Brosnan recalls time with Taylor

PIERCE BROSNAN began his movie life, as he puts it: As a male ingenue opposite Elizabeth Taylor! The movie was 1980s hilarious The Mirror Crackd. Pierce played a wordless bit in the films movie-within-a-movie (Miz Liz, as the loony actress, was in costume as Mary Queen of Scots; he was her lover.) He laconically remembers,

PIERCE BROSNAN began his movie life, as he puts it: “As a male ingenue opposite Elizabeth Taylor!” The movie was 1980’s hilarious “The Mirror Crack’d.” Pierce played a wordless bit in the film’s movie-within-a-movie (Miz Liz, as the loony actress, was in costume as Mary Queen of Scots; he was her lover.) He laconically remembers, “She was very gracious. We spent the day in a big four-poster bed. She told me about her bad back. And funnily enough I was late that day — my first day on a movie set!” He sums up, “Oh, it’s just a capsule in time.” … Brosnan has done some excellent big-screen, non-Bond work — his “Evelyn” of 2002 jumps immediately to mind. But this star isn’t one for a lot of elaborate chat. “I go from film to film, and approach each for its own merit. I hope for the best, as we all do. The James Bond years were marvelous but only part of what has been a long career. The Bond phase is over now. It was just another job, you know.” He used this same phrase when we spoke of the possible career-changing effects of “The Matador.” … He has at least three films in the works — “Seraphim Falls” “Butterfly on a Wheel” and “The Topkapi Affair.” Wow, quite a schedule, I say. “Yes,” replies the actor, “Work has always been there.”

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WHEN THEvenerable Mike Douglas celebrates his 50th year in television at New York’s Museum of TV & Radio in May, the VIP helping him put it all together will be Mike’s onetime producer, now one of TV’s most powerful men, Roger Ailes. The head of Fox News came into his own first on “The Mike Douglas Show,” which was popular from 1967 to 1981. Ailes went on to work for U. S. presidents. Douglas and his wife of 60 years, Gen, now live in Palm Beach, Fla., where they work for the Make-A-Wish charity and he still hits the golf links daily. He was recently in California working on the DVD release of “Cinderella,” for which he voiced Prince Charming. There will also soon be a DVD release for some of the best of “The Mike Douglas Show.” This includes a week with John Lennon, a powerful sit down with Malcolm X, and an exclusive with the then-unknown cast of a film titled “Star Wars.”

JEFF DANIELS, suddenly really famous for his performance in “The Squid and the Whale,” has written about 15 plays to date. His new play “Apartment 3A,” is now at the Arclight Theatre in a church on W. 71st St. Director Valentina Fratti, direct descendant of “Nine” writer Mario, offers one of the funniest lovemaking scenes ever witnessed onstage. Her deft handling of actors Amy Landecker and Arian Moayed, in and out of their clothes, is one for the books. This offering has charm and grace. … Dick Van Dyke appeared onstage with Chita Rivera for four performances of “A Dancer’s Life.” Chita and Dick re-did their “Put on a Happy Face” from the 1960 musical “Bye Bye Birdie.” (Chita’s ex-husband, Tony Mordente, re-created the Gower Champion choreography with the help of daughter Lisa.) Van Dyke is 81; Chita just turned 73. Audience included Barry Manilow, Ben Stiller, Sarah Jessica Parker, Marge Champion, Sen. Frank Lautenberg, Scott Wittman and “Birdie” composers Charles Strouse and Lee Adams.

CHRISTIE’S WILL auction off the personal property of Bobby Short on Feb. 16. If you can’t afford any of Bobby’s fascinating collections of black Americana, you can at least own the catalogue. It’s dramatic and impressive. … Our favorite swinging crooner, Michael Buble, was adorable with Ellen DeGeneres the other day. What a sweetie. Buble, up for a Grammy for his smash CD, “It’s Time,” will perform in Rockefeller Center on Friday for a “Today” mob. Buble’s fans are hysterical in their adoration. Michael promises to attend Wednesday’s Grammy ceremony with Brit actress Emily Blunt. (“The Devil Wears Prada”).

THE HOT TICKET for Monday at the Waldorf is the Citizens for NYC biggie honoring Tom Brokaw, Stephen J. Dannhauser, Graydon Carter, Andre De Shields, Mike Slocum and Rossana Rosado. Editor Carter has offered two tickets to his much coveted Vanity Fair Oscar party in Hollywood in the silent auction. No wonder this group has already raised almost a million dollars! Call (212) 822-9554 … On Feb. 16, Sotheby’s will offer its “Choice Art Auction” to benefit Planned Parenthood, with Diane Sawyer as guest speaker and new prexy Cecile Richards making her bow. … The Corcoran Group’s Wendy Sarasohn is hosting a party today where she’ll show the movie “Groundhog Day” and offer up pastries with the same theme. She’ll be showing off the apartment at 417 Park, once owned by Sherry Lansing and Billy Friedkin, and prospects can see what’s on the block for a mere $6.9 million. Designer Carole Meltzer and author Michael Gross will be there to discuss luxury living. … A very hot invite is Tina Brown and Sir Harry Evans’ bid to let insiders see the new movie based on Christopher Buckley’s book “Thank You for Smoking.” This happens Feb. 23. … The man who saved cabaret as an art form, Don Smith, is inviting us to board the Crystal Symphony floating nightclub, June 6-18, Monte Carlo to Venice, to celebrate Cole Porter’s birthday. Log onto http://www.mabelmercer.org. Nina Block married NBC’s Chip Reid in Hawaii on Jan. 2. Chip covers Congress and Washington for “NBC Nightly News,” “Today” and MSNBC. … Don’t miss Drew Barrymore, Vogue’s cover girl for February, a knockout in red on front. Shown inside in a black Rochas dress with chamois-colored gauntlet gloves, she is leading a Holstein cow on a leash.

E-mail Liz Smith at MES3838@aol.com

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