A look inside Hollywood and the movies. : TALK OF THE TOWN : When We Last Left Basinger & Winger, It Was a Dark and Stormy Night . . .

The talk around Hollywood last week focused largely on two of the town’s big-name actresses, Kim Basinger and Debra Winger.

In separate actions, both left film projects with which they had been publicly associated. In both instances, that old standby, “creative differences� was invoked.

Hollywood has seen this saga before. But the incidents once again focus on just how much power star names carry--or don’t, depending on what kind of backing a film has. With an independent movie such as “Boxing Helena,� Basinger’s departure may ground the film for good. But when the project has studio backing, like “A League of Their Own,� Winger’s departure probably won’t delay the start of production.

In both instances the casting of the actress was never officially announced, but, via leaks and the Hollywood rumor mill, the stars’ names became attached to the movies. The reports gained credibility when the stars’ representatives did not deny them.

The producers and director of “Boxing Helena’ say they believed Basinger had committed to the film and, based on her perceived association, sold distribution rights at the recent Cannes Film Festival.

“Sometimes studios or production companies jump the gun, without deals being signed, sealed and delivered,� said Basinger’s attorney, Howard Weitzman. “They proceed at their own risk when doing so.�

Weitzman will represent Basinger in a suit filed against her and her talent agency International Creative Management in Los Angeles Superior Court by Main Line Pictures, the producers of “Boxing Helena,� and director/writer Jennifer Lynch. They accuse Basinger of breach of contract.

“There never was an agreement on how the character would be portrayed between the director/writer,� Weitzman said. “There was never any signed agreement.�

Lynch feels she is having an awful case of deja vu . The lead role in her provocative story about obsessive love was originally going to be played by Madonna. But the pop star bowed out last December.

Now a second major star has dropped the project, just days before the July 10 scheduled start of production.

“I’m incredibly disappointed,� Lynch, who began talks with Basinger in January, said last week. She believed that Basinger had made a verbal commitment to the movie, having discussed the part with her for six months.

“Both these incidents have come literally out of the blue. It’s like taking a warm, cozy nap and getting kicked in the teeth. Wake up! You’re in Hollywood.

“Everyone in Hollywood tends to do this,� she noted. “But star status is not permission for someone to renege on an agreement.�

Lynch, the 23-year-old daughter of director David Lynch, believes it is fear that compelled both Madonna and Basinger to withdraw from the role--a woman with amputated limbs held captive by an obsessive lover. “Without a doubt it’s a very challenging role. I thought I had found two of the bravest women on the planet.�

Like the Basinger case, there was no signed contract between Winger and Columbia Pictures for the role in Penny Marshall’s “A League of Their Own.� But to respond to rumors about her unhappiness with the movie and desire to leave, Columbia issued a press release:

“Winger will not be appearing in Columbia’s ‘A League of Their Own.’ Winger did not ‘walk off’ the picture . . . Columbia decided to take the film in a different creative direction.�

A studio spokeswoman maintained there had been no official announcement that Winger ever was to star in the film. (With the production due to begin shooting in Chicago in mid-July, there still isn’t official word that the baseball team coach is to be played by Tom Hanks.)

Enter Madonna, again.

Earlier this month, the singer’s name was added to the cast list of Marshall’s movie; she would play a smart-mouth ballplayer. But a report in a Washington Post column indicated that Winger didn’t care for the casting of Madonna and had been having difficulty with the studio. According to the report, she decided to exit.

Since Winger, Hanks, Marshall and Madonna are all clients of Creative Artists Agency, insiders are betting on CAA client Geena Davis, hot off her success in “Thelma & Louise,� to replace Winger.