Seven - minus one - days of.. ..Peter Sellers (3)

Yes.. here it is! The 3rd post of six about Peter Sellers.. And again I did not make it in time - so I have to try to maybe post another Peter Sellers post today.. Well.. I could imagine doing more dreadful things..

And as you by now were all expecting - you did, didn't you?? - is the film I am writing now

WHAT'S NEW PUSSYCAT? (USA, 1965) by Clive Donner and Richard Talmadge.

I love the taglines of this poster - and I hope you noticed them: 

"Pussycats will purr-r-r-r and tigers will r-r-roar..." 

and under that list of the cast: 

"They're all together again! (for the first time!)"

It was the first film Woody Allen wrote - and the first he appeared in - and also the first film I ever saw him in (which is of course the most important info for you here.. No doubt in that..).

~ Peter O'Toole - really in trouble.. ~

Paris, France: Michael James (Peter O'Toole) has a serious problem: Women go after him.. Well.. that's not the actual problem since he enjoys that.. The problem is: His girlfriend Carole (Romy Schneider) would like to marry him - but he is afraid he is not strong enough to resist.. So he tries to get helpt from psychoanalyst Dr. Fassbender (Peter Sellers)..  But also the Doctor has his troubles since he is madly in love with one of his patients Renée LeFébvre (Capucine who was with Peter Sellers in THE PINK PANTER (1963), too -and who's birth name actually is Germaine LeFébvre..) - much to the chagrin of his Valkyrie wife.. And then there is Michael's not so successful friend Victor (Woody Allen) - who would love to make a pass on Carol.. Not helpful for Michael is that neurotic stripper Liz Bien (Paula Prentiss again in a film with Peter Sellers..) and parachutist Rita (Ursula Andress) take some interest in him - and he really has troubles to say no.. And Carole isn't actually naive.. 

~ Do not know what to do? .. ~

~ Oh come on, Peter O'Toole! Don't play hard to get with Paula Prentiss.. ~

I absolutely love the cast of this film! When I was talking with Monty about it he noticed that it had with Mr. Sellers and Mr. O'Toole two Peters in the lead.. He is right.. But they are so amazingly different from type and (film-) character.. And yes.. I actually prefer Peter Sellers - though his hairstyle here is one of the most awful I ever saw.. I am really not too much into long hair on men....

~ Peter ² - or: Another friendship baptized with some liquor.. ~

Of course I am very pleased to have one of my number one actresses - my beloved Romy Schneider in one of the most important female parts of this film.. I really, really love her - and her Carole really isn't the typical prissy fiancée.. Besides that she makes one of the most funny and dangerous looiking  stunts when her characater passes out highly drunk.. Oh - and in the moment she finds Capucine sprawling in Peter O'Tooles bed.. Her look is so utterly ironic - I think it might be the most funny scene in the whole film...

~ a most attractive and funny cast this is.. ~

Anyway the actresses in this film are outstanding as we have the wonderful Capucine and Ursula Andress - incredibly sexy - and I might repeat myself: but I think Paula Prentiss might be one of the funniest women ever.. Come to think of it: All the female characters in this film are really funny..

~ Guess what she is wearin? ... that's right - a cap.... .... ~

When you watch this film - please, watch out for Richard Burton who will talk to Peter O'Toole in the bar scene - and one of my favourite French singers Françoise Hardy has a small part in the last scene when Peter Sellers tries to make a pass on her..

This film actually is a bit semi-autobiographical since it is based a bit on Warren Beatty - he used the line "What's new, Pussycat?" very often it seems - he was to play the lead part - but backed out when his part was getting smaller and his then girl friend Leslie Caron was not casted.. Well.. for me since I am not so fond of Warren Beatty I think it's great that he stepped out on this one.. I actually cannot really see his charme anyway.. 

~ Having troubles with females, too - Woody Allen with Romy Schneider.. ~

Woody Allen as Victor is quite funny, too.. Poor chum.. Wanting to get some loving.. and always has to take  backseat to Peter O'Toole.. The scene of Victor's birthday party was actually filmed on Woody Allen's 29th birthday.. my, my.. time flies..

And maybe now it is time for another confession.. (Honestly - I confess so much on this blog that I think I will have to think about re-naming it into something like: "Confessions of a German Fräulein".. hm.. a new series ahead?): Peter O'Toole is not actually my cup of tea - lookwise.. I am simply not soo much into those pretty boys.. - but in the moment he first appears in the screen I hear myself gasp  - every time I watch this film....

