Peter Sellers

Peter Sellers

Born: September 8, 1925
Died: July 24, 1980
in Southsea, Hampshire, England, UK
Richard Henry Sellers, CBE (September 8, 1925 – July 24, 1980), known as Peter Sellers, was a British comedian and actor best known as Chief Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther film series, for playing three different characters in Dr. Strangelove, as Clare Quilty in Lolita, and as the man-child and TV-addicted Chance the gardener in his penultimate film, Being There. Leading actress Bette Davis once remarked of him, "He isn't an actor—he's a chameleon." Sellers rose to fame on the BBC Radio comedy series The Goon Show. His ability to speak in different accents (e.g., French, Indian, American, German, as well as British regional accents), along with his talent to portray a range of characters to comic effect, contributed to his success as a radio personality and screen actor and earned him national and international nominations and awards. Many of his characters became ingrained in public perception of his work. Sellers' private life was characterized by turmoil and crises, and included emotional problems and substance abuse. Sellers was married four times, and had three children from the first two marriages.

An enigmatic figure, he often claimed to have no identity outside the roles that he played, but he left his own portrait since, "he obsessively filmed his homes, his family, people he knew, anything that took his fancy right to the end of his life—intimate film that remained undiscovered until long after his death in 1980." The director Peter Hall has said: "Peter had the ability to identify completely with another person, and think his way physically, mentally and emotionally into their skin. Where does that come from? I have no idea. Is it a curse? Often. I think it's not enough though in this business to have talent. You have to have talent to handle the talent. And that I think Peter did not have."

Description above from the Wikipedia article Peter Sellers, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Movies for Peter Sellers...

Peter Sellers: Genius at Work
Title: Peter Sellers: Genius at Work
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: September 21, 2023
Type: Movie
An intimate portrait of the comic genius and one of Britain's greatest comic actors, with rare home movie footage of him at play. Peter Sellers' friends recall his obsessions with his leading ladies, superstitions, and a complicated relationship with his devoted mother. Plus, contributors, including Nanette Newman, Audrey Nicholson, Valerie Leon, and Charlie Higson, celebrate his multifaceted brilliance.
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Title: The Beatles: Get Back
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: November 25, 2021
Type: TV
The three-part documentary series, compiled from over 60 hours of unseen footage, captures the warmth, camaraderie, and creative genius that defined the legacy of music’s most iconic foursome. The series also includes – for the first time in its entirety – The Beatles’ final performance at London’s Savile Row.
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Kubrick by Kubrick
Title: Kubrick by Kubrick
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: October 22, 2020
Type: Movie
A rare and transcendent journey into the life and films of the legendary Stanley Kubrick like we've never seen before, featuring a treasure trove of unearthed interview recordings from the master himself.
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Peter Sellers: A State of Comic Ecstasy
Title: Peter Sellers: A State of Comic Ecstasy
Character: Self (Archival Footage)
Released: May 9, 2020
Type: Movie
The comedy pioneer behind the Goon Show, Dr Strangelove and the Pink Panther series is explored in depth in this film, surveying his meteoric rise to fame and troubled personal life.
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The Ghost of Peter Sellers
Title: The Ghost of Peter Sellers
Character: Himself (Archive)
Released: August 30, 2018
Type: Movie
A documentary about Peter Medak's unreleased film 'Ghost in the Noonday Sun', starring Peter Sellers and filmed in Cyprus in 1973.
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Spike Milligan: Love, Light and Peace
Title: Spike Milligan: Love, Light and Peace
Character: Himself (archive footage)
Released: December 10, 2014
Type: Movie
A very personal portrait of the truly unique comedy genius of Spike Milligan, as told in his own words and featuring exclusive home movie footage. With contributions from those who worked with him, lived with him and were inspired by him.
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The 9th Wonder of the World:  The Making of 'Gorgo'
Title: The 9th Wonder of the World: The Making of 'Gorgo'
Character: The Villain Antony (archive footage)
Released: March 19, 2013
Type: Movie
Retrospective documentary on the making of Gorgo (1961).
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The World of Peter Sellers
Title: The World of Peter Sellers
Released: September 15, 2009
Type: Movie
Banned by the BBC in 1971, director Tony Palmer's profile of the late Peter Sellers was, in the words of the film's subject himself, "the only portrait which really understood me." Sellers was an icon of comedy and a true innovator, but a look inside reveals a tragic figure. How could one of the world's most beloved comic talents have such a morbidly distorted opinion of himself? In this documentary, interviews with such friends, fans, and colleagues as Raquel Welch, Yul Brenner, Spike Milligan, Laurence Harvey, and others reveal the true personality behind the man who was loved by everyone, but still viewed himself as entirely alone.
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Hitler: The Comedy Years
Title: Hitler: The Comedy Years
Character: Dr. Strangelove / Fred Kite (archive footage) (uncredited)
Released: May 10, 2007
Type: Movie
A documentary about the portrayal of Adolf Hitler in popular culture.
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Best Sellers or: Peter Sellers and 'Dr. Strangelove'
Title: Best Sellers or: Peter Sellers and 'Dr. Strangelove'
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: October 28, 2004
Type: Movie
Documentary about actor Peter Sellers and one of his most memorable film roles.
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The Peter Sellers Story - As He Filmed It
Title: The Peter Sellers Story - As He Filmed It
Character: Himself
Released: April 23, 2003
Type: Movie
Through voiceovers from Peter Sellers and colleagues, collaborators and wives, this revealing film, which contains many rare moments of previously unseen footage, builds a fascinating and unique record of a unique genius and a compelling and definitive portrait of the man and his life.
