England,
2002, 88 min
Shown in 2003
CREDITS
- dir
-
Anthony Wall, Peter Lydon
- prod
-
Anthony Wall, Peter Lydon
- editor
-
Roy Deverell
- source
-
Arena, Room 2168, BBC White City, London W12 7TS, UK. FAX: 44-20-8752-6559. EMAIL: anthony.wall@bbc.co.uk.
OTHER
Appearing in more than 50 films over the course of 30 years, Peter Sellers established himself as one of the century’s great comedic actors. In addition to starring in such classics as Dr. Strangelove, The Pink Panther, Lolita and Being There, Sellers was an avid film hobbyist, shooting hundreds of hours of home movie footage on a 16mm camera. And while the success of his feature films—as well as the turmoil of his personal life—made Sellers an international celebrity, he was never as candid with his public as he was in private, with his camera. Produced by the BBC, The Peter Sellers Story... as he filmed it is constructed almost entirely of Sellers’ home movie footage, and offers a unique look at the funnyman’s erratic and powerful genius. Sellers’ own camera frames his development from successful comedian to world-famous celebrity, while radio performances, personal sound recordings and interviews with close friends, family and colleagues provide the soundtrack to the intimate and revealing pictures. Featuring an array of Sellers conspirators—including Sophia Loren, Orson Welles and Prince Charles—this fascinating document will intrigue his fans and general film buffs alike. The Peter Sellers Story... as he filmed it provides a rare glimpse into the complicated private world of film’s most notorious comic chameleon.
—Aaron Lazenby
FACTOID #173
Though he starred in an Opening Night film (1967’s How I Won the War), lent his image and songs to 1968’s Festival entry Yellow Submarine and was scheduled to appear at the 1971 Festival with wife Yoko for an evening of their short films, John Lennon never attended the SFIFF.
