Confessions of a FILM FOX

Confessions of a FILM FOX

That movie venture featuring Rod Stewart and Elton John finally has a title: Jet Lag. The script is about two blokes who spend their time flying around the world, and will be produced by each of the boys' companies.

David Bowie goosesteps his way across the screen this fall in the role of a Prussian officerturned-gigolo in Just A Gigolo, directed by David Hemmings of Blow-Up fame, for Leguan Pictures. His co-stars, however (70-ish Marlene Dietrich and 40-ish Kim Novak), don't seem to mind. Bowie plans a second film, Vally (rolling next month in Vienna), in which he plays the role of expressionist painter Egon Schiele.

There's talk about town that the members of Kiss will appear in "straight" roles on the tube in September (NBC's Movie Of The Week) which stars Vincent Price. This one should boost the morale of horror movie buffs!

America's oldest teenager, Dick Clark, has a variety series and a half-hour comedy (Smashville) nextfall on NBC, and these are only a few of the projects coming from the little guy, whose deal with the network reportedly guarantees him $20 mil!! That's what I call growing old in style!

That handsome little John F. Kennedy, Jr. ain't so little anymore, and has stars in his eyes. John-John, aged 17, is hot to hit the movie screen, and talk has it that Paramount's eager to help.

The latest theatrical hoopla on the drawing board at Casablanca Film Works is a Broadway play based on Donna Summer's latest moaner, Once Upon A Time.

Canada's sometime first lady, Margaret Trudeau, is wanted by director Milos Forman for the screen version of the best seller Ragtime. (She's apparently taking her time thinking it over, though, since the role requires a scene with a lesbian.)

The Osmonds invaded Hawaii—which is the site of Donny & Marie's feature film: Aloha, Donny and Marie. Avoid your movie house in August—when the flick's released. Another must-miss is The Great Brain, featuring the littlest Osmond brat, Jimmy.

No matter how you slice it, Elvis will be arou nd forever. Jerry Weintraub (whose clients include Sinatra and John Denver) is keeping close company these days with Col. Tom Parker and El's papa, Vernon, planning The Elvis Presley Story for the screen.

Roger Daltrey's upcoming role in The Legacy calls for the singer-turned-actor to meet his maker in Mama Casa style: he chokes when a chicken bone gets stuck in his throat.

It'll be oldies but goodies next fall on the tube with CBS' mini-series, Solid Gold... The Birth Of Rock 'N' Roll, scripted by Andrew Martin on the story of the first decade of rock music.

Disco's leading man, John Travolta, may get stuck playing opposite Barbra Streisand in Fancy Hardware., .brought to you by Babs' film company. Meanwhile, another Travolta lurks in the wings: 26-year-old Josy was recently signed by both Paramount Pictures and MCA Records. Andy Warhol might make it to TV yet, in the form of a variety series he's packaged and is trying/to coax network biggies into grabbing up. Watch for a sneak-peek of the soon-to-bereleased Sgt. Pepper flick on TV along the lines of Saturday Night Fever.

Now that Ali McGraw's given hairy hubby Steve McQueen the boot, she's joining the rock 'n' roll bandwagon by latching onto The Band's Rick Danko. (Is nothing sacred?!) Those TV specials featuring Cher Bono Allman may hold a few minutes of your attention after all, since talk has it a new (sort of) sister act will debut in the form of daughter Chastity and Sonny's daughter Christy (via wife #1).

Is it true that Maurice (Not Kojak) Gibb met secretly with Elton John to discuss the do's and don'ts of hair transplants? Does Glamour Magazine know about this?

Tony Curtis is living proof that you're never too old to rock 'n' roll. Said the actor to Direct News: "If I was starting out today, I still wouldn't use my real name—Bernard Schwartz—and I wouldn't use Tony Curtis, either. I'd callmyself Galaxy 982. And I'd be a rock musician, not an actor. I play the flute, and Dave Mason, Steve Miller, and Ron Wood have all let me play behind them on their records."

Or is it Memorex? Buddy Holly's widow, Maria, had tobe convinced by Columbia PR people that the 35-minute version of The Buddy Holly Story (tobe released this month) did not include her hubby's old tracks, but those of actor Gary Busey, who plays Holly in the flick. If Larry Weiss, author of "Rhinestone Cowboy" (Glen Campbell's biggie hit a while back) gets his way, the song will soon be a full-length movie starring.. .guess who? If you're a Peter Frampton freak who can't wait to see his scintillating acting debut in Sgt. Pepper, tune in NBC's Black Sheep Squadron this month where he portrays a downed (but pretty) English airman. The Framp was so excited about doing the show (he has every segment on tape), that he was even willing to cut off his golden curls.

Coming to the book racks: Al D'Orio's biography of the late great Bobby Darin; The John Travolta Scrapbook by Suzanne Munshower (Sunridge Press); and still being penned: rock Sammy Hager's bio of hisfather, a former bantam-weight champ who died an alcoholic on a park bench.

Remember Judy Carne, the old "sockittome" sweetheart of TV's Laugh In? According to Zodiac News, the actress pleaded not guilty in a Beverly Hills court recently on a misdemeanor marijuana charge (she was arrested last February when the cops showed up at her home to settle a "domestic dispute" and ended up finding 1/14 of an ounce). And could it be true that ex-hubby, hubba-hubba Burt Reynolds, paid the lawyer's bill?

'Til next month, farewell, my little chickadees...