In Praise of Peter Sellers

Posted by Kimberly Lindbergs on January 6, 2011

Peter Sellers was one of the most talented character actors and comedians of his generation. Many of his best roles were improvised and he used his quick wit, Chaplinesque finesse and chameleon-like abilities to transform modern comedy. Although his career really began in the 1950s, Sellers seemed to embody the rebellious and hedonistic spirit of Swinging London but he was more than just a talented performer. Sellers was a “Happening” that everyone wanted to take part in. He partied with rock stars and slept with a bevy of beautiful women. But in the end he seemed to burn out as quickly as the generation that spawned him. By 1980 Peter Sellers was dead but he left behind an incredible legacy that reached its peak in 1979 while making Hal Ashby’s seminal film Being There. In Being There Sellers is no longer just the insightful clown or bumbling ne’er-do-well that made him an international superstar. As Chance the Gardener, Sellers became the sparkling reflection of everything that audiences had invested in him during his brilliant and brief career. It was an astonishing farewell and one of the finest curtain calls an actor could possibly offer his critics.

I had the pleasure of first seeing Being There in 1980 during its original theatrical release. I was only 12 years-old at the time and much of the movie’s subtle humor and biting social commentary went over my head but the film made a lasting impression on me. I had grown up watching Peter Sellers in The Pink Panther movies and loved him as Inspector Clouseau but his portrayal of Chance the Gardner seemed very removed from the Sellers I had previously admired. There was something extremely touching and melancholy about his performance in Being There that made the film difficult to watch. It hinted at untapped depths and deep insecurities that Sellers had managed to mask during most of his career. I can remember crying quite a bit during my initial viewing of of the movie because I was profoundly moved by the the character he was playing and the unfortunate situation he had found himself him. His childlike nativity was a subtle reminder of my own innocence that was quickly fading away. I missed the clownish figure of my childhood and I didn’t want to see him hurt in any way. As I grew older Being There became one of the Sellers’ films that I enjoyed rewatching the most because it unveiled more of its magic with each viewing.

Thanks to cable TV, the video age and various midnight movie showings I slowly caught up with Sellers’ early career and my appreciation of his talents grew. I was astonished by his versatility and mesmerized by his incredible charisma that drew me, along with thousands of other fans, to him. So when I learned that Turner Classic Movies was planning to make Peter Sellers their January “Star of the Month” I jumped for joy! For the next few weeks we’ll be able to enjoy some of the actor’s best films airing every Thursday night on TCM. Due to the overwhelming volume of films being showcased I thought I’d make some viewing recommendations and highlight some of my favorite Sellers’ performances.

Tonight (January 6) TCM’s month long celebration of Peter Sellers’ career kicks off with two of his best early films, the biting take-no-prisoners social satire I’m All Right Jack (1960) and the black comedy The Lady Killers (1955). Sellers thought I’m All Right Jack was one of the best movies he made and he gives a surprisingly subdued performance in it as an uneducated laborer with socialist leanings. In the often praised Ealing Studios’ film The Lady Killers, Sellers plays an awkward Teddy Boy who is part of a group of inept thieves that attempt to pull off a heist but things go terribly wrong before they can escape with their ill-begotten fortune.

On January 13th TCM will be showing four of my favorite Sellers films, The Millionairess (1961), followed by I Love You, Alice B. Toklas (1968), What’s New, Pussycat? (1965) and The Bobo (1967). In The Millionairess Sellers plays an Indian doctor who becomes the object of Sophia Loren’s affection but in real life Peter Sellers actually became obsessed with the beautiful actress and ended his first marriage in pursuit of Loren. I Love, Alice B. Toklas stars Sellers as an uptight American attorney who decides to turn on, tune in and drop out after he becomes enamored with a beautiful flower-child (Leigh Taylor-Young) and her counterculture lifestyle. What’s New, Pussycat? is a silly sex farce featuring Sellers as a psychiatrist with questionable intentions. And finally there’s The Bobo, which I happen to think is the best film that Sellers made with his second wife, the lovely Britt Eckland. In The Bobo Peter Sellers’ plays a singing matador trying to boost his career by wooing the unsuspecting Eckland.

