TINSELTOWN SPYWITNESS.

Byline: Elizabeth Snead and Jennifer Sklar

MIDDLE-EARTH CHIC: Every avid ``Lord of the Rings'' film fan knows that the ``Fellowship of the Ring'' actors each got a tattoo (of the Elvish symbol for ``9'') to commemorate their cinematic brotherhood.

``Everyone got it in a different place,'' says Dominic Monaghan (Hobbit Merry Brandybuck). ``Mine is on my arm. Orly (Orlando Bloom) got his on his forearm. Billy (Boyd) and Sean (Astin) got theirs on their foot. Elijah (Wood) got his down there, in the naughty area. Ian (McKellen) got his on his arm.''

But not all in the Fellowship were bound by ink.

``The decision to get tattoos was taken on a drunken night of revelry by the Hobbits, and then they went about persuading everyone that there were nine in the Fellowship, so there should be nine tattoos,'' said John Rhys-Davies (he plays Gimli, the Dwarf), at a party on the Warner Bros. lot to celebrate the film's upcoming DVD/VHS releases.

``I told them, 'You're nuts! Get a tattoo in New Zealand?' and well, there's been news out recently about the dangers involved. So I did what any responsible older actor does when faced with a dangerous stunt: I had my stunt double do it. So there are indeed nine tattoos, but I'm proud to say that my body is unscathed.''

Director Peter Jackson could not make it to the event because he'd rushed back to New Zealand after the Oscars to finish the trilogy's second chapter, ``The Twin Towers,'' due in theaters Dec. 18. But his ``Fellowship'' actors who showed up were psyched about the Nov. 12 release of that film's ``Special Extended Edition,'' a four-disc DVD/VHS set with six hours of extra material - including 30 minutes of unseen footage cut from the version playing in theaters.

Restored scenes include a closer look at the Hobbits' lives in Hobbiton, sightings of ethereal Elves leaving Middle-earth, more terror in the mines of Moria, Aragorn singing an ancient ballad of the love between a mortal King and an Elf Queen, Aragorn visiting his mother's grave, his wrenching departure from Rivendell and a gift-giving scene in Lothlorien when Gimli asks Galadriel for a lock of her hair.

Expect more impact - and more gore - in the extended version's battle scenes.

``I have a very cool moment in the first movie when I take out about three Orcs with arrows one after another,'' says Bloom, who plays the Elvish archer, Legolas. ``In the restored version, I take out about 10 with 10 arrows. I've had fans come up and say, 'Wow, did you really kill those three Orcs like that?' Now they'll see it was really 10!''

That cool moment may earn the extended edition an R rating. ``If we're going to get an R rating, that'll be the scene that does it,'' says New Line's Mark Ordesky, an executive producer of ``Fellowship.''

But don't be alarmed, kiddies. The PG-13 rated DVD/VHS versions of ``Fellowship'' will arrive in stores Aug. 6 with a 10-minute preview of ``The Two Towers,'' plus two hours of extras such as production programs, Middle-earth featurettes, cast interviews, theatrical trailers and the Enya music video.

With the insatiable appetite for DVD content, will the ``LOTR'' filmmakers have anything left for the next one? ``There's a rumor that they might put our audition tapes on the next one,'' says Monaghan. ``And that will be embarrassing. I was playing a skinhead in another film, and I had no hair. I also had a bad cold and was very skinny.''

See, playing a Hobbit has its benefits. You get to have second breakfast.

SWEET CHARITY: With barely enough time for a day of spa treatments after hosting an Oscar after-party at Moomba, Sir Elton John was honored for his humanitarian work Tuesday night at the sixth annual ``An Unforgettable Evening'' at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Sponsored by Saks Fifth Avenue and Cedars-Sinai Research for Women's Cancers, the black-tie fund-raising event was hosted by Kate Capshaw and Rita Wilson and featured Dennis Miller's comedic touch.

``Tonight, your generous support has raised $1.7 million,'' Capshaw announced, provoking a burst applause from guests, including Capshaw's hubby Steven Spielberg, Wilson's man Tom Hanks, Lisa Kudrow and Fran Drescher. The event has raised $10 million over the past six years to benefit cancer research.

John, who performed at the same event a few years back, left the singing up to his pals Natalie Cole and John Mellencamp. Cole sang the fitting ``Unforgettable,'' accompanied by composer David Foster on piano. Mellencamp shared the stage with an 18-person choir while he belted out a few tunes, including his classic hit, ``Pink Houses.''

``I am basically a whore,'' John demurred after receiving a standing ovation as he accepted his award. ``I go around the world, using my celebrity, saying to people, 'Cough up!' If that means being a whore, I like being a whore!'' Hey, you can set your own hours.

THE SEEN SCENE

Scatological jokester Tom Green, split from wife Drew Barrymore, shopped solo at the Kenneth Cole boutique on Sunset Boulevard recently. Green fell in love with Cole's punditry and picked up ``Tweed You Later Alligator'' and ``Pant Well Taken'' pants and a ``Slim Shady'' shirt.

Tia Carrere, wearing a slim black pantsuit, was pumping her own gas (into her black Mercedes) at a gas station at the corner of Little Santa Monica and Crescent.

``Traffic'' star Benicio Del Toro, wearing a suit, scoped out the bar area before leaving the Gardens on Glendon in Westwood.

Pregnant singer/actress Brandy was shopping at Pea in the Pod in Beverly Hills for a new expandable wardrobe of trendy Seven Jeans, 3 Dot T-shirts and classic maternity garb.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) MONAGHAN AND BLOOM: Armed with tattoos

Dale Wilcox/Berliner Studios

(2) JOHN: Man of the hour.