People

CHARGES AGAINST LADY DI'S SERVANT DROPPED

A London court has dismissed charges of theft against a former "manservant" to the late Lady Diana. After her death, charges were brought against her former butler, Paul Burrell, charging that he had used access to royal quarters to talk off with hundreds of personal family items -- from jewelry to family photographs. Burrell was exonerated of the charges after a surprise revelation from Queen Elizabeth II.

The queen released to the court information that she reportedly had known for a long time, that Diana's belonging were in the hands of Burrell, with permission; he was simply holding them for safe keeping. The last-minute reprieve for the butler came from the highest level and in the nick of time.

The prosecution, after the queen's announcement, told the magistrate that it could no longer proceed with the suit against Burrell because it discovered that it had no longer "could build a viable case."

Had the trial not been halted, Burrell likely would have been called to the stand this week, as proceedings went into their third week.

DI NIRO TO BE HONORED BY AFI

The American Film Institute says it's going to honor movie heavyweight Robert De Niro with its 31st annual Lifetime Achievement Award. The film preservation organization tells media that the 59-year-old star of tons of movies -- among them "Taxi Driver" ("Are you talkin' to me?) -- will accept the tribute next summer at an event to be held in the new Kodak Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard.

Over the years De Niro has played some of the movie's most tortured and torn characters and has become one of the industry's most respected actors.

STRANGE TWIST IN THE RYDER CASE

Testimony has been given in the internationally watched shoplifting and vandalism case against actress Winona Ryder that alleges that she may have been "overly targeted" by the Saks Fifth Avenue store where she was arrested. The Los Angeles Times is reporting that a former employee of the store told the court that a security officer at Saks noted that evidence against Ryder might be falsified in order to make a convincing case against her.

Ryder is now 31 and is charged with stealing about $5,000 worth of merchandise from the Costa Mesa, Calif., Saks Fifth Avenue store.

One of the more damning pieces of evidence that has been entered into court records has been a videotape showing a montage of clips of Ryder in the store. The tape was narrated by Ken Evans, the store's security manager who has been the prosecution's star witness so far.

BOLONGA, TAYLOR GOING STRONG IN 'LEAVING' PLAY

American actor Joseph Bolonga -- famous not only for his roles in numerous TV series and movies, but blessed with one of the most beautiful male speaking voices in the country -- is still going strong in the production "If You Ever Leave Me, I'm Going With You." The play, about a mature marriage in which the partners renew their vows, was written by Bologna and his wife of 37 years Renee Taylor. The couple star in the drama.

According to the Desert Sun newspaper, the "personal drama" went into tryouts several years ago in theaters in the far-flung suburbs of Los Angeles. Since then it's played to packed houses.

During the past few years Bolonga and Taylor have renewed their wedding vows nearly a half dozen times; much of the play is based on the concept of "restarting" a marriage.

Bolonga says that doing the play with his wife allows the pair to have a common project. He notes that it is this kind of sharing that has led to a long and productive marriage for the couple.

HAROLD LLYOD'S GRANDDAUGHTER OPENS FEST

The granddaughter of one of the founding fathers of the silent film era has opened a fledgling film festival in Palm Springs, Calif. Festival organizers say that Suzanne Lloyd was invited to the 17-day movie festival to introduce one of her grandfather's funniest flims, "Speedy."

The festival, called the Festival of Festivals, is among many that have sprung up over the years in various cities that are trying to gain in popularity and make a mark on the international film festival circuit.

Before the screening of the film, Lloyd made some comments about her grandfather's legacy in the world of film and then called for the house lights to be dimmed and the movie to start. An eight-piece "orchestra" accompanied the silent film, playing the 87-minute score flawlessly.

Duriing his years in Hollywood, Lloyd had a home in the Palm Spring area. He is remembered as the bespectacled "nerd" who was always getting into trouble. The scene where he precariously hangs from the hands of a clock, high above the streets of Hollywood, is one of the most remembered from the silent era. In his later years he became one of the most generous and well-liked veterans of the movie industry.

BONO SAYS NEW BOOK WAS AN AWAKENING

We first saw Chastity Bono in the arms of her parents on the old "Sonny and Cher Show" on television. Now, every much grown up, Chastity is a crusader for gay rights and has just written a book about her "coming of age." The book, "The End of Innocence," talks about her early relationships and the problems of growing up in the spotlight of the media -- with an added layer of being gay.

She tells the California-based magazine The Bottom Line that life can be strange and that the timing and placement of events can make all the difference.

Bono says that writing a self-probing book can be a real healing process. She was very apprehensive about the project before she started, she reports, but feels that writing a book of this type might be good therapy for everyone.

Additionally, she says that when you are in the public eye no matter how much correct information you release to the media about yourself, there is always going to be a ton of the wrong stuff that gets printed. Bono says that "The End of Innocence" is not a so-called "message" book as were he first one, "Family Outing." It's just a further examination of life and where it can lead and the people you meet along the way.

UPI DAILY SURVEY QUESTION NO. 451

Today's survey question is: "How often, if at all, do you use coupons? Got any interesting coupon 'success' stories?" Put COUPON in the subject line and send to [email protected], via the Internet.

RESULTS OF SURVEY QUESTION NO. 446 (ACTOR)

Last week we asked about your favorite film and comedic stars. From a random dip into the e-mail inbox here are your answers, in order of popularity, to our inquiry about your favorite actor:

Harrison Ford

Tom Hanks

Spencer Tracy

Robert De Niro

Tom Cruise

Clint Eastwood

Robert Redford

Tommy Lee Jones

Mel Gibson

Jimmy Stewart.

TOMORROW: Your favorite actresses. GBA