The following week (January 20th) you can see Peter Sellers as the bumbling Inspector Clouseau in Blake Edwards’ The Pink Panther (1963) and A Shot In the Dark (1964). The first two Pink Panther films are followed by Neil Simon’s crime spoof Murder by Death (1976). Sellers didn’t care for his performance in Murder By Death and most of the all-star cast thought the movie was a failure but it was surprisingly successful at the box office and I happen to think it’s a fun film. Murder by Death is followed by the madcap James Bond spoof, Casino Royale (1967). This critically maligned movie has gained a cult following over the years and it’s probably no surprise that I’m one of its adoring fans.

During the last week of January (January 27th) three of the actor’s most critically acclaimed films; Being There (1979) followed by Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb (1964) and Lolita (1962) will be shown. They feature Sellers at his creative best. If you can’t keep up with all the Sellers’ films being played on TCM this month I highly recommend marking your calendar so you don’t miss seeing these three modern classics.

A few of my favorite Peter Sellers films aren’t on TCM’s schedule this month so if you’d like to see more of the actor’s work I highly recommend seeking out The Party (1968), which happens to be my favorite Blake Edwards/Peter Sellers team-up. In the film Sellers plays a graceless Indian actor named Hrundi V. Bakshi who finds himself at a posh party and spends the entire evening trying to overcome a series of awkward social situations that are just laugh-out-loud funny. I’ve always sympathized with Hrundi’s plight because I’ve been in plenty of awkward social situations myself and Sellers’ improvisational skills are on full display here. I also really enjoy Sellers in The World Of Henry Orient (1964) where he plays a famous concert pianist trying to seduce a married woman (the very funny Paula Prentiss) while being stalked by two teenage fans. The last Peter Sellers’ film I’ll recommend is the utterly bizarre black comedy The Magic Christian (1969) based on Terry Southern’s novel of the same name. The film has been controversial since its initial release and will probably only appeal to a small group of Sellers’ fans that appreciate movies like Casino Royale (1967). In The Magic Christian Sellers plays an eccentric billionaire who adopts a homeless young man (The Beatles’ drummer Ringo Starr) and sets out to prove that anyone will debase themselves for the almighty dollar. It’s a crazy and somewhat surreal series of comedy sketches stitched together by the thinest of threads but it’s well worth seeking out if you’re a Sellers fan or just appreciate unusual counterculture comedies from the ‘60s.

Did I overlook one of your favorite Peter Sellers’ performances? Are there any Sellers films playing on TCM this month that you would recommend? Please feel free to share your own suggestions below. As much as I adore Sellers I haven’t seen all of the movie’s he’s appeared in so I’m eager to get a few recommendations myself. For more information about all the Peter Sellers’ films being shown on TCM this month please visit the TCM website or see this month’s Now Playing Guide if you’re a subscriber.

20 Comments |

submit

20 Responses In Praise of Peter Sellers

Posted By MDR : January 6, 2011 6:52 pm

Thanks for mentioning The World of Henry Orient (1964) which is such a terrific, underrated gem. It’s unfortunate the TCM isn’t airing it as part of their tribute to Sellers.

Posted By Kimberly Lindbergs : January 6, 2011 7:58 pm

It was my pleasure. It’s a great movie about teenage hormones gone wild and I love Sellers in it. It was available on TCM on Demand through Comcast for awhile but I hoped TCM would air it since I didn’t get the chance to watch it then. I haven’t seen it in ages but I get a real kick out of seeing Sellers & Paula Prentiss together.

Posted By dukeroberts : January 6, 2011 11:08 pm

The thing about Peter Sellers was his great chameleon-like quality of disappearing into different parts. Inspector Clouseau looks nothing like “Chauncey Gardner”, and he looks nothing like Dr. Strangelove. The first time I saw Dr. Strangelove I didn’t even believe it was the same actor from the Pink Panther movies. This quality he had made him believable in everything. I recently saw Being There again after many years and found a new appreciation for it. I didn’t get it when I was a kid. Now I absolutely love it. Oh, and I love Murder by Death too.

Posted By Wyatt Wingfoot : January 7, 2011 1:46 am

Sorry you missed The World Of Henry Orient, it aired last week (Dec. 27th) on TCM.

One of my “new” favorites is Two Way Stretch (1960) a clever inmates running the gaol (okay, prison) caper, chock-full of great character actors (Wilfrid Hyde-White, Bernard Cribbins, Lionel Jeffries and more) supporting smooth Cockney Sellers as cooler king.

