The Party (2 Disc Special Edition) [1968]

Amazon.co.uk Review

Though this film is a relatively minor one in the massive canon of Peter Sellers, it has moments of absolute hilarity. Written and directed by Blake Edwards, one of Sellers' most fertile collaborators, the film stars Sellers as a would-be actor from India (let them try to get away with that today) who is a walking disaster area. After ruining a day's shooting as an extra on a film, he finds himself unintentionally invited to a big Hollywood party. That's pretty much it as far as plot goes, but Edwards and Sellers know how to milk a simple idea for an unending string of slapstick gags. The result is a film that is episodic and sketchy but also frequently loony in an inspired way. --Marshall Fine

Customer Reviews:

Cinematic brilliance.......2008-01-13

Sellers was a true comic genius, especially when compared with others who have attracted similar praise more recently. This film is a fine display of his talents.

one of the best P Sellers movies.......2007-12-12

This must be without the best portrayal of an Indian character in the film industry. At the same time the movie utilised some ground breaking technical techniques (as explained on the second DVD) that were used ever since as a standard (such as instant video reviewing of scenes, provision of only a loose scripting framework with much of the moves and dialogue developing on set, and more).

If you need a guaranteed laugh this is the movie for you. Mr Bean is a pale shadow in comparison (and that is not saying that you have to like Mr Bean to like this movie ...)

Flawed, but Outstanding (spoilers).......2007-09-02

The Party is my all-time favourite Peter Sellers movie. That it succeeds at all is a tribute to Peter Sellers & Blake Edwards collaboration...it was originally meant to be a silent film, but apparently Sellers turned up on Day 1 of filming and said, "I can't do it as a silent movie. You'll have to write a script." Edwards considered this, and replied, "We'll improvise it." IMPROV! Virtually the WHOLE film was IMPROV! Astonishing! *** The Party had everything...social & political comment; running gags; culture clash; a teenage daughter rebelling, by bringing a baby Elephant home to her parents' fancy party...East vs. West, in terms of eastern philosophies versus western individualism, the daughter bringing home an Elephant (that had been painted all over with wacky slogans) - was met with Sellers' character, Hurindi V.Bakshi, her "It's insulting to my country - wash it off! Wash it all off!" So they wash it off, using way too much dish washing liquid...and the bubbles spread throughout the house, until you can no longer see the floor...

The Party was somewhat uneven; that was its only flaw. However, the slapstick, physical comedy had perfect timing, and was brilliantly funny. I love it!

The Party.......2006-12-09

one of the best comedy films ever I never get bored with this one just laugh after laugh

A deserved cult classic.......2006-12-08

'The Party' is something of an archetypal Blake Edwards film in that it was dismissed by both critics and audiences on its first release, but over the years has subsequently become something of a cult favourite. In this case, the film is not only considered (rightly) to be a classic Edwards-Sellers collaboration, but also something of a milestone in comedy cinematic history with its largely improvised style hanging off a very thin, almost non-existent plot.

What makes it all the more a remarkable achievement is that it was made at a time when both director and star were in the middle of something of a career rut - neither having had a solid hit since 'A Shot in the Dark' 4 years previously, Sellers was to appear in the hideously overdone 'Casino Royale' before sliding into virtual obscurity, appearing in a series of minor and largely forgettable films (two of which where considered so poor by the distributors that they were never released!), while Edwards was to go on to make the hugely expensive flop 'Darling Lili' and fared no better with his big screen version of 'Gunn' and his John Ford-esque western 'Wild Rovers', both performed badly at the box-office and nearly made Edwards give up moviemaking and retire to Europe! Only with 'The Return of the Pink Panther' in 1974 did both their careers finally get back on track.

As mentioned before, 'The Party' was largely improvised, with a slender script of just 60 pages being used as a basic outline for scenes. This is perhaps why the film is so well loved as it gives both star and director a chance to work on their greatest strengths: Edwards for setting up farcical slapstick comedy situations, and Sellers the chance to give a glorious character-based interpretation. As for accusations of political incorrectnness, the main character of Hirundi V Bakshi is very much the hero of the story, with the audience sympathising with him every step of the way. His inpetness makes him endearing and there is none of the "funny foreigner" antics that make other comedies like 'Mind Your Language' and 'It Aint Half Hot Mum' embarassing to watch today. Sellers was a great admirer of Indian culture and his mannerisms displayed here are not played for laughs or to stereotype but are part of the characters reactions to the mayhem around him. The villains of the piece are the snobbish Hollywood moguls and moneymen who make up Tinsletowns ruling elite (Edwards was to treat them much harsher in his later satire 'S.O.B.').

The DVD presentation is excellent, with a beautifully sharp anamorphic picture and remastered digital 5.1 stereo sound. The extras include a making of documentray and a rather technical feature about the early use of videotape to replay scenes just shot (a standrad practice in all moviemaking nowadays).

A highly reccomended comedy classic to cherish, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.

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