Steiger, Taylor schmooze with Benignis

GOOD MORNING: Life was beautiful Wednesday night when Roberto Benigni and wife/co-star Nicoletta Braschi met with Elizabeth Taylor and Rod Steiger -- at a dinner hosted by Barbara and Warren Cowan at Agostino Sciandri's Ago eatery. Elizabeth, in red, her hair dazzingly white, Steiger, in black, his hair -- well ... Oscar winners Taylor and Steiger had watched "For Academy Award Consideration Only" tapes of "Life Is Beautiful" at home and both were so enthralled they wanted to meet the Benignis. Taylor asked them about the making of the film, about youngster Giorgio Cantarini and they all talked, of course, about Italy and Rome. Taylor recalled the days when she was there making "Cleopatra" (with Richard Burton). She laughingly told about her fear of heights and admitted that she had been ready to faint when carried in the high processional. Steiger reminded he had played the Pope, Mussolini and Al Capone. "I could have you excommunicated or break your legs," he laughed. Steiger and Taylor still hope to star in "The Return to Oz" in which she'd play Dorothy, in her 60s, hoping to return to Oz. Steiger would direct the Rod Browning script. Steiger's also written a book of poetry, "Pieces of Me" which Elizabeth has read. "The poems are not just 'moon-June-tune,' " he promises. The diners in Ago were agog ogling this unique table. Among those who came over to their table to say hello and to meet the Benignis were Brooke Shields, Lionel Ritchie and Lorna Luft.

PETER STRAUSS AND RACHEL TICOTIN were married New Year's Eve in New York, he confirms from the Prague location of the $21 million, four-hour CBS mini "Joan of Arc." He is playing La Hire, military adviser to Joan, played by Leelee Sobieski. He admits, "No one told me how cold it is inside armor!" Shirley MacLaine cameos as Madame de Beaurevoir; Max Schell and Peter O'Toole co-star. The mini will air in the spring, same time Strauss' other CBS mini, "Seasons of Love," is skedded. It co-stars Rachel Ward and Hume Cronyn ... Diane Ladd and Robert Hunter will wed Valentine's Day at the home of Connie Stevens. Her daughter Laura Dern will be maid of honor, Billy Bob Thornton, best man ... Paul Sorvino, debut-directing and starring in Showtime's version of Jason Miller's "That Championship Season," also starred in the play and '82 feature version. Gary Sinise also exec produces and costars, along with Tony Shalhoub, Vincent D'Onofrio and Terry Kinney. Paul was visited on the Santa Clarita location by daughter Mira Sorvino. I asked if she did a cameo, "No, she's too expensive," he laughed. They still plan to co-star in a version of "King Lear," he assured. Meanwhile, he is on sked and on budget, but hasn't had time to see Mira and Val Kilmer in "At First Sight" ... It was all in the family Wednesday when celeb siblings posed in front of the Hollywood sign for a group portrait to be featured in April's Vanity Fair, the annual Hollywood issue. Posing for photog Gavin Bond were: Kate and Minnie Driver, Ed and Brian Burns, Chris and Paul Weitz, Allen and Albert Hughes, Suzanne and Jennifer Todd, Owen and Luke Wilson and John and Rick Dahl ... "V.I.P." exec producer Jonathan Lawton reveals it was syndie series star Pamela Anderson (she also exec produces) who got 'em the Vegas location at Peter Morton's Hard Rock -- free. She also persuaded Morton to let 'em shoot in the casino floor and in Caesars' high-roller suite. Lawton returns to features with WB's "Monster Men" (Edgar Rice Burrows') which he describes as " 'Men in Black' with monsters!"

DAVID MAMET WASN'T ON HAND for the Geffen's gala bow of his two plays -- which will appear in repertory following Wednesday night's opening when both "The Old Neighborhood" and "The Cryptogram" bowed, with a dinner served (courtesy of Venice mag) between the two. Mamet was in Vermont, where wife actress Rebecca Pidgeon presented him with their first son, born Jan. 18. Mamet's sister, screenwriter Lynn Mamet, was on hand for Tuesday's preview of "Old Neighborhood" and told actress Robin Bartlett, "You play me better than I do!" Geffen producing director Gil Cates, taking time away from Oscar preparations, was on hand -- he'll also be directing Donald Margulies' "Collected Stories" on these boards and is talking to Linda Lavin to star. Also there, UCLA chancellor Albert Carnasale and chancellor emeritus Charles Young, Karl Malden, Arthur Hiller, Eunice and Hal David, Rene and Judith Auberjonois and actress-daughter Tessa just back from N.Y. where she starred Off B'way in "Trainspotting" ... Thursday evening at Spago, Bill Haber and the Save the Children board of trustees honored new board chairman Thomas S. Murphy. CAA alumnus Haber, in the latest Save the Children Newsletter, has matched donations to its programs -- $1,267,000 -- plus 10%! A full-time communications and gift officer will be hired for offices in BevHills ... Producer Arthur Cohn and his "Central Station" star Fernanda Montenegro are in town as nominees for the Golden Globes and he hopes the film will join the ranks of previous foreign-language pix that received best picture Oscar nominations: "Grand Illusion," "Z," "The Emigrants," "Cries and Whispers" and "Il Postino."