Posted By Kimberly Lindbergs : January 7, 2011 3:19 am

Obviously I’m in complete agreement with you, duke. And I’m glad I’m not alone in my appreciation for MURDER BY DEATH. The comedy might be questionable at times but I think it’s an entertaining and funny spoof. And what a cast! Truman Capote, David Niven, Elsa Lanchester, Alec Guinness, Maggie Smith, Peter Falk, James Coco, Eileen Brennan and Peter Sellers of course. For years I thought it was a Mel Brooks comedy and I’m a Brooks fan so that’s probably why I like MURDER BY DEATH.

Posted By Kimberly Lindbergs : January 7, 2011 3:42 am

Thanks a lot for the suggestion, Wyatt! I haven’t seen TWO WAY STRETCH but I like a good caper film and the cast sounds great. It played on TCM tonight and I recorded it so I’ll give it a look soon.

Posted By Peter Nellhaus : January 7, 2011 4:51 am

“Never Let Go” might shock some people with Sellers as a brutal thug. On the lighter side, Sellers and Terry-Thomas made me fall over laughing in “Tom Thumb”. I’ll soon be seeing a film with Sellers I hadn’t heard of previously, from 1974, “The Blockhouse”, which also stars Charles Aznavour and Per Oscarrson.

Posted By john august smith : January 7, 2011 10:19 am

I met him on the streets of NY one day and told him how much I enjoyed his performances. He seemed genuinely pleased. This was long before his success with Pink Panther.

Posted By Doug Bentin : January 7, 2011 5:07 pm

I think most Sellers fans would enjoy “The Mouse That Roared” (1959)about a small European duchy that declares war on the U.S. so they can lose and then receive a rebuilding loan. And then they win. PS is the mild mannered soldier who invades New York and Grand Fenwick’s Duchess. The movie was directed by Jack Arnold (“Incredible Shrinking Man” “Tarantula”).
Funny, too, is his cameo in the Hope/Crosby “The Road to Hong Kong.”

Posted By Kimberly Lindbergs : January 7, 2011 6:01 pm

Haven’t seen NEVER LET GO or TOM THUMB so I’ll have to give them a look but I have seen THE BROTHERS GRIMM and until now I had completely forgot Peter Sellers was in that as well. When you mentioned TOM THUMB, Peter I thought you were getting it confused with THE BROTHERS GRIM but I was the one who was confused.

Posted By Kimberly Lindbergs : January 7, 2011 6:03 pm

Thanks for sharing that story with us, John. Sellers has kind of wild reputation and people often like talking about his temper, etc. so it’s a joy to read nice stories like your own.

Posted By Kimberly Lindbergs : January 7, 2011 6:07 pm

I’ve read some great things about THE MOUSE THAT ROARED so thanks for recommending it, Doug. I don’t think it’s on TCM’s schedule this month so I’ll have to rent it but I suspect that I’d enjoy it. Haven’t seen ROAD TO HONG KONG either so I’ll keep an eye out for that as well since I like Bob Hope a lot too.

Posted By Vince : January 7, 2011 10:41 pm

Well, January is looking fun. I’m looking forward to seeing ‘The Bobo’ again – odd little movie with its own charm. And Britt looks darn good in it too.
Sellers fans need to see ‘The Wrong Box’ from 1966. He has a minor (but pivotal) role and is on for maybe ten minutes, but he totally steals the show!

Posted By Peter Nellhaus : January 8, 2011 5:09 am

If George Pal had his way, the Brothers Grimm would have been played by Peter Sellers and Alec Guiness. I guess for the suits at MGM, they thought Harvey and Boehm had more marquee value, even if one brother spoke English with a marked German accent.

Posted By Medusa Morlock : January 8, 2011 5:31 pm

Great post, Kimberly! The single scene Peter Sellers has with Hope and Crosby in their last Road film together — “The Road to Hong Kong” from 1962 — is insanely hilarious. He plays an Indian doctor and he’s wonderful! Do we know why he loved to do Indian characters? He did them at least three times, and so well, too. Completely charming. Here’s a link to the short but so great sequence: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7g7EvqQ0YY

Did you ever see the HBO movie about Sellers’ life, starring Geoffrey Rush? “The Life and Death of Peter Sellers” (from 2004) is fascinating, especially to any big fan of Sellers. Charlize Theron played Britt Ekland. (It’s available at Netflix.)

