'Lonely' boasts Elvis, Marilyn

GOOD MORNING: Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe will team in an upcoming feature, "Lonely Street" by Rosa and Bill Graham and produced by Alex Rose. Well, at least the lead characters will assume the identities of Elvis and Marilyn in this "romantic comedy with an edge," promises Rose. Set to play the male lead is Giovanni Ribisi ("Saving Private Ryan"), who's the ShoWest Newcomer of the Year and who stars in Rose's upcoming "The Other Sister." And yes, Ribisi does/will sing, does play the guitar and has shown those musical talents in club appearances like at Hollywood's Goldfinger. The female lead is yet to be cast; it too will be a juicy role as both characters live normal lives -- with the exception of their escape into the personae of Presley and Monroe, which overtakes them. Rose is also reteaming with Tom Skerritt, another co-star of her/Touchstone's "Other Sister." This next project is "Honor and Stone," written and to be directed by Skerritt, and is set in a 1942 detention camp ... Everything's coming up roses for Rose as she also just teamed with Jim Meier to produce "The Age of Secrets," the 10-year involvement of John Meier (Jim's father) with Howard Hughes. The Meier/Rose production is based on Gerald Bellett's book. As reported here Sept. 3, 1998, the book is fully titled "The Age of Secrets, the Conspiracy that Toppled Richard Nixon and the Hidden Death of Howard Hughes." It contains Meier's involvement with Hughes, Nixon, the CIA, FBI, etc. ... Rose's "Other Sister" is also based on real life: It's about a slightly retarded girl Rose grew up with, and a boy whom director Garry Marshall knew as a member of a marching band in the Midwest. In their fifth teaming, Rose and Marshall combined the two for "Other Sister," which stars Juliette Lewis, Diane Keaton, Ribisi and Skerritt. It is another of the human, warm stories coming out of studios this year and coming in for livable budgets in the "under $40 million" class ... Another moving, real-life film, "The Color of Courage," starring Linda Hamilton and Lynn Whitfield, airs as an event movie for the USA Network Feb. 10, part of Black History Month. Lee Rose produced and debut directs, "Because it moved me so much. It teaches tolerance and dignity."

REPEAT SPONSORS ARE ALREADY lining up for "The AFI's 100 Years 100 Stars." The three hours on CBS were bought by the AFI for the second of its specials and the returning (from "100 Years 100 Movies") bankrollers include General Motors and Blockbuster. The show's exec producer and director Gary Smith has already lined up these stars to be part of the 50 who have agreed to be interviewed on camera, telling their choice for legendary star (actor/actress): Warren Beatty, Clint Eastwood, Goldie Hawn, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Claire Danes, Edward Norton, Gene Hackman, Jessica Lange, Morgan Freeman and Drew Barrymore. The AFI hopes these specials impress the moviegoing public with movie heritage more than movie box office. The special will air in June ... Donald O'Connor, one of the stars listed on the AFI "100 Years, 100 Stars" ballot, is at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, suffering from pneumonia. He has been in the desert since November, enjoying starring in "Palm Springs Follies." Wife Gloria told me he became ill last Saturday when he missed his first two shows. Thursday, Gloria told me Donald (73) was still in critical condition. His four children have joined Gloria at the hospital.

PETER FALK AND DIRECTOR Robert Wise team with producer Renee Valente on Rod Serling's "A Storm in Summer" for Showtime. The original movie starred Peter Ustinov and was directed by Buzz Kulik. But the tender, interracial story is so timely and Serling's script so perfect, nothing will be changed, says Valente, who is now also producing CBS' "Down Will Come Baby" in Phoenix with Greg Goodell directing his script ... Rod Steiger continues his non-stop work sked as he wings to Toronto to start his role as Federal Judge Lee Sarokin in Norman Jewison's Denzel Washington U starrer, "Lazarus and the Hurricane" ... "James Dean: Race With Destiny," with Robert Mitchum in his last role (as George Stevens), preems Monday on cable net's Romance Classics. Carrie Mitchum, Bob's granddaughter, plays Pier Angeli; Casper Van Dien plays James Dean ... Anne Heche and Ellen DeGeneres at Morton's ... The Legacy Restaurant on the Sunset Strip, site of Scandia, has its official gala opening next month. The new eatery will boast six dining rooms. Many familiar faces from past (Jimmy's, Drai's, Ma Maison, Nicky Blair's, Eclipse) and present favorite restaurants are now on hand here. And Marty Ingels broadcasts (KIEV) from there, Saturday nights, 9 p.m. ... There's no biz like shoe biz: Donald Trump wings Stuart Weitzman to and from Branson, Mo., to judge the Miss USA Pageant and to get Weitzman back to N.Y. for his 28th annual shoe show -- his 28th year ... Yahoo users get a shot at showbiz memorabilia auction Feb. 15-17 with an Entertainment Memorabilia sale from Butterfield & Butterfield. Web-sters will be able to bid along with those there. Items range from Jackie Gleason's bus driver's uniform on "The Honeymooners" to Annette Funicello's "Mickey Mouse Club" costumes, posters, etc.