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The Paranormal Peter Sellers
Title: The Paranormal Peter Sellers
Character: Self (Archive footage)
Released: January 1, 2001
Type: Movie
This documentary revealed Peter Sellers obsession with the occult. Sellers was a highly superstitious man who consulted fortune tellers, clairvoyants and mediums to help him make key decisions in his life and work. Many of Sellers important decisions were influenced by Maurice Woodruff - a clairvoyant and astrologer based in London. Advice from the other side was taken on his marriage to Britt Ekland, accepting film roles such as Inspector Clouseau and dealing with his near fatal heart attack.
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Spike
Title: Spike
Character: Himself
Released: June 11, 1996
Type: Movie
Spike personally tells the story of his life from India, World War II to The Goons and his Q series
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The Peter Sellers Story
Title: The Peter Sellers Story
Character: Himself
Released: July 9, 1995
Type: Movie
Told in his own words, and including many well-known personalities from Stanley Kubrick, Sophia Loren and Robert Wagner to members of the Royal Family, in particular Princess Margaret and Prince Charles, this revealing film builds a fascinating and definitive record of a unique genius. Using a unique collection of his own home movies shot between 1948 and 1977 and discovered years after his death, this film presents an intriguing and intimate portrait of Peter Sellers. A DVD was issued entitled "Peter Sellers - As He Filmed It" which is a 97 minute edit of this original broadcast. Not long after the 3 part documentary series was broadcast it was pulled due to "licencing" issues over home-movie footage used that the Sellers estate had not agreed to. The BBC lost the case I believe and thus the reason for the 97mins DVD that was then later released excising the vast majority of the rare illuminating footage.
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Title: Funny Business
Character: (archive footage)
Released: November 22, 1992
Type: TV
Funny Business is a documentary style television series about the craft of comedy consisting of six 50-minute episodes. The first episode aired in the UK 22 November 1992. The show was also shown in Germany and released on video. It was directed by David Hinton. The writers were Rowan Atkinson, Robin Driscoll, and David Hinton. It was produced by Tiger Television Productions. The show featured appearances by many comedians, including Rowan Atkinson who made an appearance both as the presenter/narrator, and as an aspiring comedy actor named Kevin. Atkinson demonstrated many of the principles of comedy in a manner which was instantly identifiable to anyone familiar with his Mr. Bean character.
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Sellers' Best
Title: Sellers' Best
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: February 1, 1992
Type: Movie
One of the all-time greatest comedians, Peter Sellers’ mimicry, timing, instinct and ability to decimate an audience with laughter made him absolutely unforgettable. Combining comedy and acting like no one before, or since, Sellers starred in legendary cult films such as Dr Strangelove Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb and The Return of the Pink Panther. Sellers’ Best explores not only his comedic talent but goes beneath to examine the man himself and features interviews with those who knew him best, such as Spike Milligan, Beryl Reid and John Sessions
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The Very Best of Peter Sellers
Title: The Very Best of Peter Sellers
Released: January 1, 1990
Type: Movie
A definitive collection of his very best work on TV: The Very Best of Peter Sellers.
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Muppet Video: Rowlf's Rhapsodies with the Muppets
Title: Muppet Video: Rowlf's Rhapsodies with the Muppets
Character: Self
Released: October 1, 1985
Type: Movie
Rowlf's Rhapsodies with the Muppets was released by Playhouse Video in 1985, as part of a series of compilations featuring songs and sketches from The Muppet Show. In this one hour special, Rowlf the Dog presents a compilation of his best numbers and other silly songs from The Muppet Show. Gonzo and Scooter interrupt him several times, and Fozzie Bear and Miss Piggy make appearances as well. Muppet Show guest star appearances include George Burns, Petula Clark, Peter Sellers, Marisa Berenson and Steve Martin.
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Muppet Treasures
Title: Muppet Treasures
Character: Self
Released: July 9, 1985
Type: Movie
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Trail of the Pink Panther
Title: Trail of the Pink Panther
Character: Chief Insp. Jacques Clouseau (archive footage)
Released: December 3, 1982
Type: Movie
The Pink Panther diamond is stolen once again from Lugash and the authorities call in Chief Inspector Clouseau from France. His plane disappears en-route. This time, famous French TV reporter Marie Jouvet sets out to solve the mystery and starts to interview everybody connected to Clouseau.
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Eric Sykes: One of the Great Troupers
Title: Eric Sykes: One of the Great Troupers
Character: Self (archive material)
Released: December 10, 1981
Type: Movie
With film clips and photos, Eric Sykes gives a tongue-in-cheek account of his follies and fortunes as an actor, gag writer, and comedian in a long and successful career in the theatre, on radio and television. He pays tribute to his friends in showbusiness and in particular to Hattie Jacques, Richard Wattis and the team of his long-running Sykes series.
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The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu
Title: The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu
Character: Fu Manchu / Nayland Smith
Released: August 8, 1980
Type: Movie
Fu Manchu's 168th birthday celebration is dampened when a hapless flunky spills Fu's age-regressing elixir vitae. Fu sends his lackeys to round up ingredients for a new batch of elixir, starting with the Star of Leningrad diamond, nabbed from a Soviet exhibition in Washington. The FBI sends agents Capone and Williams to England to confer with Nayland Smith, an expert on Fu.
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Being There
Title: Being There
Character: Chance
Released: December 19, 1979
Type: Movie
A simple-minded gardener named Chance has spent all his life in the Washington D.C. house of an old man. When the man dies, Chance is put out on the street with no knowledge of the world except what he has learned from television.
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The Prisoner of Zenda
Title: The Prisoner of Zenda
Character: Rudolf IV/Rudolf V/Sidney Frewin
Released: August 17, 1979
Type: Movie
Anthony Hope's classic tale gets a decidedly 'un-classic' treatment at the hands of Peter Sellers. Following the story somewhat, friends of the new King Rudolph of Ruritania fear for his life, and switch him with a look-a-like London cabby. Throw in two(!) lovely blondes, treachery, and a battle for life and honour, and enjoy life at its zaniest.
