A SALUTE TO STREISAND OVERWHELMED STAR VOWS TO CONTINUE LEARNING, BE WORTHY OF AFI HONOR.

Byline: Sandra Barrera Staff Writer

HILLS - Barbra Streisand was honored Thursday by the American Film Institute as its first woman director to ever receive its Lifetime Achievement Award.

Sidney Poitier, the AFI's 1992 recipient, presented the award to the overwhelmed Streisand.

here's still more to do, so much more to learn, before I can truly feel worthy of this tremendous honor,'' she told those who had come to the Beverly Hilton to wish her well.

All the biggest names in Hollywood were on hand for the gala dinner and awards ceremony, including Jack Nicholson, who as a younger man appeared with Streisand in the film ``On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.''

It was such a minor part, however, that Nicholson confessed: ``I didn't remember that I was in a Barbra Streisand movie. ... I'm pissed.''

Lots of laughs resonated throughout the evening as colleagues, friends and admirers shared their own memories about the guest of honor.

Film clips were interspersed throughout the evening, including one scene from ``Yentl'' that showed Streisand directing her co-star Mandy Patinkin through his rage after having just discovered her character was, in fact, a woman.

As she sat in the hot seat next to her husband, James Brolin, and surrounded by her stepson Josh Brolin and his date, Minnie Driver, among others, Streisand appeared to be enjoying the big to-do.

She blew kisses, laughed and rose to her feet when her son took the stage to thank her for allowing him to play the part of her son in the film ``The Prince of Tides.''

``It brought us closer together,'' said Gould, who got a confirming nod from his doting mother.

Of course, Streisand's acting, composing and singing careers were also celebrated.

Streisand later told her guests that her first dream was to become an actress, and she only turned to singing because she couldn't land a job.

She ended up making 16 films and becoming a legend among legends.

``You were too big, too perfect, too wonderful,'' said actress Elizabeth Taylor after her recollection of having seen Streisand for the first time on Broadway.

Quincy Jones said, ``You have a huge, huge soul. We feel it in your songs.''

Other celebrity guests shared stories from their past with Streisand. Among them was Dustin Hoffman, who recalled seeing his acting-school classmate sing for the first time in the early '60s on a TV show hosted by Mike Wallace.

Admittedly floored, Hoffman told the crowd, ``I vowed never to speak to her again.''

Of course, he was kidding, like so many of the guests who shared stories that night.

Shirley MacLaine, who joins Streisand each year to celebrate their joint birthdays, translated Streisand's numerology.

Clint Eastwood observed, ``Nothing gets a studio executive more excited than when an actor comes to you and says, 'I want to direct my next picture.' ''

Actress Amy Irving, who appeared with Streisand in her directorial debut ``Yentl,'' recalled that while preparing for their wedding night kiss, Streisand likened it to kissing an arm. So Irving lip-smacked her arm and blew Streisand a kiss.

Jeff Bridges, who played the love interest in ``The Mirror Has Two Faces,'' talked about the two sides of Streisand as perfectionist and funky girl. ``She loves dirty jokes,'' said Bridges.

Lauren Bacall recalled a meeting at Streisand's New York apartment to talk about playing the role of Streisand's mother in ``Mirror.''

As Bacall was on her way out the door, Streisand - who was curled up on the couch - asked matter-of-factly, ``So you think you can be my mother?''

``Yeah,'' was the answer Bacall gave that closed the deal.

After all was said and done, Streisand spoke humbly about her predecessors.

``While I accept this role with great pride, I do so with the knowledge that there were women pioneers before me,'' said Streisand, who after listing some of the women, added, ``and all staggeringly before D.W. Griffith ever made a movie. All this before women had the right to vote.

``We've still got a long way to go,'' she said. ``And won't it be wonderful to see the day when we no longer refer to any director by their gender or race?''

The tribute will be telecast this spring on Fox.

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Photo: (1 -- 3) Barbra Streisand and husband James Brolin, above, celebrate her AFI honor. Also attending were Sylvester Stallone and wife Jennifer Flavin, left, and Brolin's son, Josh Brolin,and his date, Minnie Driver, right.

(4) no caption (Barbra Streisand)