ME AND BOGIE

The fabulous friends of film producer Deutsch, who clearly has lived a dream life. In 1924, nine-year-old Deutsch, grandson of the chairman of Sears, Roebuck and Col, was the chosen victim for the crime of the century when his Chicago neighbors, Nietzschean homosexuals Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, set out to perform an untraceable murder. Deutsch however had to go to the dentist after school, and so young Bobby Franks was murdered in his place. Since then Deutsch's life has been equally charmed. He met studio head Dore Schary at a party, was told by Schary he'd make a good producer, and soon found himself producing B-pictures for MGM. Which brings up the three Barrymores, all of whom he worked with at one time or another. But then he also must tell us about arranging Joe Louis's last championship fight before Louis's induction into the Army for WW II. And about ten years of high times at the Frank Sinatra compound at Palm Springs, with Frank as the world' greatest host. And about Armand's long friendships with Robert Taylor and with his favorite actor, the alcoholic Louis Calhern, for whom he produced The Magnificent Yankee, and about his long ties with Billy Wilder, art collector and compulsive shopper; his great friendship with billionaire art collector Walter Annenberg; his producing chores with young Nancy Davis and later annual parties with the Reagans; his world travels with sunny punster/publisher Bennett Cerf; his rich Christmases with Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Stewart (Jimmy watches It's a Wonderful Life every Christmas, along with millions of other Americans). Highlights among nothing but highlights, include exciting evening flights with Sinatra to Buffalo or somewhere for a one-night stand and getting back to Manhattan for a midnight Italian feast; and a heartbreaking fight with Bogart that ends with Bogie dying while Deutsch cries in Romanoff's men's room. A great get-well giftto yourself or anyone who needs a dreamlift.