Branagh still not bored with Bard

GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING: Kenneth Branagh sez he'll be watching how "Evita" does to decide whether to tackle another Shakespearean epic film as a musical. Which one? "Love's Labour's Lost." He admits "Love's" not often done because of its large cast. He says it would be wonderful for actresses: "There are about a half-dozen good roles for women." In "Hamlet," he has a large cast of Shakespearean actors: Derek Jacobi, Richard Briers, Michael Maloney, Brian Blessed, Gerard Depardieu, Judi Dench, Rosemary Harris, Charlton Heston, Julie Christie plus Kate Winslet, Billy Crystal, Jack Lemmon and Robin Williams. Branagh admits he is overwhelmed with Hollywood's reaction to the preem of his "Hamlet," Dec. 3 at the Acad -- it's SRO. But he is concerned about its four-hour length with an intermission. He (and Castle Rock and Columbia) decided to make "Hamlet" this long "because it's actually easier to follow in the long version." He believes the intermission will make the movie "more of a group event," discussed between acts. He notes Shakespeare's "Henry V" and "Much Ado About Nothing" in which he also starred and directed, "are less good plays than 'Hamlet.' " He is now taking a break from wearing his many hats to simply act (if Branagh's acting can ever be called 'simple') in Interscope's "Shakespeare's Sister," directed by Lesli Blatter. Pic has little to do with Shakespeare, he forewarns. It's a 1935-set drama, "a page turner," in which he plays a Catholic priest. "It's a bracing experience," he laughed, "but it was a major problem explaining it to my mother," a Protestant from Belfast. He will act (only) again in "The Gingerbread Man" with Robert Altman directing. Branagh, who has directed seven films, sez, "Directing is agonizing, You have to have a certain kind of madness or insecurity. It is also very lonesome. The buck stops with you. You have to let people go off in a corner on the set and whisper about you as they ask 'What is going on?' " There's always something going on when Branagh's on the set directing or acting.

ON THE OTHER HAND Carl Weathers, directing his sixth seg of "Silk Stalkings," said he's not interested in acting in this or any other episodic TV seg. "I'm happy just saying one word -- 'Action'! But I love the directing aspect, it's a good way of expressing yourself." He enjoys working with the new cast of "Stalkings," Janet Gunn and Chris Potter, so much so he's directing a third seg of the new season with 'em. A full season of 22 has been ordered by USA. Weathers is still looking for a feature character to measure up to Apollo Creed, whom he played in the "Rocky" movies. And, after his experience in "In the Heat of the Night" he's also become intrigued with the new South for a feature. He's writing about it for a feature project. ... Rich Little will voice George Burns, who is computerized in "The Best Man" from producer Scott Lane's Satori Entertainment. In an upcoming talent search they will also seek a Burns lookalike for some sequence. ... Dan Petrie caught up with his two sons, Dan Jr. and Donald in Toronto. Dan Jr. was filming his HBO "Dead Silence" movie, Donald was doing p.r. for "The Associate," and Dan pere just completed "The Assistant." His "Calm at Sunset" airs Dec. 1 on CBS. And Dec. 8, Petrie Sr. receives the Director of the Year nod from the Caucus for Producers, Writers and Directors.

THE FIRST TIME SINCE Ethel and John Barrymore? That's what Dick Van Patten believes as his sister Joyce joins him, playing his wife in "Showboat" at Chi's Auditorium Theater. She joins as Parthy Dec. 15, he's been Cap'n Andy since Oct. 22. But they did appear as brother and sister in 1944 on B'way in "Wind Is 90" which featured Kirk Douglas and Wendell Corey. ... Harry Hamlin wound an applauded performance in the B'way revival of "Summer and Smoke," and moved west to Park City, Utah, and CBS' mini, "Night Sins," opposite Valerie Bertinelli. ... The B'way musicalized version of "Sweet Smell of Success" (1957) will be co-produced by Garth Drabinsky, David Brown and Ernest Lehman (who co-wrote the screenplay with Clifford Odets). Lehman sez there's also talk of a remake of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" (1966) scripted by Lehman (play by Edward Albee) this time in color. ... A long list of celebs will serve Thanksgiving meals at the L.A. Mission on Skid Row today. ... WB co-president of production Bill Gerber and wife Eve welcomed daughter Grace Constance Thursday at Cedars-Sinai. ... Congrats to Susie (Mrs. Burt) Lancaster on the birth of her first grandchild, Samantha Raye Scherer born to son John and Helene S. ... Ilyanne and Mike Kichaven brought home from Tarzana hospital son Jeremy Alexander K. who was expected Dec. 12 but who arrived Oct. 23. ... A memorial will be held Sunday (Dec. 1) for Peter Leeds at the TV Acad. ... To raise N.Y.'s awareness of the MPTV Fund, Edgar Bronfman Jr. hosts a reception Monday (2) at the Four Seasons in N.Y. to commemorate the Fund's 75th anni. ... Michael Druxman bows his one-man play "Jolson," Thanksgiving at Sarasota's Florida Studio with Walter Hudson starring, Richard Hopkins directing.