In 1957's The Naked Truth Terry Thomas plays a dodgy peer of the realm being blackmailed in the company of Peter Sellers, Peggy Mount and Shirley Eaton by a gutter press journalist, Dennis Price ("Don't try to appeal to my better nature, because I haven't one"). One fascinating element in this picture is the portrayal of those relationships that could be only suggested in a period of tighter censorship, such as Peter Sellers' TV personality and Kenneth Griffith as his dresser, whose gay relationship is only faintly etched in here. More overt is the characterisation of a masculine looking authoress, known only by her initials, but sporting Agatha Christie's hairdo. The moments of slapstick are brought off to a tee, as when the larger-than-life Peggy Mount attempts a suicide drop from her window to be saved by an awning on a shop front. On the DVD: The Naked Truth comes to DVD in 4:3 ratio and with a mono soundtrack. The only extra feature is a trailer. More TT tomfoolery can be found in the three-disc Terry Thomas Collection. --Adrian Edwards
When the famous Pink Panther diamond goes missing the bumbling Inspector Clouseau goes on the trail of notorious jewel thief The Phantom but looks everywhere except in the right place!
Long Lost Comedy Classics is a collection of films from a golden age of British Cinema remembered stars and some unique movies that have stood the test of time. So why not take a trip down memory lane and see how cinema used to be? A Sleepy army barracks is about to be overrun by a film company planning to shoot a science fiction caper. And it's not long before the enticing female stars persuade the boys of the brigade to take part - much to the annoyance of the Divisional Commander who decides to make a surprise inspection. This wonderful comedy is packed with character and features some of the finest British talent of the age - including Tony Hancock Peter Sellers and Sid James.
Two valuable early Peter Sellers performances rescued from obscurity and reconstructed as completely as possible. Both films provide an important insight into British comedy history and specifically chart the beginning of Sellers' rise to stardom.
Boasting a star studded international cast of Academy Award Winners nominees and BAFTA recipients including Peter Sellers (The Pink Panther Dr Strangelove The Goon Show) as the March Hare Michael Crawford (Some Mothers Do Ave 'Em Hello Dolly!) as the White Rabbit Dudley Moore (10 Arthur Bedazzled) as Dormouse Spike Milligan (The Goon Show Adolf Hitler-My Part in his Downfall) Sir Michael Hordern (Where Eagles Dare Gandhi) Sir Ralph Richardson (Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan Lord of the Apes Doctor Zhivago) & Fiona Fullerton (View to a Kill) as Alice. Filmed to mark the centenary of the completion of the Alice novels this extravagantly lush British spectacle which brings Sir John Tenniel's famous illustrations enchantingly to life with a bewitching score by James Bond composer John Barry and BAFTA winning cinematography by Geoffrey Unsworth (2001: A Space Odyssey Superman) is presented in its original aspect ratio 2.35.1 Todd-AO 35 'Scope.
When American businesswoman Angela Barrows (Constance Cummings) is sent by her company to Edinburgh to look into potential export markets, she meets Robert MacPherson (Robert Morley), a company manager who has just inherited his father's textile business and wants her advice on updating it to modern standards. Before long Angela is introducing all sorts of newfangled ideas and the employees, scandalised that they have to work under a female boss, turn to Mr Martin (Peter Sellers), who promises to lead the fight against the interloper. Presented in High Definition and Standard Definition ***FIRST PRESSING ONLY*** Fully illustrated booklet with new writing on the film and full film credits Extras TBC
Anthony Hopeʼs classic novel gets a comical remake courtesy of Peter Sellers. After the King of Ruritania dies in a hot air balloon accident, his eldest son is kidnapped by the evil prince Michael, his younger brother, who hopes to snatch the throne. To foil these dastardly plans, a stand-in is needed for the impending coronation. But will the London cabbie lookalike they've chosen be up to the task? Taking on multiple roles, this Peter Sellers comedy is one not to be missed!
Along with co-stars David Niven Robert Wagner and Capucine comedy genius Peter Sellers first introduced the world to the hilarious bumbling French Inspector Jacques Clouseau in this 'delightful caper' (Leonard Maltin). When a suave jewel thief (Niven) sets out to rob a princess of both her heart and her priceless diamond The Pink Panther Clouseau falls all over himself - literally - to try to stop the crime.
