ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT REPORTS FROM THE TIMES, NEWS SERVICES AND THE NATION’S PRESS.

POP / ROCK

Harrison’s Ashes to Be Scattered in Ganges

George Harrison’s wife and son were in India on Monday to scatter the former Beatle’s ashes at the Ganges River.

Harrison, 58, died of brain cancer in Los Angeles on Thursday and, according to Britain’s Press Assn. news agency, was cremated hours after his death. Olivia Harrison and the couple’s 23-year-old son, Dhani, were to be accompanied by two Hare Krishna devotees who performed Hindu rites on the ashes with the family in London.

According to Hindu tradition, immersing one’s ashes in holy waters releases the soul from the body for its heavenward journey and frees it from the cycle of reincarnation.

London’s Sunday Times, meanwhile, reported that Harrison secretly recorded a final album in the months before his death, playing some of the 25 tracks for family and friends while he was in the hospital. There was no word if or when the album, which he gave the humorous working title “Portrait of a Leg End,” would be released.

Locally, a John Lennon and George Harrison public remembrance and tribute will be held Saturday from noon until 3 p.m. in front of the Capitol Records Tower Building, 1750 N. Vine St., in Hollywood. Fans are asked to bring flowers to create a giant “floral peace symbol.”

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Rimes, Curb No Longer at Odds Over Contract

Singer LeAnn Rimes has ended her yearlong legal standoff with Curb Records, signing a new contract. Terms were not released.

Rimes sued the label a year ago, shortly after turning 18, claiming that she didn’t understand the original contract signed when she was 12. In 1996, when she was 13, the hit “Blue” turned her into a star.

Curb released the Rimes album “I Need You” in January against the singer’s wishes. In March, a chancery judge ruled against Rimes’ request to be released from the contract.

MOVIES

Cruise Not Gay, Court Rules in Actor’s Lawsuit

Tom Cruise dropped a $100-million defamation lawsuit against a magazine publisher after the publisher stated he does not have a videotape showing the actor having sex with another man.

“Cruise does not appear on the videotape to which said defendant referred,” said a Superior Court stipulation approved by Los Angeles Judge Emilie Elias. “[Cruise] is not, and never has been, homosexual and has never had a homosexual affair.”

Cruise’s lawsuit, filed June 4, accused Michael Davis of Bold magazine of sending news releases to at least a dozen U.S. media organizations alleging that the actor had engaged in a homosexual relationship during his marriage to Nicole Kidman.

Under terms of the settlement, Davis is barred from making statements contrary to the finding and must pay his own legal fees.

Both sides claimed to be pleased with the verdict. “My client was sued for $100 million,” said Davis’ attorney, Edward Pilot. “As it turned out, he did not pay Mr. Cruise a penny.” No matter, retorted Cruise’s attorney, Bertram Fields. “The story was false,” he said. “[Cruise is] not gay, and the judge so ruled.”

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‘Amelie’ Wins at European Film Awards

Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s quirky romance “Amelie” was the big winner Saturday at the 14th annual European Film Awards, handed out in Berlin. The picture walked off with four prizes, including best film and best director.

Still, newcomer Audrey Tautou, who played the lead in “Amelie,” failed to snag the best actress award. That statuette went to Isabelle Huppert for “The Piano Teacher.” Ben Kingsley was selected as best actor for his acclaimed performance as the psychotic gangster in “Sexy Beast.”

The screenwriting prize went to Danis Tanovic for “No Man’s Land.” And Baz Luhrmann’s pop musical “Moulin Rouge” won the award for best non-European film.

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Television

‘Brian’s Song’ Remake Hums for ABC

ABC’s remake of “Brian’s Song” drew the “Wonderful World of Disney’s” highest rating among adults age 18 to 49 in more than a year, with an estimated 15.2 million viewers overall Sunday, based on preliminary estimates from Nielsen Media Research.

“Brian’s Song” won its time slot, as viewing steadily built over the two-hour telecast, dropping CBS’ first-year drama “The Education of Max Bickford” to under 9 million viewers, its lowest rating thus far.

CBS also premiered the miniseries “Jack and the Beanstalk,” which climbed to a respectable 13.4 million viewers Sunday.

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Quick Takes

R&B; singer Toni Braxton, 33, gave birth to a 5-pound, 12-ounce boy, Denim Cole, on Sunday--the first child born to her and her husband, Keri Lewis of the Minneapolis-based band Mint Condition.... Talk show host Rosie O’Donnell will host a Dec. 30 fund-raiser for Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate and former U.S. Atty. Gen. Janet Reno, a campaign spokeswoman said. O’Donnell owns a home on Miami Beach’s Star Island.... Miramax Films has picked up another movie from Majid Majidi, the Iranian director of “Baran,” Iran’s contender for the best foreign language film Oscar, opening here Friday. Majidi’s “The Color of Hope,” a documentary filmed undercover in Afghanistan in November, focuses on that nation’s children.... Sean Penn will receive the Modern Master Award at the 17th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival running Feb. 27-March 3.

Elaine Dutka