Good evening, senior fabreasy, yes, yes, yes.
Oh good evening, senior saravanan, good evening.
How is it true that you prefer to make your films right out on
the street instead of being a studio lot?
Of course, he's the only way you can approach reality realism.
I put my camera on top of a truck and we drive into the City
and shoot in my latest film Infinity, which runs six and a
half hours. This film was shot entirely on
the top of a trap. What is it run?
So, So long. Well you see we got stuck in the
traffic difficulties the last time he ever showed during the
Russian ever again, how many film critics have called you the
master of symbolism, for example, and one picture the
screen was completely black 48 minutes now, what did you mean
by that? I didn't mean anything.
The the cameraman forgot to take
the lens cover of the today is in another business.
That man. Look, you got the exactly 12
more seconds of my extremely precious time.
Mr. Icy. Well, Frederico, for busy.
I wish to thank you and wish you the best of luck.
Or, as we say, in American Show Business, break a leg.
And to you, I say multi finestra evilly Pamela.
What is that? May you lose all of your teeth?
Hey, I know and the welcome mat to our dude.
The father Sorry, be practicing that for ages.
I just end up sounding like a porn version of Mark, kermode,
trying to do Jared Leto, from House of Gucci.
Anyway, I've never profess to be an expert in stereotypical
Italian Impressions. That being said, this is an
episode about a very fine, a very entertaining film, very
good Peter, Sellers film. I think, and my guest is Graham
Rinaldi and Graham and I spoke about this this film and Graham.
Started off by talking about how he first discovered Peter
Sellers. My father was a huge when he was
a young boy. He was a huge Cinema fan, and he
would spend most of his time in the cinema.
And when I was growing up, my, I would be watching these mainly
British and American films, and my father would sort of wander
into the room and then say, oh, he would tell me who the actor
was standing. Probably behind Peter, Sellers
or next to Terry, Thomas, that sort of thing.
So, I was picking up all of that.
Which sellers, I well, it just fell in love with him because he
was just absolutely marvelous performer.
And, I mean, obviously a shot in the dark was quite an early one,
and wrong arm of the law two-way, stretch the mouse that
roared, I mean, the list is endless, the way, you know,
what's new pussycat and this film called, after the fox lot
of, a lot of films with animals in the title, like, But like you
said mouse that roared Pink Panther.
What's new pussycat after the fox you ever have any pets?
No, he connected cars gadgets and wives.
Is it pet hate? Oh yes, but as one gets older,
you appreciate your kind of appreciated to I appreciate dr.
Strangelove more and more me too.
I think it is. I think it's his best film and
And I do, I need these wonderfully creepy and the L as
well. Hmm.
So Graham, this is obviously when you've joined me today to
talk about a wonderful film, but when we were initially in
contact, you did mention that you are, you know, you did
listen to the goons, you do listen to the goons.
What's your history with the show?
Listen to the goons. I'm more.
I know you're not going to lie. Like this and you're going to
shut me down. As soon as I started to say the
program, I'm more of a Hancock's half.
Okay. Thank you for your time.
Yes. Yeah.
It's funny. It's people.
Tend to what do you get people that are keen on both of you?
Get people that like one of the other, I suppose.
Yeah. So I like both but I've just
gravitate more towards Hancock's half hour.
I actually think it's probably Best British sitcom.
And I do remember when I wrote the book about will hey, that I
think it's I think it's in the acknowledgements that I credited
which was then known as I think it was known as BBC Radio 7.
Yeah, yeah. Which is now for extra.
And I listed the radio programs that I was listening to their
was kind of getting me through it when I was working on the
wheel. Hey bro.
Object that took a number of years and the goons were quite
prominent at that point and nothing to do with Will.
Hey, it was just they were on and I was able to listen to
them. Yeah.
So that's that's really where I come from with the goons and
when Milligan he appeared on so many chat shows and things I
would always make a point of watching Spike.
The same as people like Tommy Cooper, Frankie how it?
Exactly. Exactly.
But yes, Spike was just phenomenal.
And of course the, you know, reading is more memorize the
traumas that he went through, in Italy and of course, the love of
his life, the relationship he had in Italy.
Yes. Yeah.
