DUKE IS STILL `AMAZING' AS AMISH WOMAN.

Byline: Jay Bobbin Tribune Media Services 

Her life and her art have had close links, and that's still the case for Patty Duke.

The Oscar- and Emmy-winning actress' home in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, burned down shortly after she filmed ``Harvest of Fire.'' CBS airs the new ``Hallmark Hall of Fame'' presentation April 21.

``I'd always wondered what it was that people think or feel when they experience a fire,'' Duke said in discussing both the ``Harvest of Fire'' script and her own recent situation. ``I've heard through the years that those people feel a weird sense of relief, as much as they also feel anguish. I do recall sensing acceptance, which was weird in itself: `Oh, OK, my house burned to the ground.' Also, there had been a series of crises in my family about a month before, including my son Mac being in a bad car accident. He's fine now, but it was touch-and-go for a while; compared to that, the fire was nothing.'' (Duke and her family are now in a new residence.)

As it happens, the filmed-on-location story concerns a serial arsonist plaguing an Amish community in Iowa, a situation that brings an FBI agent (portrayed by Lolita Davidovich, also of the somewhat ironically titled ``Blaze'') to the area to probe the crimes.

The investigator gets little help from most of the residents, who are highly suspicious of outsiders, until a widow (Duke) agrees to let the detective stay with her until the case is solved. By keeping such close company, the two women learn a great deal about each other's lifestyles, ultimately leaving an enduring impact on both of them.

Also in the cast are James Read (``North and South''), Jean Louisa Kelly (``Mr. Holland's Opus'') and J.A. Preston (``A Few Good Men'').

As for her ``Harvest of Fire'' character, Duke enjoyed having to temper her acting style to portray an Amish woman. ``First of all, you have the benefit of the costume,'' she said. ``I found myself getting quieter and more introspective, whereas usually, I'm very chirpy when I'm at work. I didn't lose my humor completely, but on a personal level, it was very powerful to me to be in that outfit. I had worried that I was going to be so uncomfortable that I didn't seem real, but I didn't want to look like a cute little doll you'd buy in a novelty shop.''

Duke reports that advisers were present on the set - ``Mennonite women who were raised Amish but chose to leave that community. They also were the film's seamstresses, and there wasn't a single thing about my clothes that wasn't as accurate as accurate could be. Also, I'd worked with the director (Arthur Allan Seidelman) before, and I found myself availing myself of his gentle nature. Still, I did keep some of my own pizazz. When I initially read the script, the character was very one-note. That's fine, but in a two-hour television show, it can get a little boring.

``She doesn't become un-nice,'' Duke adds, ``but there's a history in there that has some darkness and some confusion. Even at this late date, she's attracted to this young (FBI) woman's life.'' There was no active participation in ``Harvest of Fire'' by the Amish, since as Duke explains, ``They can't. It's just not part of their faith. Except for the day on which they go to the market, they did not come to town (while the film crew was there).''

CAPTION(S):

Photo

Photo: (Cover--Color) `Harvest of Fire'

Two women reap frie ndship from tragedy

(Patty Duke and Lolita Davidovich)