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Mickey's 50
Title: Mickey's 50
Character: Self
Released: November 19, 1978
Type: Movie
"Mickey's 50" is a 90-minute special that aired on The Wonderful World of Disney on November 19, 1978. The special was made to commemorate the 50th birthday of Mickey Mouse and highlights many moments in his career.
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Title: Rire et sourire : Le Splendid
Character: Extrait du film « La Malédiction de la Panthère rose », 1978
Released: November 19, 1978
Type: TV
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Revenge of the Pink Panther
Title: Revenge of the Pink Panther
Character: Chief Inspector Clouseau
Released: January 8, 1978
Type: Movie
Chief Inspector Jacques Clouseau is dead. At least that is what the world—and Charles Dreyfus—believe when a dead body is discovered in Clouseau's car after being shot off the road. Naturally, Clouseau knows differently and, taking advantage of not being alive, sets out to discover why an attempt was made on his life.
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Kingdom Of Gifts
Title: Kingdom Of Gifts
Character: The Slightly Larcenous Mayor
Released: January 1, 1978
Type: Movie
Set in a monarchy
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To See Such Fun
Title: To See Such Fun
Released: November 1, 1977
Type: Movie
Compilation of classic British comedy moments
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The Pink Panther Strikes Again
Title: The Pink Panther Strikes Again
Character: Chief Inspector Clouseau
Released: December 15, 1976
Type: Movie
Charles Dreyfus, who has finally cracked over inspector Clouseau's antics, escapes from a mental institution and launches an elaborate plan to get rid of Clouseau once and for all.
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Title: The Muppet Show
Character: Self - Special Guest Star
Released: September 5, 1976
Type: TV
Go behind the curtains as Kermit the Frog and his muppet friends struggle to put on a weekly variety show.
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Murder by Death
Title: Murder by Death
Character: Sidney Wang
Released: June 23, 1976
Type: Movie
Lionel Twain invites the world's five greatest detectives to a 'dinner and murder'. Included are a blind butler, a deaf-mute maid, screams, spinning rooms, secret passages, false identities and more plot turns and twists than are decently allowed.
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The Return of the Pink Panther
Title: The Return of the Pink Panther
Character: Inspector Clouseau
Released: May 21, 1975
Type: Movie
The famous Pink Panther jewel has once again been stolen and Inspector Clouseau is called in to catch the thief. The Inspector is convinced that 'The Phantom' has returned and utilises all of his resources – himself and his Asian manservant – to reveal the identity of 'The Phantom'.
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Julie: My Favourite Things
Title: Julie: My Favourite Things
Character: Various
Released: April 18, 1975
Type: Movie
A Julie Andrews special with The Muppets and Peter Sellers.
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The Great McGonagall
Title: The Great McGonagall
Character: Queen Victoria
Released: January 23, 1975
Type: Movie
In this high-camp farce, Goons legend Spike Milligan stars as William Topaz McGonagall, an unemployed Scottish weaver and aspiring poet laureate who falls in love with Queen Victoria - a brilliant cameo by Peter Sellers - and thereafter devotes his banal poetry to her. Though McGonagall's solicitations are rejected by the Queen, it doesn't stop the turgid prose, and pathos, from overflowing as McGonagall hilariously attempts to become the greatest poet in the land. The image of the bad poet, trapped by his romanticism and inspired by a muse with a tin ear, appealed mightily to Spike Milligan, and this cult British spoof features the Goons show maestro at his ridiculous, genre-defying best.
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Soft Beds, Hard Battles
Title: Soft Beds, Hard Battles
Character: Général Latour / Major Robinson / Herr Schroeder / Adolf Hitler / The President / Prince Kyoto
Released: January 24, 1974
Type: Movie
In this comedy, set during the Nazi occupation of France, Peter Sellers plays most major male parts, so he stars in nearly every scene, always bumbling in inspector Clouseau-style.
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The Optimists of Nine Elms
Title: The Optimists of Nine Elms
Character: Sam
Released: October 17, 1973
Type: Movie
A retired entertainer makes his living as a street musician on the streets of London. Two young children befriend the old musician, brightening his otherwise colorless life
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The Big Screen
Title: The Big Screen
Character: Self
Released: February 20, 1973
Type: Movie
Two of Britain's leading film directors - John Schlesinger and Gerald Thomas - share the anxiety, hopes and risks experienced by those involved with the movie industry. The Big Screen follows the production of four British films: the eighth James Bond film Live and Let Die, The Optimists of Nine Elms, science fiction-thriller The Final Programme and The 14. Actors Peter Sellers, David Hemmings, Jon Finch, Roger Moore and Jenny Runacre are among those seen at work.
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The Blockhouse
Title: The Blockhouse
Character: Rouquet
Released: January 1, 1973
Type: Movie
A group of Slave workers, drafted by the Nazis to help construct their coastal defences in 1944, are trapped in an underground bunker when the Allies land at Normandy on D-Day. They find huge stores of food, but not enough candles. The slow dying of the light parallels their increasing boredom, illness, and jealousy during their entrapment. Based on the Novel 'Le Blockhaus' by Jean Paul Clebert
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Ghost in the Noonday Sun
Title: Ghost in the Noonday Sun
Character: Dick Scratcher
Released: January 1, 1973
Type: Movie
A pirate crewman kills his captain after learning where he has hidden his buried treasure. However, as he begins to lose his memory, he relies more and more on the ghost of the man he just murdered to help him find the loot.
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Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Title: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Character: The March Hare
Released: November 20, 1972
Type: Movie
An all-star cast highlights this vibrant musical adaptation of Lewis Carroll's immortal tale. One day, plucky young Alice follows a white rabbit down a hole and discovers a world of bizarre characters.
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Where Does It Hurt?
Title: Where Does It Hurt?
