FILM/SNEAK PEEK : CHAPLIN, KEATON SALUTED.

Byline: - Bob McCarthy

If Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin wrote the book on screen comedy, then Jack Lemmon must have worn out his copy, absorbing the finer points of making audiences laugh. Make that guffaw.

The Oscar-winning actor, whose sense of timing and instinct for good material have repeatedly paired him with Walter Matthau (``The Odd Couple'' and ``Grumpy Old Men'' originals and sequels and ``Out to Sea'') through three decades, has carried on a tradition that predates the ``talkies,'' back before audiences could actually hear the give-and-take between actors.

With Lemmon, like his great predecessors, the flash of expression signals what's coming, before the words even arrive.

He is serving as the honorary chairman of the 10th annual Silent Film Gala on May 22 at Glendale's Alex Theatre, the annual benefit for the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. The gala features two silent masterpieces, a restored version of Chaplin's ``The Immigrant'' and Keaton's 1923 classic ``Our Hospitality.''

``I'm thrilled to have the chance to work with them, so to speak,'' Lemmon says wryly. (Because of another obligation, he won't be in attendance).

The chamber orchestra will perform the rich scores written by Carl Davis, and the composer himself will conduct. Admission to the 8 p.m. gala is $25, $50 for priority seating, and $200 for the event, post-gala party and buffet dinner under the stars.

For tickets, call the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra at [phone]. Ext. 275.

Nouveau French

The ``City of Lights, City of Angels'' festival of new French films continues at 7:30 tonight as actress Catherine Deneuve stars in a compelling drama, ``Place Vendome,'' at the Directors Guild of America Theatre, 7920 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles.

The showcase runs through Saturday.

The animated ``Kirikou and the Sorceress,'' in which a small girl sets out to stop a sorceress who is killing the men in her West African village, makes its North American premiere at 1 p.m. Saturday. At 7:30 p.m., the award-winning ``Those Who Love Me Can Take the Train'' by director Patrice Chereau screens. The title is derived from artist Jean-Baptist Emmerich's reply to objections that he be buried in Europe's largest cemetery in Limoges, and not in Paris where his friends and associates lived. Actress Dominique Black and cinematographer Eric Gautier won Cesars (France's highest film honor), as did the director, for ``Those Who Love Me.''

Admission is $6, $4 for students and seniors. All remaining tickets go on sale in the DGA theater lobby one hour before showtime. Call [phone] for information.

Seeing is believing

Once you've seen ``Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace,'' learn how the film's illusions were created at the inaugural Festival of Visual Effects on June 4-6 at the Leonard Goldenson Theatre, which is part of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, 5230 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood.

Just two weeks after ``Phantom Menace'' is launched in theaters nationwide, four members of George Lucas' special-effects team at Industrial Light & Magic will illustrate how ILM accomplished its visual trickery. The four one-hour seminars are a highlight of the event, sponsored by the Visual Effects Society.

Other workshops and discussion will feature special-effects creators for ``Xena'' and ``Hercules,'' ``Contact,'' ``Apollo 13,'' ``Mighty Joe Young,'' ``Mortal Kombat'' and Jim Henson's Creature Shop. For tickets, call [phone], or go to www.vesmem.org on the Web.

CAPTION(S):

Photo: Charlie Chaplin's 1917 short, ``The Immigrant,'' will be feat ured at the Silent Film Gala for the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.