Lee Israel back on the scene

BROOKLYN-BORN, Brooklyneducated Lee Israel once wrote biographies of bye-byes like Tallulah Bankhead, Lillian Hellman, Noël Coward. Later, when broke and scrambling, she turned forger and felon. Leaving us physically in 2014, she’s now here cinematically. Fox Searchlight and producer Anne Carey star Melissa

McCarthy in Lee’s life story “Can You Ever Forgive Me?”

The film’s midwife is Hollywood producer/director David

Yarnell, whose 28-day NYC shoot took 11 years to happen. He optioned her autobio 20 years ago. She then had writer’s block. Vanity Fair passed. New Yorker said, “Uh-uh.” Finally, one 3 a.m. Scotch boozer Lee phoned David asking “So where’s my f - - kin’ book deal?”

Simon & Schuster ultimately published it. A provision being “Yarnell be part of the deal,” and he’s so acknowledged in the book. David understood her $10 vocabulary, her tough, rough, off-putting personality. She had a dirty West Side walk-up. She liked nobody. Her brother didn’t even like her. I knew her, so I know this story.y.

The movie idea fell apart. Tanked projects often stayy tanked, but Yarnell kept it alive. Finally it was a go. Hee picked Julianne ne Moore to star. Maybe artistic differences. Maybe too beautiful for the role. She exited. So did the film. m.

Enter Melissa McCarthy, who Melissa McCarthy: Getting Oscar buzz. never questioned direction, never bitched or complained. She didn’t mind that its slim budget provided no private room. And she certainly isn’t complaining that her performance is already garnering Oscar talk. Scammer Israel’s story drew raves at Telluride and Toronto film festivals. And nnext maybe we’ll get a movie ofo how Native Americans beat ththeir drums to tell the saga of SpSpitting Bull Elizabeth Warren.