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“True friends stab you in the front.” So deemed Irish dramatist Oscar Wilde, and his quote opens HBO’s mesmeric film, The Special Relationship, about British prime minister, Tony Blair, and President Bill Clinton. The roles are portrayed by Michael Sheen and Dennis Quaid, and both actors deliver performances worthy of Emmy nominations. And this goes for the film written by Peter Morgan and directed by Richard Loncraine.

Fortunate we are to have HBO consistently produce films of quality that become classics and that are not arty-farty or woefully lacking in narrative, as many selections were at the Cannes International Film Festival these past ten days. Perhaps films that are entertaining were not available. And by entertaining we should clarify, they may be serious and character-driven, as The Special Relationship is. You get the message. The Cannes choices were frequently grim, and suffered, as critics claimed, from longeurs.

In The Special Relationship, Hope Davis as Hillary Clinton is surprising. Having watched videos of Hillary, she gets Hillary’s speech patterns and gait down pat. We discovered that Hope was fitted with special teeth, hip additions, pantsuits and wigs for the role. To play Clinton, Dennis Quaid gorged at McDonald’s, gaining 35 lbs., and had his throat scraped to simulate Clinton’s raspy voice. Dennis has played golf with Clinton, eaten Subway sandwiches with him in the presidential limo, and spent a weekend alone with Clinton at the White House, where Dennis says, “The coffee is lousy.”

Helen McCrory as Cherie Blair is superb, as she was in The Queen. Michael Sheen also played Tony Blair in The Queen, as he did in The Deal. Again, an Emmy nomination is in order for Peter Morgan’s smartly paced and cunning screenplay. Peter wrote The Queen and The Deal, with the three films photographed in and around London.

The Special Relationship tracks Tony Blair’s success, an HBO’s spokesperson informs, “He moves from political understudy, waiting in the wings of the world arena, to accomplished prime minister standing confidently in the spotlight of center stage. The time frames are from 1996 to 1998, a story about two powerful men, and husbands and wives, who must come to terms with the ephemeral nature of power, and, oftentimes, friendship.”

Blair is in negotiations with a California company, Khosla Ventures, to advise on climate change for a salary of $1.5 million annually.

It’s all here, says Richard Loncraine, including Kosovo, the Monica Lewinsky scandal (did the Clintons put pressure on HBO to trim the Lewinsky segment?), and more. “Actual footage was used, and great care w]as taken to ensure that the line between factual research and artistic license was not blurred. We didn’t want to do anyone a disservice.”

Hollywood trivia remains never-ending with its fascination for movie fans, as proved again this week during the Young Musicians Foundation luncheon honoring Ann Rutherford at the Beverly Wilshire. Ann recalled that Shirley Temple was approached to be Scarlett O’Hara’s younger sister Careen in David O. Selznick’s blockbuster Gone with the Wind. When Shirley wasn’t available, Judy Garland was next in line. Also, not available. Ann Rutherford soon was paged by producer David. O. Selznick for the role. But MGM’s Louis B. Mayer was loathe to loan out contract player Ann, who was a hit as Polly Benedict in Mickey Rooney’s Andy Hardy family films.

Mogul Mayer pooh-poohed GWTW, which he considered a downbeat movie about the Civil War that was destined to fail. But having devoured and fallen in love with Margaret Mitchell’s monumental bestseller after its publication in 1936, Ann begged him for a release. Mayer finally agreed to the loan, and the movie, starring Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable, won ten Oscars.

Privy we were to Ann’s lively remarks, those of us attending the YMF’s 55th anniversary luncheon saluting Ann, born in Vancouver in November 1910. She appeared in 80 films, and jazzed the Beverly Wilshire ballroom with her storehouse of memories. The crowd applauded with a standing ovation. Ann lauded Ted Turner and his Turner Movie Classics series, adding that it’s given her another life. “Whenever I’m at the supermarket, I hear shoppers saying, ‘Isn’t that Polly Benedict?’ … or they’ll mention Gone with the Wind. Ted Turner, God bless him, has given our films a future.”

“Ann’s amazing, doesn’t want a housekeeper, and loves driving on her own in her Cadillac,” noted YMF board member and philanthropist Louise Danelian, who hosted a table that included Lee Phillips Bell, the Young and Restless creator (the soap opera series is in its 37th year), Juli Hutner with Bob Trapenberg, financier Jon Hall, who during his Pepperdine University days chauffeured Nancy and Ronald Reagan, and in time became an aide to President Reagan.

Honored, along with Ann, was The Young and Restless’ popular Tracey E. Bregman, who held court with the “family” of cast members at her table. The crowd howled at the Y&R film clips, introduced by her co-star Christian LeBlanc, especially that moment when Tracey cries out, “Watch the bitch … she’s resourceful.” Tracey recalled that whenever she and her mom worked the YMF fashion show, Joan Collins managed “to snag the best dresses.”

Edye Rugolo is the indefatigable executive director of the YMF that has John Williams as chairman of its board of trustees, with Jonathan Weedman as chairman of the board of directors. Over the decades, YMF is credited with inspiring interest and enthusiasm for keeping classical music alive, with training programs and assistance to young talents. YMF finances a Debut Orchestra that’s in its 55th year, inviting 65 Southern California musicians, ages 15 to 25, to participate. At YMF’s annual gala in October, the orchestra’s the featured attraction, drawing high praise from audiences, an engaging evening for music lovers that should not be missed.

Edward Rouquette, the Beverly Wilshire’s assistant director of catering, revealed that he hails from New Orleans, where we’ve ploughed through dozens of Cajun dishes at Galatoire’s in the French Quarter, at Susan Spicer’s Herbsaint, Brennan’s, and at the Café du Monde for chicory coffee and those over-rated beignets after a night on the town. Edward explained that chicory was added to “stretch” the coffee, which was expensive. Whatever, it’s a taste we find exotic and enjoy. He added that when a tourist leaves New Orleans after a week of feasting, it’s not uncommon to return home with a walloping gain of ten pounds. “From all those fried catfish and alligator dishes, the rich French sauces and buttery desserts.”

Louise Danelian had returned from Manhattan with daughter Leslie, where they celebrated Leslie’s daughter Emily Smith’s birthday. They dined at those “walkin’ in high cotton” dining rooms. Leslie Danelian loves cooking, has a keen palate, is a successful caterer, and soon opens her café, Sweet Butter, in Sherman Oaks.

Checking out Graydon Carter’s Waverly Inn in Greenwich Village, often jammed with divas the likes of Elton John and Madonna, Leslie and Louise tasted the “homemade” biscuits that arrived at the table. One bite, and Leslie knew they were baked with Bisquick from General Mills that dates back to the 1930s (a mix of flour, shortening, salt and baking powder). The waiter claimed no way. But there was no foolin’ Leslie. Undaunted, she suggested Mr. No Way do some occasional snooping around his kitchen.