It's all very, very heartbreaking, that whole story
and and I love the fact that you use muscley and title of one of
his men was as Well, it's I have to I do have a mime, I do have
about three or four books and bustling books.
Oh, you should see me start, you know, if I can only build a
balcony to this house and, you know, stand out there and just
stick you late to all the neighbors and then they hang you
from a Lamppost. Exactly.
And then they can all come and hit me once and you're a film
lecturer and you run classes on Italian Cinema and the other
things. And British comedy great.
Well and so this is this kind of what we're going to talk about
today is brings in both those worlds.
Essentially because we have come together today to talk about the
1966 Peter Sellers film after the fox.
The fox. Chase
directed by Vittorio. De Sica written by Neil Simon.
I think it was Neil Simon's. First screenplay, he'd written
plays had need Brittany Odd. Couple for the stereo.
Yes. I mean, the time that he was,
this is his so, did you say this was his first Green play, which
he wrote in London. And at that time, as you were
saying on Broadway, he had three shows little me Barefoot in the
Park and The Odd Couple. And yeah he was in London with
his wife and his family. He was writing this first
screenplay and then he gave it to a gentleman called Harvey.
He wrote the first draft, he gave it to Harvey walking who
was at CMA creative An agency who loved it and said, do you
mind if I pass it on to Peter Sellers?
And so I gather new Neil Simon was a little bit worried.
He was he was a bit unsure. If sellers could actually be in
an Italian and he had actually when he wrote it, he envisaged
to Italian actors to play the role of Aldo vannucci Marcello
mastroianni and Vittorio gassman.
So it was sent to Sellers and sellers loved it.
And I love this. This is a lovely story that Neil
Simon told. So sellers arranged a meeting
with Neil Simon and Harvey or working at his home Brookfield,
which I gather is near was near Guildford and 15th century house
or something because he, I know he sold it on to Ringo Starr who
sold it on to Stephen Stills, and Crosby Stills, and Nash, and
Young, and sellers was recuperating but From that huge
heart attack. You had on Billy Wilder's, kiss
me stupid. He I love.
I just love this story from Neil Simon, that part of sellers
rehabilitation program. Was he had to ride a bicycle and
they arrived at the meeting. And he was just, he was riding
round the outside of his house, okay?
And Neil Simon said sellers would occasionally, slow down,
but he said that he and I are the Harvey walking just spent
the whole time. I've a walking next to him while
he was cycling or jogging for them while they were discussing
the script. And he said that Neil Simon said
that when your son was going through the script him and he
would say something very very funny that sellers would sort of
laugh uproariously and then he would repeat the line out loud
as though it never heard it before.
This went on for about an hour. Hmm.
And at the end of it still is said yeah.
They this it's you know, But we definitely, we're definitely
doing this. And he said, I want Victoria to
secret to be the director of the film.
So then the script is then sent into Seeker who, then also then
came on board. So you had this whole package of
Neil Simon who was a big, wow on Broadway, Peter Sellers and
Vittorio de Sica and United Artists picked it up, and but
there was also another production company.
Brookfield production company, which was sellers company.
We've John Bryan, and they came together and this would, they
were meant to make six films together.
And this would be the first. And I will also say the last
last. Yeah, Productions.
Now, should I explain who John Bryan was?
John, Bryan was very famous. British art director, film art
director He too worked on out Direction in such films as
laundering billions Millions, like us the wicked lady.
I also get the chance now to say my favorite joke for relate to
into a 1940s British film. Are you ready for this?
I'm braced going, you ready? Yeah.
Tyler. Have you ever seen Phyllis
Calvert's Fanny by Gaslight? He was the artist leave that
hanging. I just love that joke.
He was the art director for that.
He won the Academy Award for art Direction on David lean's.
Great Expectations. He also was all great to on
David lean's. Oliver Twist.
He run. Won the bafta for the Richard
Burton Peter. O'Toole film Beckett.
Oh yeah, then became a producer. Couple of Alec Guinness films.
The card, the horse's mouth to the couple of Norman, Wisdom
films as well. There was a crooked man and the
girl on a boat. So, Huge pedigree, and they come
together to work together. And as we talk about this there,
I do have a few stories that I've found out about that.
