggisÕ In the Valley of Elah after the Warner Bros. Independent Films screening at the Arclight Theatre. With Peter adding that TommyÕs a cinch for an Oscar nomination. Paul wrote and directed the film, the title of which is based on the Israelite location of the battle between David and Goliath. New Yorker critic David Denby assesses Elah as Òa rarity, an American film that convinces you that its protagonist is genuinely a great man.Ó David praises TommyÕs Ògreat, selfless, and heartbreaking performance that completely dominates this elusive but powerful movie.Ó About Tommy, David notes that his father Òwas a Texas oil rigger, his mother a policewoman and beauty-shop owner; he became a scholarship boy at a Texas prep school and a cum-laude graduate of Harvard.Ó Where his roommate was Al Gore. Who knew that he Ònever took an acting class.Ó Tommy attended the premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, but was unable to be with Paul and co-star Charlize Theron at the Los Angeles screening at the Arclight Theatre, with a reception following at the Cabana Club. Paul, whose Òtwo thumbs upÓ film, Crash, which he co-wrote and directed, won the Oscar for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay, arrived with wife Deborah Rennard, an Elah co-producer, and their son James, who appears in a cameo. Having worked and pitched the film for years, Paul credits Clint Eastwood for shepherding it to Warner Bros. Their relationship includes Paul having received an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay for 2004Õs Million Dollar Baby, directed by Clint and winning an Oscar for Best Picture and a Best Actress Oscar for Hilary Swank. Clint informed heÕll next helm The Changeling, which he calls Changelina after its star Angelina Jolie, and promised to tell us more soon. A changeling is the offspring of a fairy, troll, elf or other odd creature secretly left in place of a human child. Like Clint, PaulÕs one of the most approachable filmmakers, a born gentleman with manners befitting his Canadian heritage. Would that there were others like them. For husband Peter FalkÕs 80th birthday. Shera Danese invited friends for the afternoon to their villa north of Malibu with its uplifting sight of the sea thatÕs reminiscent of views from the La Sirenuse albergo in Positano on the Amalfi Coast. ÒSeven years ago, we bought the property,Ó informed Shera, Òand I finally tackled the major work this year, including raising one section six feet for a better view of the ocean É IÕve added on two large studios for Peter to draw and paint in.Ó Long overdue, by the way, is a one-man show of PeterÕs art Ð his is an impressive talent. Blonde, svelte and with a comedic talent that wonÕt quit, Shera floated in an ivory silk chiffon cling-thing, says the color that she painted the villa is Òplum raisin É so that when I drive here from Beverly Hills, I can look at it and say Ôwow!Õ And on the patio, I installed this antidelluvian 17th century limestone from Cyprus that I found at Phoenician Stone on La Cienega Boulevard. Henri Sage, whoÕs here, owns the shop with his family.Ó Henri introduced his med student mate, Tina Gill, and explained that his mom and dad ship these rare finds from Greece and Italy. ÒDoesnÕt Shera give a swell party?Ó beamed Peter as he cut into the chocolate and raspberry birthday cake after the splendid buffet prepared by Wolfgang PuckÕs catering staffers. ÒYou never go wrong with Wolfgang,Ó sighed Shera. How Peter courted Shera in Philadelphia makes for lively dinner party conversation, and thereÕs no one better than Mitzi Gaynor to mimic it to perfection. Mitzi recalled that she presented Peter with his second Emmy Ð for Columbo, his first was for The Price of Tomatoes. Arlene and Joe Montagna, Ann and Dennis Leary joined Mitzi, director Bob Singer, Jackie Jackels, cousins Beverly Danese and Richard Danese and wife Linda, who flew in from Bucks County and were off for a long weekend of rest and relaxation at the Baccara Spa in Santa Barbara. Hats off to Rene Reyes and his colleague Shane Rosamunde of our Paley Center for Media (formerly the Museum of Television & Radio, a better and more meaningful name) for putting together a preview of the wow-factor clips from Mitzi GaynorÕs television specials from the Õ60s and Õ70s. Rene plans a DVD package heÕs titled Razzle Dazzle of these extraordinary shows, choreographed by dancing wizard Tony Charmoli that two distributors have expressed interest in. Each of the shows showcases the triple-threat Mitzi singing, dancing, performing in Bob Mackie costumes that reveal BobÕs designing genius. It was Mitzi and her late manager-husband Jack Bean, who discovered Bob, who then went on to create the costumes for Carol Burnett, Cher, Ann-Margret, etc. Rene and Shane celebrated MitziÕs birthday at philanthropist Joni BerryÕs mansionette, built on hilltop land that once housed Loretta YoungÕs honeymoon haven, as did Tony Charmoli, whose sister Nell celebrated her 100th birthday last month (Òthose cold winters in Minnesosta keep us strongÓ). Sandra Moss, back from Europe and acknowledging that travel today is hard work, couturier David Hayes, Bob Mackie, Ray Aghayan and Ret Turner joined MitziÕs BFF, Milan Adam, who oversees CampanilleÕs catering, India von Kersting Irving, back from a summer sojourn in Europe for her USC sophomore year, with beau Mario Rivelli, also enrolled in the schoolÕs theater department. JoniÕs caterer, Robin Williams, a niece of the late popular caterer Milton Williams, knocked us out with a marinara sauce for the penne pasta that was the juiciest and sweetest Ð not unlike a stew! Ð that IÕd love for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The HBO party after the Emmycast along the Plaza at the Pacific Design Center remains the talk of the town. The best ever! Designer Billy Butchkavitz delivered Thailand to Los Angeles, with magnificent church-purple, gold and lavender appointments befitting a royal coronation, and Wolfgang Puck created a Thai-inspired menu. The L. A. Times Lynne Segall, with boss David Murphy, deemed it a spectacle for the senses, as did the HBO casts of The Sopranos, Entourage, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, Rome and other nominees (all told, HBO had 86 Emmy nominations). Glimpsed was Lily Tomlin, starring as a Dallas real estate magnate of outrageous wealth, in the HBO comedy series, 12 Miles of Bad Road, which debuts in March and appears destined for hitsville. Online at www.bhcourier.com.