Although they made their name in the medium of radio, the legendary Goons also made brief forays into the world of television and, with Down Among the Z Men, film. It captures the team at a very early stage in their career, with Michael Bentine still in the fold, and with their unique, anarchic brand of humour still in its infancy. Sadly, the style and feel of the film does little to suit their comedy style. While radio offered an opportunity for their imaginations to run riot, here the four find themselves tied to a few stock characters, most of whom would make a more animated appearances later in their career. The plot--with its tale of eccentric professors and evil spies--sees a series of musical numbers and a variety performance crow barred into the proceedings. Those who wish to add to an already existing Goons collection may want to consider this, but anyone wondering what all the fuss is about should head straight for the many radio collections available and hear the sound of true genius at work. On The DVD: Down Among the Z Men offers little to recommend, with the DVD lacking in any extras whatsoever. Being taken from an original fifties print, the black and white picture is of reasonable quality yet cannot help but look extremely dated. At best it is the sort of curio that would pass time on a Sunday afternoon but it is hard to consider this a particularly essential DVD release. -Phil Udell
Winning BAFTAs for Best British Screenplay and Best British Actor (Peter Sellers) I’M ALL RIGHT JACK is popularly considered to be the best of John and Roy Boulting’s social satires.Sellers plays both Sir John Kennaway and the tragic-comic trade union leader Fred Kite. The result is laugh-out-loud comedy with a satiric edge lampooning the then-burning issue of industrial relations. Bertram Tracepurcel (Dennis Price) plans to make a fortune from a missile contract a scheme that involves manipulating his innocent nephew Stanley Windrush (Ian Carmichael) into acting as the catalyst in an escalating labour dispute from which the socialist Mr. Kite is only too keen to make capital. Featuring a superb supporting cast including Terry-Thomas Richard Attenborough John Le Mesurier Irene Handl and Margaret Rutherford this is an ingenious comedy about the British workplace and self-serving hypocrisy. A sequel to 1956’s A Private’s Progress the film is bought roaringly to life by Sellers’ astonishing turn as the Stalinist unionist. Bonus Features: Brand new interview with Liz Fraser The Running Jumping & Standing Still Film Cinefile: Seller’s Best
Winning BAFTAs for Best British Screenplay and Best British Actor (Peter Sellers) I’M ALL RIGHT JACK is popularly considered to be the best of John and Roy Boulting’s social satires.Sellers plays both Sir John Kennaway and the tragic-comic trade union leader Fred Kite. The result is laugh-out-loud comedy with a satiric edge lampooning the then-burning issue of industrial relations. Bertram Tracepurcel (Dennis Price) plans to make a fortune from a missile contract a scheme that involves manipulating his innocent nephew Stanley Windrush (Ian Carmichael) into acting as the catalyst in an escalating labour dispute from which the socialist Mr. Kite is only too keen to make capital. Featuring a superb supporting cast including Terry-Thomas Richard Attenborough John Le Mesurier Irene Handl and Margaret Rutherford this is an ingenious comedy about the British workplace and self-serving hypocrisy. A sequel to 1956’s A Private’s Progress the ?lm is bought roaringly to life by Sellers’ astonishing turn as the Stalinist unionist. Bonus Features: Brand new interview with Liz Fraser The Running Jumping & Standing Still Film Cinefile: Seller’s Best
The Pink Panther Cartoon Collection stars everyones favourite cool cat in 124 original theatrical Pink Panther cartoons from the 1960s and 1970s. 1964-1969 MIRISCH GEOFFREY O.F. THE PINK PANTHER and the Pink Panther Figure are trademarks of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Two warring elderly brothers and their respective heirs are determined that each will outlive the other in an attempt to hold onto the family fortune and will stop at nothing even murder to achieve their goal. Bryan Forbes' riotous black comedy, based on the 1889 novel by Robert Louis Stevenson and Lloyd Osbourne, stars some of the greatest talents of the day, including Peter Sellers, Michael Caine, Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Tony Hancock, Ralph Richardson, Nanette Newman and John Mills. Extras: INDICATOR LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES: High Definition remaster Original mono audio The British Entertainment History Project Interview with Bryan Forbes (1994): archival audio recording of the celebrated filmmaker in conversation with Roy Fowler New and exclusive audio commentary with film historians Josephine Botting and Vic Pratt Interview with Nanette Newman (2018): the award-winning actor talks about The Wrong Box and her work with husband Bryan Forbes Original theatrical trailer Image gallery: promotional photography and publicity material New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing Limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Vic Pratt, an overview of contemporary critical responses and historic articles on the film World premiere on Blu-ray LIMITED EDITION OF 3,000 copies
An amiable knock-off of the Ealing comedy style, The Smallest Show on Earth starts with aspiring novelist Bill Travers and his "nice gel" wife Virginia McKenna inheriting a cinema from a hitherto unknown uncle and discovering that it isn't the sumptuous modern Grand, which specialises in those "smash 'em in the face, knock 'em over the waterfront" pictures, but the decrepit Bijou, known locally as "the fleapit". The initial plan, set up by lawyer Leslie Phillips, is to sell off the cinema to the owner of the Grand so he can knock it down to make a car park, but our heroes are put off by the arrogant bullying of the rival manager (Francis De Wolff) and succumb to the inept charms of the crazed, aged staff--drunken projectionist Peter Sellers, doddery commissionaire Bernard Miles and dotty ticket lady Margaret Rutherford (who joined the team as a piano accompanist). In the 1950s, there was a run of gentle British comedies in which outmoded and broken-down local institutions (steam trains, tugboats, vintage cars) were saved by collections of committed eccentrics who despised the new-fangled bus services or soulless council bureaucracies and were willing to resort to a little larceny (in this case, arson). The Smallest Show slots in perfectly with the cycle, getting laughs from the Bijou's already outmoded programme of scratchy Westerns and desert dramas (which increase ice cream sales) and sentiment over the staff's midnight screenings of silent movies that remind them of better days. It's likeable rather than hilarious, with Sellers and Miles buried under crepe hair and fake wrinkles competing to out-dodder each other and losing the picture to the inimitable Rutherford, who doesn't have to fake her eccentricity. Pin-up, June Cunningham, is the glamorous usherette and Sid James plays her annoyed Dad. On the DVD: The Smallest Show on Earth is presented in a decent print, but with no extras. The film is also available as part of the four-disc Peter Sellers Collection. --Kim Newman
Based upon harrowing real events which were turned in to a 1955 novel by Jean-Paul Clébert, The Blockhouse starts explosively with an Allied air raid on a Nazi prison camp. Six escaped prisoners take shelter in an underground blockhouse, which is soon destroyed by heavy shelling. Trapped underground, with an almost endless supply of food, wine and candles, the men must endure confinement with no prospect of escape or rescue. Featuring a stunning ensemble cast that includes Peter Sellers (Hoffman), Charles Aznavour (Shoot the Pianist), Peter Vaughan (Symptoms), Jeremy Kemp (The Strange Affair), Per Oscarsson (A Dandy in Aspic) and Leon Lissek (Marat/Sade), The Blockhouse was filmed on the Channel Islands in a horribly dank and dark underground bunker, giving the film a suffocating sense of claustrophobia. This new restoration edition marks the film's worldwide Blu-ray premiere.