How and why the relationship between John Bryan and Peter
Sellers fell apart. Well, did you get the answers
there? But Peter Sellers Peter says
could be could no more hold down a relationship professional or
otherwise of anybody then he could knit fog I suppose.
It's fair to say. So just just on you you
mentioned obviously sellers wanted de Sica does that go back
to him? Working with the Seeker in on
the Milling millionaire risks because well, just because in
that one, yes, those two seekers in the millionairess and it's an
interesting way of looking at it.
I think them real connection, obviously, to see.
So to Seeker was one of the pioneers of Italian Neo realism.
Along with Roberto Rossellini and luchino Visconti.
And so, I mean, Italian neorealism films came about
because Italy during the war under the dictatorship of
muscley me. Everybody know, everyone was
sort of Italy was humiliated by this and he himself said that
neorealism distinct. He said that.
It came out of this loss of Liberty.
Not only just personally, Vomiting.
But artistic, and political, and they then took their cameras out
onto the streets and their uses, you know, bits of old film
stock, wherever they could get it from.
And you can see in these films that are made from the mid to
late 1940s. You see war-torn, Italy, and
also Italy, slowly trying to rebuild itself.
They use lots of non-professional actors.
So you would have in some of the film's.
You may have about three or four.
Professional access to me like Roberto Rossellini's Rome Open,
city has the great anime and yarning in it to seek his films
were the same. So he made a film called
shoeshine, which was about young boys who end up in juvenile
Penitentiary. But of course, his most famous
film that he made, which was in 1948.
Was the bicycle seems, which if anyone is probably seen a de,
Sica film directed by, that is probably the film.
Because, for many years, it was It was voted the number one,
film by Sight and Sound. So that is where de Sica was
coming from as a film director and of course, the connection
with sellers, I think really comes from the de Sica was a
mentor to a woman that Peter Sellers?
Oh, right? Yes, you know and because
Lorraine And when she was 19, she met de secret to nachita
and, you know, which is the number one Film Studio in Italy
and she met him briefly. And he said, he only said to
her, was trust yourself and everything will go well, and
then not long afterwards. She then had an interview with
him, and they were just sitting there chatting, and then he
said, right, I'll see you tomorrow.
We're off to Napoli due to shoot a film called the gold of Napoli
And she plays the Pizzaiola, the pizza girl in that film.
And she he she always said that the Seeker was her mentor and
what he used to do when he directed her, he would act out
how he wanted, the gestures the movements, and she would copy
him and give her again, or give it her own twist as well.
He did the same thing to see Quran after the fox with Britt
ekland as well. He would act out what be
required In the sea, but he did it with all the actors apart
from. I think sellers, because
obviously, Peter Sellers what to do, I want it.
I don't know if you know this is, this is a sort of goon
related story to do with after the fox, when you're aware of
the the dinner with sellers Britt at Brookfield.
With Neil Simon. Neil Simon's wife?
Harvey walking and Javi organs wife.
Are you aware of this? Talk about?
Go on. So sellers.
And Britt arranged a dinner party at Brookfield for Neil
Simon as a saint and Harvey organ in their respective wives.
So they thought that was just to be the six of them and they were
just sort of getting into the evening and then of them has a
ring on the doorbell and Harry cecum, and mrs.
Beckham and Eric Sykes of mrs. Sykes were also invited to the
dinner as well, and they thought, well, why haven't we
been serve the dinner yet? You never stop waiting and
waiting and Harvey orking. I got from slowly getting pissed
while this was going on. Then it was actually announced
by sellers that all well we're not starting dinner until 10:00
because Princess Margaret and Lord, Snowdon the Turning.
Oh yeah. I have heard this.
Yes. And our governor Neil Simon said
that, then sellers didn't seek and we're having to spend teach
him how to battle properly. And so she arrived with Lord,
Snowden and Princess Margaret just laughter everything sellers
cecum and Sykes, did everything, not the do whatever utterance
they made, you just laughed it and it was going the evening was
going on and on and on, and on and on and of course, you're
Simon was staying in the heart of London with his wife.
And, you know, they want to get back to London.