Character: Dr. Albert T. Hopfnegal
Released: July 24, 1972
Type: Movie
In this classic hospital farce, Peter Sellers plays Dr. Albert T. Hopfnagel, a greedy, crooked hospital administrator who has perfected the art of bill padding, unnecessary surgery and kickbacks. Mistrusted by patients, and resented by other staffers, his assistant Alice can no longer endure his scams and plots to have him sent to prison - but not for long enough. Sellers again steals the show with an absurd and hilarious character study.
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The Last Goon Show of All
Title: The Last Goon Show of All
Released: May 10, 1972
Type: Movie
Sellers, Secombe and Milligan reunite for one last show.
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Title: V.I.P. Schaukel
Character: Self
Released: May 9, 1971
Type: TV
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Wilton's: The Handsomest Hall in Town
Title: Wilton's: The Handsomest Hall in Town
Character: G.W. Ross
Released: December 26, 1970
Type: Movie
An evening at Wilton's Music-Hall, Grace's Alley, Wellclose Square, London, 1860 starring Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan, Keith Michell, Pat Kirkwood, Warren Mitchell, Ronnie Barker, Bill Fraser, Gina Astralita, Eric Robinson. Introduced by Billy Russell. Tonight, 90 years after it closed, this famous Music-Hall opens again to bring you a picture of the stars, the singers, the dancers, and the people who once went there.
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There's a Girl in My Soup
Title: There's a Girl in My Soup
Character: Robert Danvers
Released: December 15, 1970
Type: Movie
TV personality Robert Danvers, an exceedingly vain rotter, seduces young women daily, never staying long with one. He meets his match in Marion, an American, 19, who's available but refuses any romantic illusions.
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Hoffman
Title: Hoffman
Character: Mr. Hoffman
Released: July 16, 1970
Type: Movie
A businessman blackmails his young secretary into spending a weekend with him.
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Simon Simon
Title: Simon Simon
Character: Man with two cars
Released: June 1, 1970
Type: Movie
A comedy short with very little speaking. Graham Stark and John Junkin have a new elevated platform to work with but still manage to get into lots of trouble. Lots of celebrity appearances.
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Let It Be
Title: Let It Be
Character: Self (scenes deleted)
Released: May 13, 1970
Type: Movie
The filmed account of The Beatles' attempt to recapture their old group spirit by making a back to basics album, which instead drove them further apart.
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A Day at the Beach
Title: A Day at the Beach
Character: Salesman
Released: May 1, 1970
Type: Movie
Bernie is a silver tongued wanderer with a fondness for drink and no clear goal in life. What was supposed to be a day of fun at the seaside turns to dust as he drinks his way through a seaside resort community, trailing his little niece Winnie.
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Will the Real Mr. Sellers...
Title: Will the Real Mr. Sellers...
Character: Subject Of Portrait
Released: December 18, 1969
Type: Movie
A BBC documentary portrait of Peter Sellers, filmed over a period of nine months in 1969 where director Tony Palmer interviews Sellers and friends and associates about the actor's career and life. At age 44, with 38 films already behind him, including Dr. Strangelove and two "Pink Panther" films, Sellers was then at the crest of his career. But his personal life, which included two bad marriages (and two more to come), a near-fatal 1964 heart attack, and increasingly disturbing personality disorders, was in tatters.
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The Magic Christian
Title: The Magic Christian
Character: Sir Guy Grand KG, KC, CBE
Released: December 12, 1969
Type: Movie
Sir Guy Grand, the richest man in the world, adopts a homeless man, Youngman. Together, they set out to prove that anyone--and anything--can be bought.
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One Pair of Eyes - No, But Seriously
Title: One Pair of Eyes - No, But Seriously
Released: June 7, 1969
Type: Movie
Documentary film in which Marty Feldman looks at humour through the people who create it.
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Title: This Is Tom Jones
Released: February 7, 1969
Type: TV
An ATV variety series starring Tom Jones, featuring many show business legends of the time, which ran from 1969 to 1971. It was exported to the United States by ITC Entertainment and was networked there by ABC, earning Jones a nomination at the Golden Globes. The show also featured comedy sketches by the Ace Trucking Company improvisational group, featuring Fred Willard and Patti Deutsch, among others.
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The Beatles: Get Back...Winter of Discontent
Title: The Beatles: Get Back...Winter of Discontent
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: January 29, 1969
Type: Movie
This is a "Fly on the Wall" look at The Beatles' recording sessions from productive days at Apple Studios January 23 to 29, 1969. Most of this footage did not make the final cut for the film, Let It Be. We see the Beatles chat, joke, tune, rehearse and try some serious attempts at recording. Over 75% of this footage has not been seen in this form, meaning inferior copies of some of this footage has circulated, but contained few moments of audio that matched the film.
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I Love You, Alice B. Toklas!
Title: I Love You, Alice B. Toklas!
Character: Harold
Released: October 18, 1968
Type: Movie
Harold Fine is a self-described square - a 35-year-old Los Angeles lawyer who's not looking forward to middle age nor his upcoming wedding. His life changes when he falls in love with Nancy, a free-spirited, innocent, and beautiful young hippie. After Harold and his family enjoy some of her "groovy" brownies, he decides to "drop out" with her and become a hippie too. But can he return to his old life when he discovers that the hippie lifestyle is just a little too independent and irresponsible for his tastes?
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The Party
Title: The Party
Character: Hrundi V. Bakshi
Released: April 4, 1968
Type: Movie
Hrundi V. Bakshi, an accident-prone actor from India, is accidentally put on the guest list for an upcoming party at the home of a Hollywood film producer. Unfortunately, from the moment he arrives, one thing after another goes wrong with compounding effect.
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Title: It Takes a Thief
Character: Man in Harbor Records Office
Released: January 9, 1968
Type: TV
Convicted cat burglar Alexander Mundy gets an offer he can't refuse from the United States government: If he puts his formidable thieving skills to work for them, he'll be released from prison. Alexander's dad, Alister, sometimes comes out of retirement as a thief to help his son on special jobs.