~ "Look, I know you'll think this is crazy.. but.. er.. when the light hits me from a certain direction..
- I'm handsome..." .... yes.. very good light in this film.. ~

And yes: I was a bit shocked when Peter O'Toole announced this week that he retires from movie making..

~ Capucine - absolutely stunning.. ~

Of course the dialogues are very funny - it is a Woody Allen film after all..

Have some examples...

Liz Bien (hehehe.. I adore that name..) and Michael James having a little dialogue:

Liz: "You're right. I must face my problems. I can't go through life being a semi-virgin."

Michael: "What - in the name of all that is gracious - is a 'semi-virgin'??"

Liz: "Here I'm a virgin. In America I'm not."

Michael: "What do they do? Stamp it on your passport?"

~~~~

Victor: "We played strip chess. She had me down to my shorts and I fainted from tension."

~~~~

Dr. Fassbender (yes.. I am pleased with that name..) esplains to Michael how it could happen that they meet in a strip club:

Dr. Fassbender: "I.. uhm.. decided to follow you here."

Michael: "... If you followed me here - how did you contrive to be here before me??"

Dr. Fassbender: "I followed you.. ... ..very fast."

~~~~

I also love one sentence which Peter Sellers ad-libbed as he refered to Ursula Andress, who was in DR. NO  (1962) saying that she knew James Bond.. It made her laugh, too... 

~ ... na caption needed, I guess.. ~

You will hear a lot of accents in this film - and I hope that mine sounds a little bit like Romy Schneider's and not like Dr. Fassbender's.. 

Though in my opinion in the end it's almost a bit too much of crazy slapstick in this film I highly recommend it - and seeing how much fun Romy Schneider had playing this makes good for all the silliness in my opinion.. Well.. when she is happy I am happy too, I guess...

So - if you like to take a deep breath and take the plunge to watch 108 minutes of complete craziness..

Thank you so very much for listening

Irene

~ not exactely the expression I meant.. but well..  ~

Seven - minus one - days of.. ..Peter Sellers

Yes.. and another thing I would like to try out.. Since I am quite obsessive at times and then watch all films of a certain actor/director/theme or something the like in a row it is kind of natural that I will talk mostly about this topic/person then - so.. why not talk here? And to give me a little free space I will give me one day off. Therefor I call it "Seven - minus one - days of.." 

Since you all saw the title of this post it won't be a surprise that my current obsession is (again - though I did not talk about him here yet..) 

Peter Sellers. 

So you will see this face quite a lot on this blog for this week..:

So while I will do a little Peter Sellers marathon I will tell you about the films I watch - and recommend one or two.. - and also post other related stuff..

I started this little Peter Sellers-athon with

  THE WORLD OF HENRY ORIENT (USA, 1964) by George Roy Hill. 

Based on a novel by Nora Johnson it is about two teenagers (Mary Spaeth and Tippy Walker) who start following (well.. nowadays we would call that stalking..) famous pianist and playboy Henry Orient (Peter Sellers) and by that affecting his love life..

One of the ladies is wonderful Paula Prentiss as a prissy lady-love and another my beloved Angela Lansbury wicked and not as shy as Miss Prentiss...

~ mischievous gals .. ~

It is partly one of those early 1960's sex comedies - with not soo much sex.. Uhm.. Maybe "untouched sex comedy" would be the right term.. It's great - and I love all those characters.. and even the small parts are played by very well-known and beloved actors like John Fiedler with his distinctive voice - or Al Lewis who most people will know in full make-up as Grandpa in TV show THE MUNSTERS and who has an appearance here as a shop owner.. 

Also Tom Bosley is in it.. He was Sheriff Amos Tupper in TV series MURDER SHE WROTE which had Angela Lansbury as the leading lady - here Tom Bosley and her are a married couple.. Not actually happily married - though he is one of the cutest and most understanding characters ever. Angela Lansbury is less cute here but really quite nasty - and for sure she knows what she wants.. - or who.. 

~ Peter Sellers - uhm.. no.. - Henry Orient fan club.. ~

Like so very often she has a marvellous scene in which she enters a restaurant - and believe me: If there was a contest for an actress who could do an impressive entrance scene I would always vote for Angela Lansbury!

Paula Prentiss is so unbelievable funny as a woman willing but too nervous to have an actual affair with Peter Sellers' character that I really hope you will check it out.. She gives him for sure what I think in US slang is called "blue balls" - the German term would be meaning "gentleman's pains"..   