Yeah. And in the end sellers, she saw
a simple. You know who are these two men?
Stood at Princess Margaret. Surveillance Ellison.
Well, Neil Simon is the funniest man on being a Broadway at the
moment in America and Harvey. Walking is one of the most
wittiest men is ever come out of America.
So she still can they, you know, prove it do some entertainment
for media and sell his egg them on to do a skit.
And I gather that just improvised, I'll be walking was
so drunk. He decided, right?
I'm going to be a prostitute on Waterloo Bridge and Neil Simon
was then going to A u.s. senator from Georgia who's looking for a
piece of the action and a Catholic went down, like a lead
balloon and then all of a sudden Princess Margaret just got up
without saying a word and left when Lord snowed and Neil Simon
was so relieved that he and his wife could go all the way home
Burger was at 3:00 in the morning.
I'll go and sellers would have loved every minute of that.
Oh yes. Seeing them squirming?
Yeah, yeah. Yeah.
You just you know for his own Amusement.
Yeah, so that's that's just like the Goon related story, you
know, do with the sort of pre-production to after the fox
do I do we need to Terry everyone the plot?
Well, this is the thing I was I've got copious notes here that
I made, okay? And I realized that normally
what I do when I'm covering a film as I write a little pithy
little synopsis. Yeah.
But I forgot to do that. So, what I can do if you like,
yeah, I do have the Blu-ray right here in my UK and the
three, dump the back cover. I'll just read off the back
cover, in case anyone listening to, this hasn't watched after
the folks, which by the way, jumping right to the end and not
going to give any spoilers at all.
But I happen to think that it's up there with the ending of The
Taking of Pelham. 1 2 3. Well, yes there's there's a
pleasant. Yes.
I I think it's I think the energy that After the fox is
perfect, but the the plot millions of dollars in stolen
gold bullion must be smuggled from Cairo to Italy and there's
only one criminal mastermind capable of doing it.
Aldo vannucci aka the fox played by the one and only Peter
Sellers vannucci devises. The perfect plan to bring the
loot ashore posing as a flamboyant, Italian film
director and casting a faded egotistical matinee Idol and his
own sister in a fake movie. About, of course, a gold Heist.
And I think that now, I mean, that's what I mean, that is, I
mean, it's, he's a small-time crook, and the only reason why
he actually decides to because he actually turns the job down
to begin with. But the only reason why he
decides to do the job is because he's told that his sister Gina
played by Britt is a streetwalker in Rome and across
the it's even worse when he when he breaks.
A out of prison. It's even worse for Aldo
venucci. When he discovers, she's not a
streetwalker, she wants to be a film actress and which will
bring the family into disrepute does.
Yeah, despite the fact that he's a criminal mastermind he's been
they have been choking for years.
Yeah you did you know don't go into the acting profession.
Oh by the way I was getting watching it again the other day
for this. The scenes in the prison when
sellers is visited by his three rather gang members gang
members. I suppose you'd call them who
are just kind of like Italian Three Stooges are they really
suppose? But one of them is a one of them
is a really good Italian actor. Okay.
Is it isn't? The one that's got the most to
do, the one that's slightly gormless looking.
And now it's the actually, I'm Paulo stopper.
Who praised the one? Who's beautiful?
Dressed most of the time with the stash.
Yes. Okay.
But the scenes, where the scenes where they visit our do vannucci
in prison, I was reminded of two-way stretch a little bit
where you've got this. Very lacks prison where venucci
is able to supply them outsiders with Contraband basically and
the and the prison, the prison officers are more or less waving
it through. And they give Al do a lot of
stability and laxity when it's interesting.
You saying that because so it has a particular walk as
belleci. Yes, he does.
Is he does, he's quite wonderful.
I love that walk and I wrote, I was trying to describe it when I
was watching it and it's a walk though.
I've seen him do variations of in films before he's got, I
think sellers has got what I call Fluid stiffness.
That is a good description. Because he does.
He with that particular walk, it is as though there is a plank of
wood down his shirt because his back is perfectly straight.
Yes, it's this comic dignity as well.
