In Memory of Peter Sellers

Peter Sellers died 34 years ago today. Actors and musicians make up my role models but I have never empathized with any of those people more than I have with Peter Sellers.

People are too quick to speak badly about Peter Sellers but forget that he was a very hurt man. While he reportedly did not like the documentary "Will the Real Mr. Sellers Pease Stand Up" I think it's very revealing. Although I can see why he didn't want anyone to see it since he was a very private person and the documentary is so raw.

One of my favorite parts is when he showcases his drumming skills. 

I am astounded by the amount of talent the man had. He was a drummer that was known as "Britain's answer to Gene Krupa", he was extremely interested in photography and was of course one of the greatest actors of all time. 

I wanted to have a little movie marathon to remember Peter Sellers and since it's hard for me to pick just one favorite here is what I have planned in no particular order. 

1) The Party

My absolute favorite scenes are the birdie num num scene and the scene where Hrundi V. Bakshi takes his first drink and proceeds to hop up and down on a bed. 

2) The Magic Christian

This is a wonderful movie to watch on father's day.

3)Being There

I wrote a post a couple of months ago about Being There (http://obf0908.blogspot.com/2014/05/movie-spotlight-being-there.html)

4) His episode of The Muppets

I know this isn't a movie but he was wonderful on The Muppet Show

5)Dr. Strangelove

I did not make this .gif file and take no credit for it.

Now, I'm off to watch and remember the great Peter Sellers. 

Movie Spotlight: Being There

Hopefully you all have movies that are important to you, that speak to your being or are like comfort food for you. I have many films like this and they tend to be "vintage" themselves or set in the past.

The first of these films that I want to share with all of you is "Being There" with Peter Sellers from 1979.  I'm kicking myself that I first saw this gem last year but I think I've made up for it by watching it millions of times (I'm not exaggerating that much) .

Peter Sellers spent most of the 1970s trying to get the novel  "Being There" made into a movie, Chance the Gardner was the role he wanted to play more than anything else. He said in a Rolling Stone interview ; “ …I just read the book every six months. I knew Chauncey Gardiner…”(The Strange World of Peter Sellers Glazer,Mitchell, Rolling Stone April 17, 1980).

From reading numerous biographies and interviews I really empathize with many of the thoughts and feelings Peter Sellers conveyed in interviews and the ones that came across in the biographies. He was a complex person whose personal life unfortunately sometimes gets a bad rap. 

Anyway, back to "Being There".  It's about Chance the Gardner, a man that is a complete blank slate, he mimics everything he sees on the television. He is forced out of the home that he's lived and gardened in since he was born and by chance is taken in by a wealthy family, able to appear on television and consult with the president. 

                                     

Since Chance is so fond of television there are a lot of clips of commercials, television shows and cartoons in "Being There". It's interesting to think about why they were put there. 

I don't want to give too many details away for those that haven't seen "Being There". If you have seen it and want to discuss it in the comments feel free to do so, I love a good film discussion.

Crusin' tunes.

Not only am I a vintage fashion, lover I am a music lover too. Since I was a child I loved music that was "before my time". It started with The Carpenters and then moved along to ABBA, then The Sex Pistols, The Clash (The Only Band That Matters), when I was a freshman in high school I was obsessed with Frank Sinatra! While I still love all of these artists right now I have discovered the perfection that is Bobby Darin (If you don't already love him I don't know what's wrong with you!)

Bobby Darin's records are so hard for me to find in South Jersey that I act possessed when I actually discover one. I found this prize at a yard sale while on vacation in Wildwood, NJ. 

Anyway, I've been doing a lot of driving this summer and so I've been finding that some tunes on my iPod are fantastic to drive to. The best ones are song that I call "spy tunes. These are songs that have that 60's spy movie feel to them, even though they all aren't from said movies. I even made a special playlist for driving tunes.


Secret Agent Man -Johnny Rivers

This is the best for driving on an open highway. I really like to pretend I'm a secret agent when I drive to this song, it can make even a trip to the grocery store fun! Yes, people who pose as adults have fun pretending too. 

After the Fox-The Hollies (with Peter Sellers)

Ugh, that opening keyboard line! You can't go wrong with The Hollies and anything Peter Sellers touches is gold! 

Casino Royale- Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass

Well, Herb Alpert is fantastic and so is the movie "Casino Royale". If you like this check out his album "Whipped Cream and Other Delights". I discovered that album in my mom's record collection when I was little (she got the album from my Poppop) and I always wanted to recreate the image on the cover. 

Here it is in all its splendor. Maybe one day. 

You Only Live Twice-Nancy Sinatra

This is the theme to the James Bond movie of the same name. It just makes me feel so cool when I'm 

driving. 

Now, dear readers, I want to know what you like to listen to while driving. I want to hear your thoughts, even if you just like the tunes I posted.