October 4, 2007 — OK, so taxi drivers are mumbling again. FYI: Our soon-to-reopen Plaza is the source of our modern-day yellow-cab mania. Back when skirts grazed ladies' ankles, passengers negotiated fares with the driver. October 1907 meter cabs were first introduced in a line outside the newly christened hotel. VIPs rode them in a publicity gambit for the opening. This week, a century later, the senior citizen Plaza's rejazzed and rejuiced - and the news is still our cabbies.

THERE's something about 58th and Fifth. Monday the Plaza had a pre-opening party, Tuesday an even bigger, starrier event - the Paris Theatre premiere of the Jude Law-Michael Caine thriller "Sleuth." Between gawkers and fotogs, the movie crowd would've filled whatever that new owner left of the hotel lobby.

First, the fashions: Jude Law wore black stovepipe pants, brown felt hat. No tie. Michael Caine wore a pale-blue sport jacket. No tie. Director Kenneth Branagh was in light brown. No tie. The movie's a Sony Pictures Classic. What its CEO featured besides a beard, I don't remember. I only know no tie.

This being New York, ladies displayed every shade of black. Michael Caine's wife, Shakira - black. Joan Collins - black. Bebe Neuwirth - black. There was that good-looking blonde in tight low-cut sheath working the red carpet, jutting out her varying parts for whoever pointed even a Brownie, and nobody knew whothehell she was. Photographers asked wildly, "What's her name?" One volunteered, "Kimberly something. Used to do Court TV. Ex-wife of that San Francisco mayor guy." Kimberly Guilfoyle also wore black.

No need to be a sleuth to know "Sleuth" has been around. In '70, a play. In '72, a film co-starring co-Sirs Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine. Now back in a blacker, tougher version, Michael's got the older-man Olivier role, and Jude young Michael's role.

About the 1972 version Michael said: "I'd made many films already and won an Oscar before working with the greatest stage actor ever, and this being more my medium than Olivier's I wasn't as frightened being with him as I might've been.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/10042007/gossip/cindy/cab_craze_began_100_years_ago.htm