Tattle: 007 pistol outduels Darth Vader costume at auction

AUCTIONEERS in London overestimated the power of the dark side.

An original Darth Vader costume from a "Star Wars" movie did not sell at auction yesterday when no bidder offered to pay the reserve price, Christie's auctioneers said.

The outfit - a jet-black helmet, mask and armor - was expected to sell for between 160,000 pounds and 230,000 pounds ($250,000 to $365,000). The reserve price is confidential, but generally it is just under the minimum expected price.

Christie's said bidding stopped at 150,000 pounds (about $233,000).

The costume is thought to have been made for "The Empire Strikes Back," the second film in George Lucas' sci-fi series, released in 1980.

Christie's did not name the seller, identified only as an American private collector.

Meanwhile, the Walther air pistol held by Sean Connery in the poster for the 1963 James Bond film, "From Russia With Love," was sold for 277,250 pounds ($437,206) - 10 times its estimated value - to an unidentified telephone bidder, Christie's said.

Sick Bay I

Debbie Reynolds has canceled her Dec. 9 show at Trump Taj Mahal Casino in Atlantic City because of back and abdominal pain brought on by a twisted stomach muscle. A spokesman says the 78-year-old Reynolds still intends to perform a scheduled New Year's Eve show at the Riverside Resort in Laughlin, Nev., and hopes to reschedule at Taj early next year.

Sick Bay II

Billy Joel is recovering from double hip-replacement surgery.

Joel spokeswoman Claire Mercuri told People magazine Wednesday that the 61-year-old pop star had both hips replaced last week to correct a congenital condition.

She says Joel, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer responsible for such hits as "Piano Man," "Uptown Girl" and "New York State of Mind," is doing "extremely well."

Joel toured this year and was recently promoting the documentary film "The Last Play at Shea." There's no word on when he plans to perform again.

Euros for YouTube

YouTube and top associations of French authors, filmmakers and other creative artists say they have struck an agreement to put more TV shows and movies online in France.

The deal with three major groups that represent creative talent in France paves the way for authors to get paid when their productions are put on Google's YouTube.

Meanwhile, back in London

British Prime Minister David Cameron was under fire yesterday after repeating a joke likening the speaker of Parliament to one of Snow White's Seven Dwarfs.

Britain's Press Association news agency said Cameron told journalists at a press lunch about the time Health Minister Simon Burns backed into Speaker John Bercow's car. When Bercow said he was not happy, Cameron said Burns retorted: "So which one are you?"

Bercow stands about 5 feet 6. The Walking with Giants Foundation charity, which helps people with restricted growth, said Cameron's gibe was "downright appalling." Its co-founder, John Connerty, said it was "totally unacceptable" to have "the most influential person in the country making distasteful references about a person's lack of height."

Cameron's office said his "lighthearted comments" were not meant to offend.

The speaker's wife, Sally Bercow, hit back on Twitter, writing: "If Mr. B.'s a dwarf, then I'm Snow White. And David Cameron is definitely Dopey."

- Daily News Wire Services