~ absolutely gorgeous: Angela Lansbury showing a really low cutted dress.. ~ 

I like this film very much - but have not seen it for years. I remember that I first watched it as a teenager and I never got over this silken pajamas Peter Sellers wore there.. (or over that Zebra skin..) It stuck in my head.. I really could not forget about it..

I think it is remarkable that during filming THE WORLD OF HENRY ORIENT Peter Sellers actually was stalked by an a bit too avid fan..

Actually I am highly in love with Peter Sellers.. Yes.. He is one of the most handsome actors around in my opinion - and before you yell out about it: I am aware of his cosmetic surgeries.. But besides his good looks he was not only funny - but also a very versatile actor - and he was also very bright.. What I find most interesting: He had several darker sides. I am very much interested into those people with problems, the insecure and sad ones - the non-perfect ones.. 

I think you can see this sadness in Peter Sellers's eyes at times - and I think that makes him very likeable. Well.. for now that should be enough.. I will go on sing my songs about Peter Sellers for some days now..

Thank you all very much for listening!

Yours

Irene 

"All the other fishermen will be wearing pants."

A lot of rain here lately.. well Summer is almost gone I guess..

In today's film it's raining, too:

~ that's exactly what happens when I decide to go out camping: It pours! ~

Once upon a time...

...Howard Hawks made a film which was named BRINGING UP BABY (1938) - remember that one? A guy named Cary Grant, a gal named Katharine Hepburn and a lovely leopard called "Baby".. - years later in 1964 his homage to that film was released:

Easy, hm? Yes, it is MAN'S FAVORITE SPORT? ...

In a nutshell:

Roger Willoughby (Rock Hudson), engaged to beautiful Tex Connors (red-haired Charlene Holt), is a very successful seller for fishing items - he also wrote a popular book about fishing. Now his boss Mr. Cadwalader (John McGiver - doing just wonderful things with his toupee..) wants him to do some promotion and attend a fishing tournament set at a nearby Lake at the lodges of Isolde “Easy” Mueller’s (blonde Maria Perschy) father. Also attending the tournament are Roger’s customers Skaggs (Forrest Lewis) and Major Phipps (Roscoe Karns) – who are avid to compare their skills with Roger’s.

Easy’s happy-go-lucky friend Abigail Page (brunette Paula Prentiss) – who in Roger’s opinion is way too pushy – is to take care of him – much to his dislike. And while she considers him attractive he simply is overran by her..

Plus: Roger has a dark and treasured secret: In his whole life he didn’t catch a single fish…

~ another confession to make: I am not so good with 60s hats.. - I think to this one you should also carry a horse.. ~

Watch out for:

• Norman Alden as John Screaming Eagle – frequently telling about "Big Chief Confucius" - making fun of tourist's prejudices.. In AC Delco commercials he played a mechanic – people used to turn up to him to ask for advice because they believed he wasn’t acting.

A nodding acquaintance:

• Charlene Holt’s best know role might be Maudie from EL DORADO (1966). She was Miss Maryland in 1956.

~ Rock Hudson caught up in a sleeping bag , Maria Perschy giving him a hand - and Charlene Holt waiting to give him another.. ~

Schmooze:

• The part of Roger Willoughby was meant to be performed by Cary Grant – but he felt that the distance of age between his being 59 and Paula Prentiss being 24 was too big.
  
  
• Howard Hawks also wanted Katharine Hepburn for the female lead..
  
  

~ Oh - I wish for a copy of that nightgown Miss Perschy wears here - but in another color, please.. ~

Not sooo far away from Hollywood:

• The German title is EIN GOLDFISCH AN DER LEINE (= A goldfish on the string/fishing rod)
  
  
• In the German version Miss "Mueller" (though it is obviously a German name..) is changed into "Miller". Maybe that’s so because her accent doesn’t work in the German version - there she speaks French if needed..
  
  
  

~ a really talented girl Miss Perschy is.. ~

• Maria Perschy did her own dubbing for the German version - she has (just by the way) an Austrian accent.

• The nickname “Easy” seems (for me) to arise from the affectionate form of Isolde: “Isi” – which would be pronounced like “easy” – well, she also seems to be the easiest girl-character in this film – really a nice girl.

~ Roger trying to tell Abby and Easy that their shirts aren't that "visible" anymore.. ~

Let’s face the music..