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Woman Times Seven
Title: Woman Times Seven
Character: Jean
Released: September 29, 1967
Type: Movie
Seven mini-stories of adultery: "Funeral Possession," a wayward widow at her husband's funeral; "Amateur Night," angry wife becomes streetwalker out of revenge; "Two Against One," seemingly prudish girl turns out otherwise; "Super Simone," wife vainly attempts to divert her over-engrossed writer husband; "At the Opera," a battle over a supposedly exclusive dress; "Suicides," a death pact; "Snow," would-be suitor is actually a private detective hired by jealous husband.
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Title: Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Character: Self
Released: September 9, 1967
Type: TV
An American sketch comedy television program hosted by comedians Dan Rowan and Dick Martin.
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Casino Royale
Title: Casino Royale
Character: Evelyn Tremble
Released: April 13, 1967
Type: Movie
Sir James Bond is called back out of retirement to stop SMERSH. In order to trick SMERSH, James thinks up the ultimate plan - that every agent will be named 'James Bond'. One of the Bonds, whose real name is Evelyn Tremble is sent to take on Le Chiffre in a game of baccarat, but all the Bonds get more than they can handle.
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The Bobo
Title: The Bobo
Character: Juan Bautista
Released: March 31, 1967
Type: Movie
Unsuccessful singing bullfighter Juan arrives in Barcelona to try his luck in a big town. He finally persuades a devious local impresario to book him, but only on the condition that Juan first manages to spend an evening with Olimpia, a "shrewd merciless beauty" who seems effortlessly to collect apartments and Maserati sports cars while leaving a trail of broken hearts behind her. Juan approaches the challenge by pretending to her he is an emissary for a rich count. Written by Jeremy Perkins
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Alice in Wonderland
Title: Alice in Wonderland
Character: King of Hearts
Released: December 28, 1966
Type: Movie
Alice in Wonderland (1966) is a BBC television play based on Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. It was directed by Jonathan Miller, then most widely known for his appearance in the long-running satirical revue Beyond the Fringe.
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El Rey en Londres
Title: El Rey en Londres
Released: October 11, 1966
Type: Movie
The film shows as a documentary the trip to London of Palito Ortega and Graciela Borges
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Title: ABC Stage 67
Character: Self
Released: September 14, 1966
Type: TV
ABC Stage 67 is the umbrella title for a series of 26 weekly shows that included dramas, variety shows, documentaries, and original musicals. It premiered on American Broadcasting Company on September 14, 1966 with Murray Schisgal's The Love Song of Barney Kempinksi, directed by Stanley Prager and starring Alan Arkin as a man enjoying the sights and sounds of New York City in his last remaining hours of bachelorhood. Arkin was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Single Performance By An Actor in a Leading Role in a Drama and the program was nominated as Outstanding Dramatic Program. Future programs included appearances by Petula Clark, Bobby Darin, Sir Laurence Olivier, Albert Finney, Peter Sellers, David Frost, and Jack Paar. ABC's effort to bring culture to the masses was a noble but unsuccessful experiment. Scheduled first against I Spy on Wednesdays and then The Dean Martin Show on Thursdays, the show consistently received low ratings. Its last production, an adaptation of Jean Cocteau's one-woman play The Human Voice starring Ingrid Bergman, aired on May 4, 1967. "Stage 67" was not actually a part of the primary ABC facilities in Los Angeles. It was produced at the old Monogram Studios backlot that was later sold to KCET.
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After the Fox
Title: After the Fox
Character: Aldo Vanucci / Federico Fabrizi
Released: September 8, 1966
Type: Movie
A criminal mastermind sets up a phony film production as part of a plan to smuggle stolen gold.
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The Wrong Box
Title: The Wrong Box
Character: Doctor Pratt
Released: June 19, 1966
Type: Movie
In Victorian England, a fortune now depends on which of two brothers outlives the other—or can be made to have seemed to do so.
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Birds, Bees and Storks
Title: Birds, Bees and Storks
Character: Narrator (voice)
Released: December 31, 1965
Type: Movie
A naïve father makes an embarrassing attempt to explain the facts of life to his son, but he becomes increasingly embarrassed to the point where his explanations are so vague as to be incomprehensible.
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The Music of Lennon & McCartney
Title: The Music of Lennon & McCartney
Released: December 16, 1965
Type: Movie
A 1965 British television special honouring the songwriting partnership of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. It was produced by Granada Television and aired on that network on 16 December 1965 before receiving a national broadcast the following evening. The programme mainly consisted of other artists miming to their recordings of the songs. The Beatles performed Day Tripper and We Can Work It Out, and Peter Sellers delivered a comedic interpretation of A Hard Day's Night, in the style of stage actor Laurence Olivier's portrayal of Richard III.
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Title: The Dean Martin Show
Released: September 16, 1965
Type: TV
The Dean Martin Show, also known as The Dean Martin Variety Show, is a TV variety-comedy series that ran from 1965 to 1974 for 264 episodes. It was broadcast by NBC and hosted by entertainer Dean Martin. The theme song to the series was his 1964 hit "Everybody Loves Somebody."
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What's New Pussycat?
Title: What's New Pussycat?
Character: Dr. Fritz Fassbender
Released: June 22, 1965
Type: Movie
A playboy who refuses to give up his hedonistic lifestyle to settle down and marry his true love seeks help from a demented psychoanalyst who is having romantic problems of his own.
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Carol for Another Christmas
Title: Carol for Another Christmas
Character: Imperial Me
Released: December 28, 1964
Type: Movie
Daniel Grudge, a wealthy industrialist and fierce isolationist long embittered by the loss of his son in World War II, is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve who lead him to reconsider his attitude toward his fellow man.
