All-Time Old-Timer's List

Twelve months after its 100 Years...100 Movies promotion stirred op-ed debate and watercooler controversy, the American Film Institute will unveil AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars. On a CBS special in June, 50 of Hollywood's reigning royals will, says AFI spokesman Seth Oster, ''pay tribute to the 50 greatest American screen legends'' as voted by invited ''leaders of the film community.'' Here's the catch: The AFI's ballot only includes stars who either first appeared on screen before 1951 or are dead, so Ronald Reagan is nominated but Robert De Niro isn't. What's the idea? ''Partly it was arbitrary,'' admits Oster, who points out that the AFI's mandate is to celebrate cinema's past, a goal he feels 100 Movies accomplished. ''We were able to get people to stop talking about box office grosses and talk about our movie heritage.'' Suggested discussion topic: Bedtime for Bonzo's lasting influence on the portrayal of chimps.