• The theme song MAN’S FAVOURITE SPORT was composed by Henry Mancini – the lyrics are by Johnny Mercer.

~ Mr. Hudson impersonating the CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON ~

You should watch this film if you…

• … are a fan of fishing..
  
  
• … would like to know how it is to watch a Doris Day/ Rock Hudson film – without Doris Day..
  
  
• … all your life wished for hearing Rock Hudson say “itty bitty bird” ..
  
  
• … like “domineering females” like Roger Willoughby calls them..
  
  
• … always dreamt of seeing that Cary Grant/Katharine Hepburn walk out of the night club scene of BRINGING UP BABY – redone by Maria Perschy and Rock Hudson...

...on the other hand – you can do that right now:

Buttons and Bows:

• The costumes were designed by Edith Head – which means: They're great. I love the simple black dress Maria Perschy wears in that scene...
  
  

~ I really like Paula Prentiss' hairstyle here. And there's Rock Hudson - doing a James Dean pose..~

Quotes corner:

“That girl is a walking disaster.”

That girl meant in this sentence is Paula Prentiss' character Abigail - and I must confess that there are times where I just am annoyed by that woman (Abigail - I like Paula Prentiss..) I had tough times with Rock Hudson, too - just because I can't stand his German voice.. So I needed some time to like that film - and there are moments in which I am still feeling unconfortable with it.. But when I am in the right mood (and thanks to DVD I can watch the original version anytime I want to..) I really enjoy this movie.

“Come on, Napoleon – this way to Waterloo.”

~ the closest to a bikini we get in this film.. ~

Have a (kind of blurry) look :

If you like nicely done slapstick: this is your film - have another (better quality) look at that - please notice that this is one of the weaker scenes.. :

I am no big fan of fishing – but the fishing scenes in this movie are just hilarious. I just don’t know which fisherman is funnier – Rock Hudson in this flick or William Powell in LIBELED LADY (<- read my post about that film – if you like to..)

Rock Hudson is doing a real good job in this film - the whole cast is an awesome bunch of people - but he is the one who does this film..

~ Another gill-man snapshot of Rock Hudson ~

Thank you very much for listening.

Yours (very well and) truly

Irene - who thinks about taking a bath right now - after seeing all this people getting wet..

"You've got water in your water."

Ira Levin (yes, indeed! The author of ROSEMARY'S BABY...) noticed that the play he was about to write contained to many parts - so he turned it into a small novel which was at the same time thriller and satire and would be released in 1972.

In 1975 it became a now film classic directed by Bryan Forbes: THE STEPFORD WIVES.

In a nutshell:

Joanna Eberhart (Katharine Ross) and her husband Walter (Peter Masterson) move - together with their children Kim and Amy - to peaceful Stepford.

Joanna soon feels a bit lonesome for all other women seem to be only living for making a perfect home and being perfect wives to their husbands.. And Walter himself spends more and more time with the men's association of Stepford. Joanna's only friends are tomboyish, funloving Bobbie Markowe (Paula Prentiss) and gorgeous Charmaine Wimpiris (Tina Louise) - but suddenly Charmaine also turns into the perfect housewife - completely devoted to her husband.

And finally Bobbie, formerly proud of her messy kitchen starts to be a TV-ad-like hausfrau.. And Joanna has to face that there isn't much time left for herself to escape..

Schmooze:

• No settings were build for this film – it is all shot at actual locations.
  
  
• Diane Keaton tested for the Joanna part - according to director Bryan Forbes she turned the role down because her analyst got "bad vibes" from it.
  
  
• Paula Prentiss wasn’t first choice for the part of Bobbie – originally Joanna Cassidy had it, but she left the production after a few weeks.
  
  
• Brian de Palma was discussed to do the direction for this film.
  
  
• Before she canceled her contract Tuesday Weld had signed to perform the role of Joanna.
  
  
• Other actresses who were at some point considered to play the Joanna part were: Joanne Woodward, Mia Farrow - because of her success with ROSEMARY'S BABY (1968) -, Susan Sarandon, Jean Seberg, Shirley MacLaine and Elizabeth Montgomery.
  
  
• Bryan Forbes wanted to create a “sunshine thriller” – so most scenes are set in light colors – very bright and shiny – except for the finale of course..