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I Say I Say I Say
Title: I Say I Say I Say
Released: July 9, 1964
Type: Movie
1964 short directed by Peter Sellers
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A Shot in the Dark
Title: A Shot in the Dark
Character: Jacques Clouseau
Released: June 23, 1964
Type: Movie
Inspector Jacques Clouseau, smitten with the accused maid Maria Gambrelli, unwittingly turns a straightforward murder investigation into a comedic series of mishaps, testing the patience of his irritable boss Charles Dreyfus as casualties mount.
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The World of Henry Orient
Title: The World of Henry Orient
Character: Henry Orient
Released: March 19, 1964
Type: Movie
A mischievous, adventuresome fourteen-year-old girl and her best friend begin following an eccentric concert pianist around New York City after she develops a crush on him.
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Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
Title: Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
Character: Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake / President Merkin Muffley / Dr. Strangelove
Released: January 29, 1964
Type: Movie
After the insane General Jack D. Ripper initiates a nuclear strike on the Soviet Union, a war room full of politicians, generals and a Russian diplomat all frantically try to stop the nuclear strike.
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The Pink Panther
Title: The Pink Panther
Character: Insp. Jacques Clouseau
Released: December 18, 1963
Type: Movie
The trademark of The Phantom, a renowned jewel thief, is a glove left at the scene of the crime. Inspector Clouseau, an expert on The Phantom's exploits, feels sure that he knows where The Phantom will strike next and leaves Paris for the Tyrolean Alps, where the famous Lugashi jewel 'The Pink Panther' is going to be. However, he does not know who The Phantom really is, or for that matter who anyone else really is...
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Title: The Telegoons
Released: October 5, 1963
Type: TV
The Telegoons is a comedy puppet show, adapted from the highly successful BBC radio comedy show of the 1950s.
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Heavens Above!
Title: Heavens Above!
Character: The Rev. John Smallwood
Released: May 20, 1963
Type: Movie
A naive but caring prison chaplain, who happens to have the same last name as an upper class cleric, is by mistake appointed as vicar to a small and prosperous country town. His belief in charity and forgiveness sets him at odds with the conservative and narrow-minded locals, and he soon creates social ructions by appointing a black dustman as his churchwarden, taking in a gypsy family, and persuading the local landowner to provide free food for the church to distribute free to the people of the town. When the congregation leaders realise the mistake and call for the Church of England to remove him, this turns out to be a very, very difficult issue - until one clergyman realises that a British project to send a man into space is in need of an astronaut...
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The Wrong Arm of the Law
Title: The Wrong Arm of the Law
Character: Pearly Gates
Released: March 17, 1963
Type: Movie
The crooks in London know how it works. No one carries guns and no one resists the police. Then a new gang appears that go one better. They dress as police and steal from the crooks. This upset's the natural order of the police/criminal relationship and the police and the crooks join forces to catch the IPOs (Impersonating Police Officers), including an armoured car robbery in which the police must help the gangs to set a trap.
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Trial and Error
Title: Trial and Error
Character: Wilfred Morgenhall
Released: September 25, 1962
Type: Movie
After nearly 40 years of waiting for his big chance, Wilfred Morgenhall is given the case of defending Herbert Fowle who is accused of murdering his wife. Despite Fowle's insistence of guilt, Moregenhall will not let go of the opportunity to plead his client as innocent and be a star in the courtroom.
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Lolita
Title: Lolita
Character: Clare Quilty
Released: June 13, 1962
Type: Movie
Humbert Humbert is a middle-aged British novelist who is both appalled by and attracted to the vulgarity of American culture. When he comes to stay at the boarding house run by Charlotte Haze, he soon becomes obsessed with Lolita, the woman's teenaged daughter.
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Waltz of the Toreadors
Title: Waltz of the Toreadors
Character: Gen. Leo Fitzjohn
Released: April 12, 1962
Type: Movie
General Fitzhugh, an ageing Lothario has an over-active eye for a pretty woman. Despite a long and satisfying career as a seducer extraordinaire, something always seems to get in the way of his bedding the breathtakingly lovely Ghislaine, a more-than-willing town local.
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The Road to Hong Kong
Title: The Road to Hong Kong
Character: Indian Neurologist (uncredited)
Released: March 29, 1962
Type: Movie
When Chester accidentally memorises and destroys the only copy of a secret Russian formula for a new and improved rocket fuel, he and Harry are thrust into international intrigue, trying to stay alive while keeping the formula out of enemy hands.
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Only Two Can Play
Title: Only Two Can Play
Character: John Lewis
Released: January 19, 1962
Type: Movie
John Lewis is bored of his job and his wife. Then Liz, wife of a local councillor, sets her sights on him. But this is risky stuff in a Welsh valleys town - if he and Liz ever manage to consummate their affair, that is.
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Mr. Topaze
Title: Mr. Topaze
Character: Auguste Topaze
Released: April 4, 1961
Type: Movie
Mr. Topaze (Peter Sellers) is an unassuming school teacher in an unassuming small French town, who is honest to a fault. He is fired when he refuses to give a passing grade to a bad student, the grandson of a wealthy baroness. Castel Benac (Herbert Lom), a government official who runs a crooked financial business on the side, is persuaded by his mistress, Suzy (Nadia Gray), a musical comedy actress, to hire Mr. Topaze as the front man for his business. Gradually, Topaze becomes a rapacious financier who sacrifices his honesty for success and, in a final stroke of business bravado, fires Benac and acquires Suzy in the deal. An old friend and colleague, Tamise (Michael Gough) questions him and tells Topaze that what he now says and practices indicates there are no more honest men.
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Two Way Stretch
Title: Two Way Stretch
Character: Dodger Lane
Released: December 20, 1960
Type: Movie
Three criminals plan to break out of prison the day before their release in order to carry out a daring jewel robbery, intending to establish the perfect alibi by returning to jail afterwards. First however they must get out, a task made more difficult by a new, stricter prison officer.
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The Millionairess
Title: The Millionairess
Character: Dr. Kabir
Released: October 18, 1960
Type: Movie
When her father dies, Epifania Parerga, an Italian in London, becomes the world's richest woman. She feels incomplete without a husband and falls in love with a humble, Indian physician, Ahmed el Kabir, much loved by his indigent English patients.
