The Hollywood Foreign Press Association doled out nominations for The Golden Globe Awards Dec. 20, and theatre people were among those honored in the annual picks of the best of the 1999 year in U.S. film and TV.

Sam Mendes, the hot London stage director who mounted Broadway's current Cabaret, earned a Best Director (Motion Picture) nom for "American Beauty," his film debut. The dark tale of suburban ennui and longing also got a nomination for Best Motion Picture (Drama), and a Best Actor (Motion Picture Drama) nom for Kevin Spacey (late of Broadway's The Iceman Cometh), among other noms.

Kathy Bates, in her musical debut, in TV's "Annie," earned a Best Supporting Actress (Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for TV). She played Miss Hannigan in the hit "Wonderful World of Disney" film of the Broadway tuner.

Other theatre-relate nominations:

• "Dash and Lilly," A&E's film of the relationship between playwright Lillian Hellman and mystery scribe Dashiell Hammett, earned noms for Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for TV, Best Actress (Judy Davis) and Best Actor (for actor-playwright Sam Shepard). • Jack Lemmon was nominated for Best Actor (Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for TV) for CBS' "Inherit the Wind," drawn from the famous play (he competes with himself for the TV movie, "Tuesdays With Morrie").

• Janet McTeer, 1997 Best Actress Tony Award winner for A Doll's House on Broadway, was nominated for Best Actress (Motion Picture Musical or Comedy) for the film, "Tumbleweeds."

• Julianne Moore earned a Best Actress (Motion Picture Musical or Comedy) nom and Rupert Everett and Best Actor (Motion Picture Musical or Comedy) nom for the film, "An Ideal Husband," drawn from the play by Oscar Wilde.

The awards will be presented Jan. 23, 2000.

-- By Kenneth Jones