Confessions of a FILM FOX

Confessions of a FILM FOX

Singers and actors are swapping jobs these days, the latest switch featuring Cher, who's rumored to be hankering to remake The Enchanted Cottage. She's also said to be vying (along with Diana Ross?) for the attentions of Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman, who's currently shopping for a leading lady for his first American film, The Merry Widow.

More Cher scheet: It's no surprise that she and Sonny are hinting that this summer's tour will be their last, but there's also talk this TV season will be their last. (And what's the jist with the fists? Talk has it they're knocking each other all over the set these days!)

Henry Winkler was spotted having a cozy chat with record mogul Clive Davis. (Could this mean Winky's heading for the recording studio?) Speaking of Clive, he recently signed Martha Reeves (remember her with the Vandellas?) to recording contract, which includes a cross-country tour.

Olivia Newton-John was upstaged (not hard to do, I'm told) at her own birthday party recently when Gov. Jerry Brown arrived with Linda Ronstadt in tow—only to lose her to an x-ray machine. It seems that upon the couple's arrival, Linda slipped just inside the door of Liv's home and had to be whisked away to a nearby hospital for treatment of a sprained ankle. The couple returned soon after to the fun and games, though their "entrance" was no doubt the highlight of the evening.

Ban the Beatles! was the cry from King Khalid of Saudi Arabia, who's said to be more than irritated that his hallowed kingdom has so many mop-topped fans. He even went so far as to alert the airlines to be on the lookout for tourists sporting long hair, long sideburns, and even long fingernails!

Hamilton, Ontario closed its doors to Lynyrd Skynyrd recently. Their club date theje was cancelled by a city official, who said he was "forced" to forbid the group's appearance after reading in Time about their "disorderly conduct." The good old country boys must have been more than miffed, since it's said they lost close to $20,000!

Elton John successfully fended off an inebriated thief one night recently in a London nightspot. The stranger tried to steal E.J.'s woman, announcing that he (Eltie) didn't need Females. The incident came to an end, however, when our boy's bodyguards escorted the thug out the door. England's latest punk rock group, The Stranglers, played a concert at the Rainbow rockhouse in London with no lights^ as the management didn't appreciate the t-shirt worn by one of the group's members bearing a famous four-letter word.

Head 'em up and move 'em out! Back off, John Wayne, here comes John Oates. Warner Bros, was apparently sooo pleased with the soundtrack John wrote for their Outlaw Blues film, they asked .him to consider taking a role. Ben Vereen, who made it big on Broadway (and was Liza Minnelli's main squeeze for 30 seconds), and followed with an outstanding K slave performance in TV's blockbusting Roots is changing his act—at least temporarily—when he plays obstetrician. The at-home delivery of his fourth child will be performed by.. .guess who? Now that Bob Ellis (Silberstein) is being divorced by Diana Ross, the rock star manager is milking his own creative juices, in the form of acting. He admitted that he's doing quite well ($$$$) and now wants to give the old silver screen a try.

When George Benson accepted his Grammy for "Masquerade", why didn't the shy and (we thought) humble superstar bother to give a thank-you to the song's composer, Leon Russell? (How soon they forget.)

Best comedy team of the year: The Who's Keith Moon and the Rolling Stones' Ron Wood, for their outstanding performance when they brought the house down with their antics at the American Music Awards a few months back.

As if we haven't been punished enough! Not only are we heckled with John (smell-like-a-hog) Travolta and Donny and Marie (awesome) Osmond on the tube, the little buggers are threatening to star in the movie version of Grease. How gross.

Roll over, Ian Fleming, Jane Bond is coming. Angie Bowie is said to be planning a movie featuring a female (herself) in the role of secret agent, with lots of lucious male meat for scenery. Rumor has it that Warren Beatty's been shooting off his mouth about what a great affair he had with Bianca dagger. It's also said that once Mick's magnolia heard the news, she confronted Warren on the street with, "If it was sooo good, how come I don't remember it?" (Again, how soon we forget.)

The Bee Gees are hot property not only in the record biz, but in the reel biz. Seems they're so pleased with their bits in Sgt. Pepper, at least 1 three more films are planned for the toothsome beauties.

For whom the bell tolls: Judy Garland whelp Lorna Lnft tied the knot on Valentine's Day with rock musician Jake Hooker. Speaking of "the family", Liza won't have a second chance to kick arou pd Petah Sellers (at least for the time being), since he recently also tied the knot—with Lynne Frederick, 21. Both hangings took place in meddy ole England. ¶|||)