People

By Josh Tyrangiel

CAPTAIN CAGE-MAN

Her love inspired his courage. His courage became the destiny of a nation. Or something like that. Captain Corelli's Mandolin, starring NICOLAS CAGE and PENELOPE CRUZ, is the first film from director John Madden since Shakespeare in Love, and it's another epic historical romance sure to waken Academy types when it hits theaters next year. "It's a very unusual piece," says Madden, on location in Greece. "It's about the Italian occupation of a Greek island during World War II, and how basically the Italians and Greeks are very similar people." Cage, an American, is the mandolin-playing Italian captain (in full accent), while Cruz, a Spaniard, is the foxy Greek ingenue Pelagia. Madden, a Brit, is directing in English.

WHEN DOWNEY MET ALLY

ROBERT DOWNEY JR. probably hasn't seen much of Ally McBeal since its first season. He was in prison for a year on drug-possession charges, and his cell-block mates probably preferred Monday Night Football in that time slot. Now, however, the Oscar-nominated actor, recently released from incarceration, is jumping at a gig on the show, which may need him as much as he needs it. In the ratings last week, Ally lost to a show called Best Commercials Never Seen 3. Show publicists confirmed that, starting with the season premiere, Downey will appear in eight episodes as a "mysterious stranger with a knack for understanding Ally." He will remain in drug rehab while working.

BARING SOULS AND SKIN

Drop a boulder the size of the Pitt-Aniston wedding into the waters of celebrity culture, and there will be ripples. First, JENNIFER ANISTON filed a suit this week seeking unspecified damages from the publishers of Celebrity Skin magazine, which printed photos of her sunbathing topless in her backyard. Aniston claims the images are an obvious violation of her privacy, since they were shot from above and behind her. Perhaps the action was spurred by BRAD PITT, who successfully sued Playgirl in 1997 for printing nude paparazzi photos of him and ex-fiance Gwyneth Paltrow. Meanwhile, Paltrow tells Vanity Fair that the Pitt breakup was a life-altering experience. "My heart sort of permanently broke that day, and it will never be the same." Somewhere, Ben Affleck is feeling inadequate.

LEAVE THE GUN, KEEP THE LIBRETTO

Writing a screenplay will do strange things to a man. FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA was in the middle of one when it struck him it was time to do musical theater. Inspired by Gidget, the novel about a 14-year-old girl who wants to surf, Coppola co-wrote the book for a musical and 12 original songs. Then he approached the Orange County High School for the Performing Arts in Cerritos, Calif., with a plan to workshop his play using teen performers. "I was a drama counselor in summer camp when I was young," says Coppola. "I like to work with kids." For four weeks he lived in the motel across the street from the school while working on the material, and last weekend Gidget closed a four-day run to raves. "We were so pleased with it, we think maybe we can do it again professionally," says Coppola. "It was a really nice experience for me. And that was how I spent my summer vacation."