GOP goes to the movies

Newman

GOOD MORNING: And now for a little equal time and space here ... There will be two six-minute films shown at the GOP-Gotham goings-on Aug. 23-Sept. 2. One is a tribute to late President Reagan and the other a toast to George W. Bush. The films are now being completed in Hollywood by Lionel Chetwynd, who laughingly admits to me, "I'm alone out here. It's not a good time to be a Republican in Hollywood." His tribute to Reagan is from the heart -- having written speeches for him in his first campaign. And Chetwynd is no stranger to the current administration -- a friend of Karl Rove, senior adviser to the president and a member of the president's Committee on the Arts & Humanities. He also produced Showtime's "D.C. 9/1l" with complete co-operation for behind the scenes action at the White House between Sept. 11 and George W.'s speech before both houses on Sept 20, 2002 ... Chetwynd's presidential associations include this season's six-time Emmy-nominated "Ike -- Countdown to D-Day." And he is now completing the script for a remake of the (1963) WWII hit, "The Great Escape" for producers Walter Mirisch, Michael Jaffe and Howard Brownstein at TNT. All involved know only too well the impossibility of castings like the original -- Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, Charles Bronson, James Coburn, directed by John Sturges. Chetwynd's also readying "Goodbye Darkness," William Manchester's WWII tales of the South Pacific ... And talking about "Ike," I was among many who were amazed Tom Selleck did not receive an Emmy nomination (of the pic's six) for his portrayal. But he philosophically tells me, "I already have one, (for 'Magnum P.I.') and seven nominations including those for comedy ('Friends'), so I'm well treated by academy voters." But don't look for him to attend the Emmys (mebbe, if he's asked to present). He says he'll be too busy prepping to produce and star in "Stone Cold," the first of Jessie Stone tales by Robert Parker for CBS.

WHILE THERE was a Reagan at the Demo convention -- Ron Reagan in a pitch for stem-cell research legislation -- there will be another Reagan at the GOP Convention. He is Michael R., the 59-year-old son of Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman. He tells me he will do an introduction to the tribute film on his father, Aug. 30. "I will not be there to politicize my father but to honor him," he said. Michael, a successful commentator on 200-plus radio stations, is also a "contributor" to the Fox News network. He will be broadcasting from the GOP convention. I asked if he'd watched Ron on the Demo show? "I don't think he was honoring my father at all," said Michael. "If he wanted to give a speech about Alzheimer's, he should get involved and raise money" for research. (Michael is on the board of the John Taylor French Alzheimer Assn. chaired by Art Linkletter.) Michael is also angered by the fact Ron did not join his mother Nancy (and him) at the arrival festivities of the aircraft carrier, U.S.S. Ronald Reagan in its home port of San Diego. "He thinks it (the ship) is a messenger of mass destruction." More from Michael Oct. 1 with publication of his book, "Twice Adopted" -- once by Ronnie and Jane Wyman, the second --by God. ... Michael is scheduled to appear Aug. 13 on the Hannity and Colmes show on Fox News from the Reagan Rancho del Cielo, on the 23rd anni of R.R.'s signing of the tax bill -- at that site.

PAUL NEWMAN and Robert Redford are teaming again. On Oct. 14, they'll recall how it was --35 years ago -- working together in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" at the Hyatt Regency in Greenwich, Conn., with m.c. Brian Williams and Harry Connick's band. It's a fundraiser for the Westport Country Playhouse, whose artistic director is Joanne Woodward. I asked her what the duo will do? "I guess they'll tell jokes," she laughed. Meanwhile, it's been no joke for her to raise $18 million to rebuild the playhouse to reopen the next season in June. They've been performing during the building process at the Ridgefield, Conn.'s former high school auditorium where Newman appeared in six performances of "Trumbo." He returned to the stage -- after 40 years away -- in the Westport production of "Our Town" and went on to B'way, but Joanne has no idea if he'll do anything next year. Meanwhile, he's completing post on HBO's "Empire Falls," in which Joanne has a small role. "And it's my last," she said. "I can't conceive of my acting again. Yes, I get offers, but I'm not taking any of them," said the Oscar winner ("Three Faces of Eve"). Meanwhile, husband Paul , who will be 80 on Jan. 26, hasn't made any proclamations about his acting future. One thing's certain: He'll be in drag Sept. 18 for the annual all-star fundraiser for the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang camps. He also appeared onstage at the Radio City Music Hall all-star fundraiser for the Kerry-Edwards campaign. "And anything that anyone (Demos) would want us to do -- we're available," added Joanne. As for Newman's auto racing days, Joanne says, 'I gave up on that long ago." She was even out watching him (race) Monday at Lime Rock.

BEN AFFLECK WOUND three days on the campaign trail (train) with Kerry-Edwards and returned to L.A. and showbiz where he'll campaign for "Surviving Christmas," which he completed last year ... Mike Mitchell, who directed "Christmas," next reins "Sky High" for Disney with Lynda Carter starring with Kurt Russell. Russell will bicycle between "Sky" and "Dreamer" with John Gatlins directing his screenplay for DreamWorks ... Dennis Farina, who will be seen in "Empire Falls" as a womanizer and as an L.A. cop in "Paparazzi," is now talking to play a killer in the indie feature "The Merry Gentleman" for South Water Pictures. It will film in Farina's hometown, Chicago ... Gary Collins and Joyce Bulifant will star in A.J. Carothers' play "Two Can Play" world-preeming Aug. 19 at the state theater of Virginia (Barter Theater) in Abingdon. Collins and Carothers are also producing, John Hardy directs. Collins tells me they hope to tour this two-character play a la "Love Letters."