NORMAN JEWISON

NORMAN JEWISON
Posy Chisolm Feick Toasts
Film Director For His Autobio

RT WORLD patroness Posy Chisolm Feick threw open the doors of her Turtle Bay aerie to welcome old friend Oscar-winning director Norman Jewison. One could practically hear the strains of Oh Canada as the pair of Toronto natives greeted each other with hugs and kisses.

Posy, an elegant and unflappable hostess, in New York for the launch of Paris-based artist Marc Ash’s Tous Ensemble collection, had only heard a week before that her friend of many years would be in New York for a brief visit to promote his autobiography, This Terrible Business Has Been Good To Me (St. Martin’s Press).

Marshalling her not so inconsiderable network – she is a director of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice – Posy filled her drawing room to overflowing with Jewison’s friends and fans, a delightful mix of art and commerce.

Composer Sheldon Harnick and wife Margery, and legendary PR guru Lois Smith, came early to get some private time with Norman who had directed the film version of Harnick’s Fiddler on the Roof. More than thirty years later, Harnick and Jewison were still arguing over script cuts.

The always sunny Jewison cheerfully inscribed books for the likes of Margaret Whiting and husband Jack Wrangler, Eileen and Richard Ekstract, Susan Hill, Beverly Camhe, Ula and Elliott Howard, Fred and Carole Guest, Maria Cooper and Byron Janis, Annette Insdorf, Jeffrey Altshuler, Mary Belknap, Asher Remy Toledo and Mark Routh, Marc Ash, Nina and Bill Judson and Inger Witter.

Thanks to the beautiful weather, guests were able to stroll Posy’s terrace with its river-to-river views. Author Louis Begley (About Schmidt) and wife Anka chatted with Ruth Appelhof, executive director of Guild Hall of East Hampton, while admiring the views and sampling savory seafood treats from caterers Robbins-Wolfe.

Jewison regaled every one with behind-the-scenes stories of his memorable films such as In The Heat of The Night, The Thomas Crown Affair, The Russian are Coming! The Russians are Coming! and Moonstruck.

He also paid tribute to the late film critic, Jay Scott, who elevated film criticism to a high art. It was Scott’s encouragement that prodded him to look back at his life.

He quoted Socrates: "A life unexamined is a life not having lived." With that, he laughingly told the assemblage, "All of you should write a book".

Before heading off with the new lady in his life, Lynne St. David to the 21 Club for a late supper, he noted how thrilled he was to be teaming up with former Moonstruck collaborator John Patrick Shanley for another delightful romp entitled Bread & Tulips.

Shanley, Broadway’s golden boy with a Tony and Pulitzer Prize for Doubt, penned the forward to Norman’s book.