Comic genius Peter Sellers is joined by Robert Morley Constance Cummings and Donald Pleasence in this delightful satire on sexual politics based on a short story by James Thurber (The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty) and directed by Charles Crichton (A Fish Called Wanda). It is the 1950's and the post war business world is being rocked by a shocking phenomenon: The New Woman. A supreme example is Angela Barrows a man eating American consultant who takes the sex war into one of the last bastions of male supremecy: Scotland. But has she met her match in Mr Martin a grey haired tee total bachelor? He seems an unlikely 'Superman' to take on this Amazonian predator but beneath Mr Martin's modest facade lies that extra 'something' which other me simply do not have.
The world's greatest detectives have been invited to dinner. But when murder is on the menu who will make it to dessert? You are cordially invited to join an all-star cast featuring Peter Sellers David Niven Peter Falk James Coco Elsa Lanchester Maggie Smith Alec Guinness Eileen Brennan Nancy Walker James Cromwell and Estelle Winwood for Neil Simon's hilarious murder-mystery spoof Murder By Death. The isolated mansion of eccentric millionaire Lionel Twain (Truman Capote) is the setting for the twisted puzzler. Twain informs his guests that one of them will be murdered at the stroke of midnight. The pay-off: $1 million to whoever lives through the night. Murder By Death cleverly sends up both the mystery genre and the characterisations of a host of these instantly recognisable gumshoes. Match wits with the super sleuths but remember you can't win if you end up dying from laughter!
San Ferry Ann: A motley crew of British characters ride The San Ferry Ann to the shores of France where they embark on a weekend of calamity. This is a humorous take on the tradition of the British get-away and is a true classic of the ‘sound effect’ comedy. Simon Simon: Two handyman cause chaos on a new crane whilst haphazardly trying to accomplish jobs for their ever more frustrated boss. A Home Of Your Own: In this satirical look at British Builders, many cups of tea are made, windows are broken and the same section of road is dug up over and over again by the water board, the electricity board and the gas board.
Following Clouseau's supposed assassination Dreyfus is declared sane and released. But how will he cope with the truth when he finds out that the Inspector is actually alive and undercover working with Kato to discover who wanted him dead?
Remembered dimly as Peter Sellers' only venture into "serious" acting, Never Let Go has a lot of other things to recommend it, mostly because it manages to include a lot of the lurid elements that gained it an X certificate in 1960. It has a near-demented melodrama plot, as two desperate obsessives collide in a bizarre feud. Richard Todd, doing meek and put-upon, is a sales rep for smug Peter Jones' cosmetics firm whose life is turned upside-down when his Ford Anglia, bought on hire purchase and uninsured, is stolen by teddy boy Adam Faith. Looking like an inhabitant of Royston Vasey in The League of Gentlemen, Sellers plays a grinning, jumped-up spiv who runs a legitimate garage which is a front for the car thieves and is sugar daddy to teenage tartlet Carol White. Typical of Sellers' demonic rottenness is a scene in which he breaks down-and-out Melvyn Johns' heart by stamping on his beloved terrapin. "Peanut" Todd's crusade to get back his motor (catchphrase "what about my car?") brings trouble too: he gets repeatedly beaten up, abandoned by his wife (Elizabeth Sellars) and dragged to the edge of madness for a final punch-up in a garage. With a delightfully sleazy, jazzy John Barry score, lots of local colour in the caffs and gaffs of criminal London circa 1960 and a parade of welcome character actors (John le Mesurier, David Lodge, Noel Willman, Nigel Stock), this has its soapy spells, but it's a fascinating relic. On the DVD: Never Let Go's menu plays under Faith's theme song ("When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again--Oh Yeah Oh Yeah!"). The print is slightly letterboxed but looks a few generations away from the master with some careless transfer work that greys shadows and overexposes some scenes. --Kim Newman
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