• *SPOILER* In the scene in which Joanna has to stab Bobbie you don't see Katharine Ross' hand. During the shooting she became that good friends with Paula Prentiss she had trouble to do an attack on her so that Bryan Forbes shaved the back of his own hand and did the stabbing.. *SPOILER*

A nodding aquaintance:

• Katharine Ross' best known performance might be "Eelaaaaaaine!!" from THE GRADUATE.. (1967). ;")
  
  
• Dee Walles who plays Charmaine’s maid later had the role of Mary in E.T. : THE EXTRA-TERRESTIRAL (1982).
  
  
• Tina Louise is the original Ginger from GILLIGAN’S ISLAND (1964-1967).
  
  
• The Ted van Sant part is performed by Josef Sommer (who here appeared as Josef Somer) - a German born actor who inter alia also appeared as the President in X-MEN : THE LAST STAND (2006) and as Dr. Eaton in PATCH ADAMS (1998).
  
  
• You may know Franklin Cover (here Ed Wimpiris) from THE JEFFERSONS (1975-1985).

It’ll stay in the family:

• Nanette Newman (Carol van Sant) is the wife of director Bryan Forbes - and some of you may be sad to hear that before she was casted the original idea was to dress the Stepford wives like Playboy Bunnies.. I don't know if Nanette Newman was all against it or just not "the right way built" (actually I don't think that any of these is the case..) - but apparently the idea died with her signing the contract.. She is doing a really good job - so what if the costume department had to spent more money because of long dresses instead of hot pants? I for one don't care that much - for me the dresses are part of the horror.. ;")

• Peter Masterson brought his daughter to the set who got the role of Kim in this film – it was her debut. Does anyone of you perhaps know the name Mary Stuart Masterson?

You should watch this film if you…

• … are a feminist.
  
  
• … are an anti-feminist.
  
  
• … like to know how my mom looks - that is looked in the late 70s to mid 80s.
  
• … are a bad housewife.
  
  
• … are a perfect housewife.
  
  
• … are wishing to get a perfect housewife.

Have a look:

Okay, okay.. This is NOT the original film trailer - but it is well done and the quality is fine:

Never-ending story (= the sequels and the remake):

• REVENGE OF THE STEPFORD WIVES (1980)
  
  
• THE STEPFORD CHILDREN (1987)
  
  
• THE STEPFORD HUSBANDS (1996)
  
  
• THE STEPFORD WIVES (2004) – the remake with Nicole Kidman as Joanna is nice, but more of a pastel colored comedy – and sadly they changed the end.

Quotes corner:

“A German virgo. Their thing is, you know, to serve.”

Well, yes.. – thank you.

Anyone around here asking him-/herself which is my zodiac sign??

M-hm.. yeah.. Exactly.. - and in German, dear friends, “virgo” and “virgin” are the same word – any pun you spontaneously can think of? Yeah – I thought so..

And about that serving bit, that is completely untrue! I mean… ... Hey! Your glass is empty! Let me fetch you a new drink, dear.. What? No!.. No problem at all, love! Anything else I can do for you?…

Of course it is a bit different than the book – some meanderings are just minimal others are completely new:

The book is more mysterious about what happens to the women..

What I really like about the changes: in the book it’s more than everything else Joanna’s view (which is marvelous for the book) – the film adds a bit of character drawing of the other involved persons. Well, it’s a narrow book – won’t be a very long film without some additions…

It’s a bit strange for me to watch this film – because Katharine Ross – at least in the total shots looks quite like my mom did in the 1970s to mid 80s – well, my mom’s nose is the most obvious difference in their appearances..

My mom still looks like her – well, she wears her hair in an updo now – very similar to the one Joanne wears when she visits the psychiatrist.. oh - and: yes, my mother is a fulltime and total hausfrau.. - which, dear friends, I am not.

Bad cook and … well, yes – the windows should have been cleaned last weekend.. (I'll do that next weekend..) Somehow it’s not given to me to have a sparkling, antibacterial home.. Hm.. maybe if I’ll quit my job..

Anyway the resemblance between Ms. Ross and my mother is quite haunting for me.. In the supermarket scene Joanna looks absolutely like my mom on her wedding day.. even the hat..

Okay, enough of that: What really is the haunting part of the movie (for those of you whose mothers don't look like Katharine Ross of course.. ahem! Really!! THAT IS SCARY!!!) is that almost all the men seem to be so normal. Walter is a sweet and caring husband. And the true horror isn't the women being houswifes - honest: why should it? - it's that they have no choice!

I really, really love this film - and I hope you do, too!

"Why? Because we can.”

The End? Wait and watch!

Yours (very well and) truly,

Irene