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Never Let Go
Title: Never Let Go
Character: Lionel Meadows
Released: June 2, 1960
Type: Movie
John Cummings, an unsuccessful cosmetics salesman, has his unpaid-for car stolen by one of the hoods in the employ of Lionel Meadows, the sadistic organizer of a London car conversion racket. The car was not insured, and since the police appear indifferent to his plight, Cummings decides to find it himself -- and gets himself involved in an underworld battle.
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The Battle of the Sexes
Title: The Battle of the Sexes
Character: Mr. Martin
Released: February 25, 1960
Type: Movie
Angela Barrows is a man-eating business woman sent by her American employer to investigate their export opportunities in Edinburgh. En route she meets Robert MacPherson, a businessman who asks for her help to bring his company into the 20th Century. The staff, led by Mr Martin, has other ideas—and a battle between the old and new business methods soon breaks out.
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The Running Jumping & Standing Still Film
Title: The Running Jumping & Standing Still Film
Released: October 31, 1959
Type: Movie
A short film without any direct action designed more as an experiment, with disjointed comic scenes with no common thread.
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I'm All Right Jack
Title: I'm All Right Jack
Character: Fred Kite
Released: August 18, 1959
Type: Movie
Naive Stanley Windrush returns from the war, his mind set on a successful career in business. Much to his own dismay, he soon finds he has to start from the bottom and work his way up, and also that the management as well as the trade union use him as a tool in their fight for power.
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The Mouse That Roared
Title: The Mouse That Roared
Character: Grand Duchess Gloriana XII / Prime Minister Count Rupert Mountjoy / Tully Bascombe
Released: July 17, 1959
Type: Movie
The Duchy of Grand Fenwick decides that the only way to get out of their economic woes is to declare war on the United States, lose and accept foreign aid. They send an invasion force (in chain mail, armed with bows and arrows) to New York and they arrive during a nuclear drill that has cleared the streets.
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Carlton-Browne of the F.O.
Title: Carlton-Browne of the F.O.
Character: Prime Minister Amphibulos
Released: March 10, 1959
Type: Movie
Great Britain has had an international agreement for the last 50 years with a small pacific island. It has been ignored until the death of their king brings it to the attention of the Foreign Office in Whitehall. They decide to send Cadogan de Vere Carlton-Browne to re-establish friendly relations.
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Tom Thumb
Title: Tom Thumb
Character: Antony
Released: December 4, 1958
Type: Movie
A boy, no bigger than a thumb, manages to outwit two thieves determined to make a fortune from him.
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Up the Creek
Title: Up the Creek
Character: CPO Doherty
Released: May 13, 1958
Type: Movie
Bumbling navy officer Lieutenant Humphrey Fairweather (David Tomlinson) is transferred to HMS Berkeley, an old World War II destroyer, to keep him out of harm's way. But together with Chief Petty Officer Doherty (Peter Sellers), Fairweather gets into more trouble than might be thought possible, with events coming to a riotous conclusion when the Admiralty turn up for an inspection of the ship.
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Insomnia is Good for You
Title: Insomnia is Good for You
Released: December 12, 1957
Type: Movie
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The Naked Truth
Title: The Naked Truth
Character: Sonny MacGregor
Released: December 3, 1957
Type: Movie
Nigel Dennis publishes a scandal magazine. But for each story he writes, he first approaches the person whose scandalous behavior is described (or rather implied, to avoid any libel suit) and says he will suppress the story in return for money. Several of his victims first decide individually to kill him instead of paying, but fail in amusing ways. Then they find that to protect their various secrets they must now join forces for a rather different purpose...
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The Smallest Show on Earth
Title: The Smallest Show on Earth
Character: Percy Quill
Released: April 9, 1957
Type: Movie
Jean and Bill are a married couple trying to scrape a living. Out of the blue they receive a telegram informing them Bill's long-lost uncle has died and left them his business—a cinema in the town of Sloughborough. Unfortunately they can't sell it for the fortune they hoped as they discover it is falling down and almost worthless.
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Title: Yes, It's The Cathode-Ray Tube Show!
Released: February 11, 1957
Type: TV
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Dearth of a Salesman
Title: Dearth of a Salesman
Character: Hector Dimwittie
Released: January 1, 1957
Type: Movie
Comedy short starring Peter Sellers. Previously thought lost, but discovered in a skip outside Park Lane Films.
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Title: Son of Fred
Released: September 17, 1956
Type: TV
Son of Fred was the successor series to The Idiot Weekly, Price 2d and A Show Called Fred. It was made by Associated-Rediffusion and broadcast only in the London area, Midlands and Northern England. It was the third and final in a series of sketch comedy shows attempting to translate the humour of The Goon Show to television. Spike Milligan concentrated on writing and only made small walk on appearances, leaving the lead acting to Peter Sellers. The series was produced and directed by Richard Lester.
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Title: A Show Called Fred
Released: May 2, 1956
Type: TV
A Show Called Fred was the successor series to The Idiot Weekly, Price 2d. It was made by Associated-Rediffusion and broadcast only in London area. It was 25 minutes plus adverts. It was predominantly a sketch comedy attempting to translate the audio antics of the The Goon Show into visual antics in bizarre and often surreal comedy sketches which just suddenly ended with a new sketch beginning. Many performers played small parts in the shows like Ernest Clark, Jon Jon Keefe, Patricia Driscoll, etc. Famous people of the day like Hans and Lotte Hass were parodied. Canadian star, Patti Lewis had a singing spot about the middle of the show, and Max Geldray a music spot later on. There were few taboos with sketches showing people in various states of undress, cameramen, behind the scenes workers and the studios. The Ying Tong song was sung for no apparent reason at various times. The series was written by Spike Milligan and produced and directed by Richard Lester. It was followed by Son of Fred later in 1956. A half hour special Best of Fred was broadcast on 18 September 1963 combining surviving sketches from A Show Called Fred and Son of Fred. The 1995 convention of the Goon Show Preservation Society was billed as A Weekend Called Fred.
