Monday, May 19, 1997 By LIZ BRAUN --

NEW YORK -- If you want to see power at work, go watch Billy Crystal control the action in Fathers' Day.

The movie, in theatres now, joins Crystal and Robin Williams as two sad-sacks on the road together in search of a teenage boy. Whatever else you might say about Fathers' Day, it allows for plenty of non-scripted fooling around by the two famous leads.

If we had to summarize that fooling around, it would go someting like this: Robin Williams starts his characteristic comedic noodling, Billy Crystal yanks him back into the movie, often with nothing more than a raised eyebrow.

"It's good to get laughs without saying anything," notes the comic. "When you do a two-hander, you want a balance," he continues. "You don't want to see yourself on-screen twice. My guy is reactive, like Dean Martin to Jerry Lewis."

Crystal, now 49, and Williams have known each other since meeting at an improv class 20 years ago. They are friends.

Informed that Williams has just done 45 minutes of 'dick' jokes in an interview, Crystal deadpans that he will not be talking about his penis today. He'll talk about Williams' penis, he states.

He says, "Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Heaven's Gate. Check your genitals at the door."

And that is the end of that particular vein of humor.

Mr. Low-key

Crystal, who gives the impression that he is a genuine nice guy who just doesn't suffer fools gladly, is dressed today in jeans, a nondescript shirt and a battered tweed jacket.

Mr. Low-key, it turns out, was the muscle behind bringing Fathers' Day to the screen. He loved the original French movie, Les Comperes; he approached producer Joel Silver, who owned the rights; he talked it up to director Ivan Reitman.

Fathers' Day has both Crystal and Williams searching for a teenager that each has been told he fathered. It's a lie, but the kid's mother will do anything to get her rebellious son back safely.

Inevitably, the conversation turns to real family, and that happens to be one of Crystal's favorite subjects. He's been married to his wife Janice for 27 years. For their 25th wedding anniversary, they got married again at their house in California.

They have two daughters, Jennifer and Lindsay, both of whom were a part of Fathers' Day.

Jennifer, now 24, has a cameo role. Lindsay, 19 and a student in NYU's director's program, worked behind the scenes. "She's got a great Goldie Hawn quality," proud Papa says of Lindsay, "but she wants to direct."

Proud dad

And Jennifer recently put together a one-woman show about Gilda Radner -- with great success. Crystal was there to videotape her, he says, with some shyness at admitting to being such a softie, "just like I've been there to tape every other thing she's ever done."

As for his daughters' personal lives, Crystal says cheerfully, "We have a deal. They're not allowed to have sex until after I'm dead."

Earlier this year, Crystal made a return to hosting the Oscars after a three-year absence. Pressure?

"I've been up since 1948," he deadpans.

But yes, it was tense, says Crystal, who also says that in the end he had a wonderful time.

"But the pressure is terrible. There's enormous pressure about being live for three hours in front of the whole world."

He adds quietly, "The world's a very tough room."


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