Posted By suzidoll : January 9, 2011 1:54 am

I am anxiously waiting AFTER THE FOX. Thanks Kimberly for giving Sellers his due.

Posted By moirafinnie : January 9, 2011 4:51 pm

Hi Kim,
It’s great fun to read your take on Peter Sellers and the reactions of other commenters to his work.

Two Sellers movies I have a weakness for:

Heavens Above! (1963) was one of the last of Peter Sellers’ small scale comedies. It is a very droll satire on the British class system with Sellers as a gentle prison chaplain, Rev. Smallwood (the names of characters in this movie are just about perfect), who seems impervious to the venal, mean world he lives in (in and out of the prison walls). Mistakenly assigned to a snobbish parish, Sellers contends with aristocrats, working class layabouts, resentful servants, and appalled clergy (Cecil Parker is brilliant as a hirsute archdeacon, as is the whole cast). Based on an idea by that prickly Christian Malcolm Muggeridge and developed by John Boulting and Frank Harvey, it is one of Sellers’ sweetest portrayals of a man who really believes in and tries to apply The Sermon on the Mount to the real world with comical results.

The Wrong Box (1966) is a very funny ensemble piece, but Sellers small role as the dubious Doctor Pratt is a stand-out. Asked to prepare some dicey paperwork for a fee, his doctor, surrounded by incredible squalor in his dark aerie teeming with cats, uses a kitten as an ink blotter after afixing his signature to a bogus document and has a coughing fit that he assures his visitor is “just a furball.”

I’m also very partial to The World of Henry Orient and After the Fox, but less enthralled by his big time Hollywood films. He seemed to be something special when he was part of an ensemble rather than the star, but maybe that’s just me.

Posted By Kimberly Lindbergs : January 10, 2011 4:22 pm

Thanks for all the feedback, everyone! I enjoy reading about other films that Seller fans enjoy or dislike. I wasn’t that impressed with THE WRONG BOX or AFTER THE FOX when I first saw them but I love the casts in both films so you’ve all encouraged me to give them another look. And I’ll definitely give HEAVENS ABOVE! & that Hope/Cosby movie a look. I tend to enjoy Hope on his own since I’m afraid that I’m not a big Cosby fan (apologies to his fans!) so I haven’t seen many of the films they made together.

As for Sellers’ fascination with India, I think it may have started when he was stationed there during WW2. He got more and more interested in the culture, music, religion, etc. over time and it was encouraged by his friends like Beatles’ member, George Harrison. I think that’s probably why (or at least one major reason) he enjoyed playing East Indian characters in movies a lot.

I did see The Life and Death of Peter Sellers and thought it was really interesting (Rush was great as Sellers!) but I know his family members had mixed reactions to it. Some liked it and others hated it. Britt Ekland for example threatened the original author of the book it was based on (he also wrote the script) because she was so upset by it so I enjoyed at as one view of Sellers’ life but obviously not the “be-all-end-all” representation. As if there could ever be such a thing? Autobiographical movies are always tricky things since they tend to be rather limited in their scope but I really liked the way the film was presented and like Medusa Morlock, I’d recommend it as well.

Posted By JK : February 1, 2011 6:36 am

I’ve watched CASINO ROYALE a few times over the years and I just see a big, glorious but unfunny train wreck. My understanding is that Sellers walked off the movie and the furious producers let him, allowing David Niven to be the star for the second half.

I’ve read two biographies of Sellers, THE LIFE & DEATH OF PETER SELLERS (I read the original 1100-page British version) and MISTER STRANGELOVE, and wondered if he was insane for most of his life.

But I’m still in awe of his Kubrick films. His opening scene in LOLITA and especially his scenes as the withered Nazi in DR. STRANGELOVE. Pure comic genius.

Posted By Frank James Davis : February 9, 2011 2:54 pm

In “Being There,” a comedy of errors eventually leads an ill-advised public to come to view Sellers’ character, Chance, as a man who offers the world deeply-to-be-plumbed wisdom in what are actually simple gardener’s tips. Because of their own monumental shallowness, they fail to notice that Chance “knows” things he doesn’t know; says things he isn’t saying and “represents” something he couldn’t possibly conceive.
This movie triumph, they tell me, is a mere farce.
I see it as today’s news.

MovieMorlocks.com is the official blog for TCM. No topic is too obscure or niche to be excluded from our film discussions. And we welcome your comments on our blogs and bloggers.