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The Man Who Never Was
Title: The Man Who Never Was
Character: Winston Churchill (voice)
Released: April 3, 1956
Type: Movie
The true story of a British effort to trick the Germans into weakening Sicily's defenses before the 1943 attack. A dead soldier is dressed as a British officer and outfitted with faked papers showing that the Allies were intending to invade occupied Greece. His body is put into the sea where it will ultimately drift ashore and the papers be passed along to German Intelligence.
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Title: The Idiot Weekly, Price 2d
Released: February 24, 1956
Type: TV
The Idiot Weekly, Price 2d was the first serious attempt to translate the humour of The Goon Show to television. It was made by Associated-Rediffusion during 1956 and was broadcast only in the London area. It combined elements of a sitcom and sketch comedy with Peter Sellers as the editor of a tatty Victorian newspaper, The Idiot Weekly. The headlines of the paper were used as links to comedy sketches. Although written mainly by Spike Milligan, there were many contributions from members of the writers' co-operative Associated London Scripts, including Dave Freeman and Terry Nation, with Eric Sykes credited as the script editor. The series was produced and directed by Richard Lester. It was followed by A Show Called Fred and Son of Fred. The title was revived by Spike Milligan for the Australian radio series The Idiot Weekly.
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The Case of the Mukkinese Battle-Horn
Title: The Case of the Mukkinese Battle-Horn
Character: Assorted
Released: January 1, 1956
Type: Movie
Supposedly filmed in 'Schizophrenoscope', it concerns Inspector Quilt of Scotland Yard's attempts to retrieve a 'Mukkinese Battlehorn' stolen from a London museum. Along the way he meets characters not dissimilar to Eccles, Henry Crun and Minnie Bannister from The Goon Show. This attempt to adapt Goon humour to the big screen was written by Harry Booth, Jon Penington and regular Goon show co-writer Larry Stephens. It was then heavily rewritten on the filmset by Sellers and Milligan.
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The Ladykillers
Title: The Ladykillers
Character: Harry, alias 'Mr. Robinson'
Released: December 8, 1955
Type: Movie
Five oddball criminals planning a bank robbery rent rooms on a cul-de-sac from an octogenarian widow under the pretext that they are classical musicians.
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John and Julie
Title: John and Julie
Character: Police Constable Diamond
Released: July 26, 1955
Type: Movie
The adventures of two children who runaway to London to see the coronation of Queen Elizabeth.
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Title: And So To Bentley
Released: October 1, 1954
Type: TV
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Orders Are Orders
Title: Orders Are Orders
Character: Pvt. Goffin
Released: October 1, 1954
Type: Movie
An American movie company wants to shoot a science-fiction film using a British army barracks as a location, and its soldiers as actors.
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Our Girl Friday
Title: Our Girl Friday
Character: Voice of Parrot
Released: December 1, 1953
Type: Movie
Rich Sadie Patch is marooned on a desert island after an emergency on her cruise-ship. With her are Irish stoker Pat, prickly young Jimmy Carrol, and bald and bookish Professor Gibble. All fancy their chances.
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Beat the Devil
Title: Beat the Devil
Character: Billy Dannreuther (voice) (uncredited)
Released: November 26, 1953
Type: Movie
A group of con artists stake their claim on a bogus uranium mine.
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Down Among the Z Men
Title: Down Among the Z Men
Character: Major Bloodnok
Released: October 1, 1952
Type: Movie
The Goon Show hits the big screen. Professor Pure Heart absent-mindedly loses the top secret formula in Harry Jones' Grocery Shop. "Bats of the Yard", as Harry calls himself, finds it and attempts to return it to the Professor.
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Let's Go Crazy
Title: Let's Go Crazy
Character: Multiple Roles
Released: May 1, 1951
Type: Movie
Let's Go Crazy is a 1951 comedy film marking an early appearance of Spike Milligan and Peter Sellers playing multiple roles.
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Penny Points to Paradise
Title: Penny Points to Paradise
Character: The Major / Arnold Fringe
Released: April 25, 1951
Type: Movie
When Harry and Spike visit Bristol to spend the winnings from Harry's latest Pools win, the boys are soon targeted by a gang of local counterfeiters.
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The Slappiest Days of Our Lives
Title: The Slappiest Days of Our Lives
Character: (archive footage)
Released: March 23, 1951
Type: Movie
Laurel is a Scottish reporter suspected of being a spy by police detective James Finlayson. Although trailed by the latter, Stan, who is reporting on the movie world, manages to be hired by Mack Sennett. He makes his debut in Nevada, in the middle of gold diggers. After managing to clear his name he becomes, with Oliver Hardy, a big comedy star.
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A Burlesque on the Opera Carmen
Title: A Burlesque on the Opera Carmen
Character: Voice narrator
Released: March 1, 1951
Type: Movie
Peter Sellers makes funny voice narration over the Chaplin film A Burlesque on Carmen (1915).
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The Black Rose
Title: The Black Rose
Character: Lu Chung (voice)
Released: September 1, 1950
Type: Movie
In the 13th century, Walter of Gurnie, a disinherited Saxon youth, is forced to flee England. With his friend, Tristram, he falls in with the army of the fierce but avuncular General Bayan, and journeys all the way to China, where both men become involved in intrigues in the court of Kublai Khan.
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Title: The Ed Sullivan Show
Character: Italian Movie Director (archive footage)
Released: June 20, 1948
Type: TV
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan. It was replaced in September 1971 by the CBS Sunday Night Movie, which ran only one season and was eventually replaced by other shows. In 2002, The Ed Sullivan Show was ranked #15 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.