Peter Lamont

As exclusive gatherings go, this one was noteworthy, even by the high local standards set by A-list Hollywood, with attendees including a former acting director of the CIA, at least one prime-time TV star and half of Penn & Teller (the smaller, quieter half). That last guest is perhaps the one clue you need to figure out the subject of their mutual interest: magic. Or more specifically, the history of the art, as long-dead prestidigitators, illusionists and "miracle" workers were resurrected for the 10th Los Angeles Conference on Magic History, held Nov. 8-10 in North Hollywood.

As exclusive gatherings go, this one was noteworthy, even by the high local standards set by A-list Hollywood, with attendees including a former acting director of the CIA, at least one prime-time TV star and half of Penn & Teller (the smaller, quieter half). That last guest is perhaps the one clue you need to figure out the subject of their mutual interest: magic. Or more specifically, the history of the art, as long-dead prestidigitators, illusionists and "miracle" workers were resurrected for the 10th Los Angeles Conference on Magic History, held Nov. 8-10 in North Hollywood.

Joseph Peter Lamont, founding president of the University of San Fernando Valley College of Law, has died in Lewisburg, Pa. He was 81. Lamont, formerly of Sepulveda, died Friday of cancer, said Leo L. Mann, who co-founded the school with Lamont. It merged with another school three years ago to become the University of La Verne College of Law at San Fernando Valley. Born Feb. 28, 1909, in Manhattan, N.Y., Lamont graduated with a bachelor's degree from Manhattan College in 1931.

Joseph Peter Lamont, founding president of the University of San Fernando Valley College of Law, has died in Lewisburg, Pa. He was 81. Lamont, formerly of Sepulveda, died Friday of cancer, said Leo L. Mann, who co-founded the school with Lamont. It merged with another school three years ago to become the University of La Verne College of Law at San Fernando Valley. Born Feb. 28, 1909, in Manhattan, N.Y., Lamont graduated with a bachelor's degree from Manhattan College in 1931.

"Seventeen-eighteen years old, I was a fan of Lindbergh," says Cubby Broccoli, the producer of 16 James Bond pictures, the most popular film series of all time. The one-time teen-aged truck farmer sips the morning coffee his butler poured for him under blue skies in the interior courtyard of his townhouse just off Fifth Avenue. "I read Lindbergh's gonna try to fly the Atlantic--all alone. The Lone Eagle.

The Art Directors Guild on Thursday announced nominations in eight categories of production design, including motion pictures, television and commercials. Designers honored for period films are Huo Tingxiao ("Curse of the Golden Flower"), Jeannine Oppewall ("The Good Shepherd"), Henry Bumstead ("Flags of Our Fathers"), John Myhre ("Dreamgirls") and Nathan Crowley ("The Prestige").

* FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM: "Character," the Netherlands. * ART DIRECTION: Titanic, Peter Lamont (art direction) and Michael Ford (set decoration), * CINEMATOGRAPHY: Titanic, Russell Carpenter * COSTUME DESIGN: Titanic, Deborah L. Scott * DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: "The Long Way Home," Rabbi Marvin Hier and Richard Trank. * DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT: "A Story of Healing," Donna Dewey and Carol Pasternak. * FILM EDITING: Titanic, Conrad Buff, James Cameron and Richard A.

When Nelson Entertainment realized that it wouldn't be able to film its violent "The Taking of Beverly Hills" on the real Rodeo Drive, it went to Mexico City to build a duplicate. The set, designed to actual size, is located at a sports facility in the northeastern sector of the Mexican capital. In the Sidney Furie-directed movie, Ken Wahl, Matt Frewer and Robert Davi star--Davi as an evil mastermind who plots to take over Beverly Hills, shut it down and rob every store on pricey Rodeo Drive.

"Anna Karenina,"' "Life of Pi" and "Skyfall"  won the 17th Art Directors Guild Awards in a feature film Saturday evening at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Sarah Greenwood won in the period film category for "Anna Karenina," while David Gropman won for fantasy film for "Life of Pi. " Dennis Gassner won in the contemporary film category for "Skyfall. " On the television side, Gemma Jackson won the award for one-hour single-camera TV series for "The Ghost of Harrenhal" episode of "Game of Thrones," while Mark Worthington won the honor for television movie or miniseries for the "I Am Anne Frank, Part 2" installment of "American Horror Story: Asylum.

THE BIG 8 Picture Kenneth Turan: Titanic Kevin Thomas: Titanic Actress Kenneth Turan: Helen Hunt (As Good as It Gets) Kevin Thomas: Hunt Actor Kenneth Turan: Robert Duvall (The Apostle) Kevin Thomas: Peter Fonda (Ulee's Gold) Supporting Actress Kenneth Turan: Gloria Stuart (Titanic) Kevin Thomas: Gloria Stuart Supporting Actor Kenneth Turan: Robin Williams (Good Will Hunting) Kevin Thomas: Burt Reynolds (Boogie Nights) Director Kenneth Turan: James Cameron (Titanic) Kevin Thomas: Cameron

"L.A. Confidential," Curtis Hanson's noir-ish saga of police corruption in 1950s Los Angeles, garnered its third best-picture award when it received the citation from the Los Angeles Film Critics Assn. In all, the movie won four awards and was named runner-up in two other categories during voting Saturday afternoon. The L.A. critics followed the lead of their colleagues on the National Board of Review and the New York Film Critics Circle, who had previously bestowed top honors on the film.

Among the few differences between "Wing Commander" the movie and a high-concept thrill ride is that nobody tells you to keep your hands inside a moving vehicle. You won't feel dizzy or shaken up either. You won't feel anything. Period. Oh, maybe bored or disoriented by the inside jargon and alien references that will be comprehensible only if you happen to have played the computer game on which "Wing Commander" is based.