Lee docu stirs feds

GOOD MORNING: Following the N.Y. opening of his HBO feature docu "4 Little Girls," Spike Lee reported to me that the FBI has reopened the case, to find the other hate-crime killers of the girls, who died Sept. 15, 1963, in a bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala. One of the convicted racist bombers, Robert (Dynamite Bob) Chambliss, was brought to justice 14 years after the bombing, and died in prison, Lee reminds. But others were involved and with newly added info and new interest brought about by Lee's docu, the search for the other killers continues. Lee was here briefly Monday night for the L.A. preem-party at Par of the docu. He said he had the idea for the film "and I told it to Sheila Nevins (HBO senior VP of docus and family programming). It was as simple as that." She said this important story should first be shown theatrically, on the big screen, followed by cable airings on HBO. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences' John Pavlik informs me Lee's film has already been entered in the feature docu category. The film opens in L.A. on Friday; Oct. 31 is the deadline for completing its seven-day run, but the pic has already played the time required in N.Y. Further, the docu is eligible for other categories as well. Lee says HBO wants him to do another docu, but he admits not having had a call from "the muse" for another with the power of "4 Girls." He brought it in for $1.2 million. (His salary was obviously never an issue!) His "Get on the Bus," about the Million Man March, was made for $2 million and grossed $5.7 mil. HBO's Nevins says they are trying to work out plans for a Tupac Shakur docu with DEF Prods., and one on Gordon Parks, but not necessarily with Lee -- although Nevins assures that Lee "has a home at HBO as a documentary filmmaker." He wants to do his next feature at Columbia, where he has a three-year, first-look deal. They turned down his first offering, "He Got Game," and he took it to Touchstone, where he is in post-production on the Denzel Washington starrer skedded for a Spring '98 release. "4 Little Girls" airs on HBO in February, thus complying with the Acad's six-month requirement post-theatrical opening (in N.Y., July 9). Oscar best picture balloting ends Jan. 30. Could be interesting.

THE CASE VS. FAYE DUNAWAY, Terrence McNally and Robert Whitehead by Lester Persky Prods. will go to trial before a jury in L.A. Superior Court, Feb. 4. Judge Peter Lichtman ordered the date Tuesday. To refresh your memory, Persky's suit contends he obtained film rights to McNally's play "Master Class" per a deal memo signed by the William Morris Agency. Dunaway, starring in the national tour, claimed she also had the rights to star in the film and said she would refuse to continue the tour until the matter was settled. (However, she did continue on the tour as the legalistics heightened). Adam Streisand of Loeb & Loeb, Persky's attorney, asked the court (Lichtman) for a trial immediately following Dunaway's deposition, which Streisand will give Dec. 4-5. The judge listened to the defendants' pleas for more time and ordered the trial on Feb. 4. But, at Streisand's suggestion, Judge Lichtman also ordered all parties to appear in court Dec. 19 for a settlement hearing with the judge. Merry Christmas -- for whom?

JOHN O'HARA'S CLASSIC "Appointment in Samarra" has been optioned -- for the fourth time -- by David Brown to feature film -- on cable. Howcum cable? Because the finale's a suicide and feature studios nixed that ending. But Brown wouldn't change it: "It's a literary event." Brown and wife Helen Gurley B. are off to Budapest for the bow of the 37th international edition of Cosmopolitan and she starts her own column, "Ask Helen" for King Features Syndicate next year. ... Donald Trump may have let Marla Maples go, but Merv Griffin has picked her up to co-star with Mimi Rogers in Griffin Prods.' "The Christmas List" for the Movie Channel, shooting in Vancouver. Maples plays a predatory real estate lawyer. Griffin, who recently bought John Huston's castle in Ireland, is now negotiating to buy a chateau in Normandy to add to his real estate holdings. ... Thursday at the Merverly Hilton, Jack Valenti receives the Spirit of Liberty Award from Steven Bochco and Graham Nash presents to Bonnie Raitt who receives the Lifetime Achievement award at the People for the American Way dinner. ... John Kander and Fred Ebb receive the Friars Foundation Applause Award at the Plaza in N.Y. Nov. 3 with performers from their many shows. ... Bob Hope and wife Dolores present the Humanitarian Award to Martha and A.C. Lyles at the Young Musicians Foundation gala at the Hilton Friday. Disney Channel's Ann Sweeney receives the YMF's Magic Baton award. Davis Gaines, Pam Dawber and, of course, the terrif YMF Debut Orch perform. ... Harris Katleman, prez of Jonathan Goodson Prods., and Helen Breitwieser, of Wm. Morris' literary dept., reveal they were married Aug. 20 in Napa. He's readying "Forgive Or Forget," a reality show for Fox. Mother Love hosts.