Sly still punchy on 'Cliffhanger'

GOOD MORNING: "As I get older, I want to push harder. I'm inspired by George Foreman," laughed Sylvester Stallone as he wound a "Cliffhanger" day's work high in the mountains above Cortina--and was heading to a two-hour workout session in the local gym before dining with co-star Donald Sutherland. "I've never pushed this hard," he admitted. "I want to break some new ground in this picture. And," he added, "this is the most dangerous location I've ever been on. When Renny Harlin told me what we were going to do, I said, 'I'll never do that.' I swore I'd never get higher than my cowboy boots." They chose these mountains over the real site in Colorado because, says Stallone, "These mountains are the most foreboding -- but alluring. You could call it 'Mount Fatale.' " The company lost some equipment that slid down the steep mountainside, he revealed. Luckily no members of the troupe went with it. "We're safe as long as the ropes don't break. You could literally say, our lives are hanging by a thread." Stallone adds he also wants to be in shape because his next pic, "The Demolition Man" for Joel Silver, is equally tough. "I want these movies to be my best," adds Stallone, who has been working on this script as well, "tailoring it to the personalities of the actors." As for the future, he sez there'll be no more "Rockys.""I've punched my way into perpetuity." But there could be another "Rambo." James Cameron is cooking one up. "I feel hungry," laughed Stallone--and he wasn't referring to that night's dinner with Sutherland … One of the first thesps to join the Ross Perot camp is Richard Crenna--who portrayed him in "On Wings of Eagles," Perot's biotelepic six years ago. Perot kidded Crenna, "A lot of people think I'm you, so don't be surprised if you see your picture on my posters." Perot visited Crenna on the Mexico City (for Iran) locations and invited the Crennas to his home in Dallas. "We got to know him and his family and went to the Winston Churchill Awards for him," said Crenna. "It's a pleasure to back him. I'm willing to take the gamble." Warner Books rushed out "Ross Perot in His Own Words" by Tony Chiu in 19 days! … Richard Harris, one of Johnny Carson's final guests last week, told us, "I predict he'll be back in three years. And I hope I'm on his first show when he does return." It's been a busy year for Harris, whose "Unforgiven" for Clint Eastwood with Gene Hackman and Morgan Freeman is out this August. And he just wound Sam Shepard's "The Silent Tongue" in New Mexico.

GARRY MARSHALL THANKED Hector Elizondo for getting George C. Scott to star in the Marshall-Lowell Ganz "Wrong Turn at Lungfish" now at the Coronet. Elizondo, an alumnus of several Marshall movies, was telepic'ing with Scott last year and told him about the play. "Hector gave him a copy of the play," related Marshall. "George read it, said he hated the title--but loved the play and " Scott was happy he decided to do it following the reception at last week's preem here. Elizondo couldn't attend--he's on B'way in "The Price." There are hopes "Lungfish" may swim upstream to B'way or Off-B'way one of these days as well, said Marshall. "It took us five years to get it here. But what a treat to see a man like that (Scott) up there onstage." Michael Eisner and Jeffrey Katzenberg were in to see the show and Marshall's talking a script with 'em. Penny Marshall was also in to see "Lungfish" (bringing along the very expectant Carrie Fisher). Penny and Garry team on "Time Step" at Fox. Bo Goldman wrote the first script. Also in to see the play was Jack Klugman, who may do it on stage in Australia Laurie Metcalf, who co-stars in "Wrong Turn" with Tony Danza and Kelli Williams, leaves the show June 8 to return to Steppenwolf in Chi (where "Lungfish" had its preem). Laura San Giacomo replaces her and is in rehearsals now … While a Hollywood contingent was celebrating the play at the Coronet on La Cienega, across the street, Anjelica Huston was being given a bachelorette party in advance of her wedding Saturday to Robert Graham "Forever Plaid's" co-producer Joan Stein and husband Ted Weiant celebrated their 15th wedding anni, with the Plaids serenading 'em with "The Anniversary Waltz" Sela Ward and restaurateur Howard Sherman were married Saturday in Montecito.

ON HAND FOR BOB DYLAN'S closer at the Pantages, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, Bruce Springsteen and -- Sally Kirkland, who caught Dylan for the 51st time … Rip Taylor, celebrating his 25th year in showbiz, bows in the Dunes' afternoon shows (2 and 4 p.m.) "90 Degrees and Rising," starting Thursday for a month's test run , he sez. He segues from those boards to play -- Shakespeare in "As You Like It" later this year in L.A., where he voices the "Addams Family" cartoon series as Uncle Fester, having already voiced the "Tom & Jerry" cartoon feature and "DuckTales" … Nicky Blair's back after a Milan sojourn where he was invited to open a branch of his eatery. He'll stick to the Sunset Strip .. Pat Sajak was at Fred Hayman's, getting his new season's wardrobe for "Wheel of Fortune." Hayman bows his new fragrance, Fred Hayman's Personal Selection, in September Rodeo Drive merchants, including Hayman, are donating items to be silent-auctioned at Jose Eber's tomorrow to raise funds to rebuild L.A. Eber's also offering any of his salon's services for a minimum $ 50 to go to the fund. Also on hand, celeb items (from Liz Taylor, Natalie Cole, Farrah Fawcett, etc.) to be auctioned.