Rice Gets Unusual Bid From Guccione

Here's a twist. Penthouse magazine publisher Bob Guccione has offered Donna Rice money to keep her clothes on.

A Penthouse spokesman said that Guccione "is so interested in (the central figure in Gary Hart's fall from grace) he has offered her a substantial sum just for her story. It's unusual for him to make an offer for a beauty without pictures." Chimed in Guccione: "Naturally, the amount offered will be tremendously higher if she does a nude layout."

Meanwhile, yesterday's Washington Post reported that Life magazine had reached an agreement with Rice and that she had been huddling with its interviewers and posing for its photographers. No word on any of this from Rice.

A RETIRING STAR

Laurence Olivier, who will be 80 on Friday, announced his retirement from film work yesterday in London. "It's his age," said the actor's spokeswoman. ''People expect him to go on forever, but he doesn't want to. (He) is in very good shape, but he wants to take an easier course." She said that Olivier, who's last film was 1985's Wild Geese II, would continue doing readings for radio and television, and making TV movies.

SECOND THOUGHTS

David Brinkley stared a run for public office straight in the eye and blinked. The TV newsman made application Monday to run for a council seat in Bal Harbour, Fla., but withdrew it later the same day. Brinkley, 66, who owns a $300,000 condo on the village's oceanfront, said in his application that the most pressing issue in Bal Harbour was "to maintain its clean and pleasant character." Explained Councilman James Boggess: "He said after reflection he decided not to apply. He just felt perhaps it was not the thing to do at this time. . . . He spends more time than anyone is aware of in Bal Harbour."

CRITICS' CHOICES

Fences by August Wilson has been named best new play of the 1986-87 theater season and Les Liaisons Dangereuses by Britain's Christopher Hampton has been voted best foreign play by the New York Drama Critics Circle. Les Miserables was chosen best musical on Monday. Representatives of the winning shows will pick up their $1,000 awards at a Manhattan ceremony Tuesday.

OH, ANOTHER?