Liz Smith Column
April 22, 2004

'Yesterday is a canceled check; tomorrow is a promissory note; today is the only cash you have - so spend it wisely," said Kay Lyons.

AS YOU'VE no doubt heard, actor-director John Turturro has embarked on an independent movie, "Romance and Cigarettes," subtitled "a savage musical." Sounds intriguing with James Gandolfini, Susan Sarandon, Kate Winslet, Christopher Walken, Julia Stiles and Steve Buscemi.

My longtime pal Elaine Stritch has been tapped to play a character called Grace Murder, the mother of Gandolfini. On his HBO show "The Sopranos," he was paired with another famously tough mother, the late and much-missed Nancy Marchand.

Elaine not only has an interesting name in this movie, but a fascinating first line. Asked how she is, Mrs. Murder replies, "Every breath is a victory!"

Stritch, noted for her distinctive singing, is the one person who won't sing in "Romance and Cigarettes."

Source: Newsday