And it's and I wrote down sellers walking back to a cell
displaying comic dignity a sort of fluid stiffness about his
walk. Yeah, because he reminds me of
there was with me when he first appears in the prison when he
comes. Has to be, you know, visiting
time the he makes suggestion and it was very reminiscent of Noel
coward as mr. Bridger.
Mmm, in The Italian Job, which is course after yes, years after
after the fox, but he makes that same gesture and he is in that
same position he held over Nietzsche is mr.
Bridger. Aldo verducci is Harry grout
from prob. He is bait.
He is running that place. From his cell and he can escape
at any time. If he so wishes and I just it is
a it is a wonderful walk from Sellers and he does it he does
it again a bit later on when he's out of there's that lovely
scene where he goes marching off when he has his towel around
him. Yes turns it into a toga.
Yes absolutely. Again I made a note of that as
sort of stoic comic dignity and there is another yes mmm.
Yeah, it is. I mean, he really does live the
part, transformed the bond. He's completely different as FF.
Oh yes, the film director. So yeah, it's it is a great.
I think it's actually a great comic creation from Sellers and
it's interesting you say about two-way stretch because it's
there he is. Once again because he's busy
Dodger laying in two-way, stretch.
Yes, there is in The gang and broken arm of the law, were his
pearly gates in charge of a gang of criminals and all the both.
Those other films are two of sellers best feature films.
They certainly it's interesting that he's playing the same type
of role. Would you would you say this so
This film Can be split into two halves.
Would you say in the sense that you have the Aldo venucci first
half? And then you have the yes for
Brits. Whether regroup for Federico for
Britt silver for Britt, see the Brits the, the Defoe film
director, the photo film director, yes, the film in two
parts, but I do, we'll come on. There's, I do think there's
somebody whose performance in the film is also absolutely
spot-on and we'll talk about Him a little while.
I think that with the prison, when he so sellers vows that he
will escape by one of the three o'clock the following day,
because his sister Gina has been staying out late, and obviously,
here he has to go and sort things out.
So he, I think the, the whole scheme that he employs here, the
switcheroo Ploy is quite ingenious.
It messes with your expectations, doesn't it
vannucci is the Master of Disguise and you see that?
Of course, where he finally gets home.
And, of course, there's all those different costumes in the
water. Oh, yes.
He can choose from when we get, when we get to the new cheese
home Gina, she's wants to be a film star.
And and Them. Just just just on the Britt,
ekland in this, in this film. I understand that to seek.
It was initially reluctant to have her on board, but in the
end he acquiesced. Is that right?
Yeah. To tell us.
Yeah. Yeah.
Was that purely purely? Because she's obviously.
She's she's blond. She doesn't look particularly
she's won't, you know she's wearing a wig.
They're having a minute, he's not dying.
Yeah, clearly wearing a wig and you know, And it's interesting
that what she was Art when she was asked to play this role.
Of course, there she is. She's having to play she's
playing opposite, her husband, but she's playing his sister.
And I love the fact that the person that she went to to say,
do you think I should do? This was Elizabeth Taylor,
really? Yes.
Elizabeth Taylor was a bit of a heroin and a confidant to
protect And she said, you know, this is challenging role, she
said but you know but Peters my husband and Elizabeth Taylor
said just forget that he's your husband and just play it for
real. He is your brother.
Hmm. And you are his sister and
that's what she did. There has been enough crying.
Take this soap and wash those lips off your face.
Thank you for uniting my family. Now just you listen to me.
You your delinquent, sneak harlots, coward tent, Starlet
you are never too. Tension acting again and you
want to put down that far apart. She never misses what one of the
point to think about is well, she's not long head Victoria
sellers. No, well, that's the other thing
when, when they go, when they're making a trip, when they're
shooting the film, especially when they get to the island of
ischia, which is near the Bay of Naples for six weeks, the hotel
that they were staying in the adjoining room was the nanny.
With Victoria. And this is just some because
Britain has been quite open about this in her autobiography
and she said that. So there she was there they are
on this beautiful island which is also was used for funding
there for Cleopatra. The Elizabeth Taylor, Richard
Burton film and many years later, The Talented mr.
Ripley, great film. Yeah.
Love that. That was shot there as well.
And but she says, so she thought, hola will invite.
My mother and two of two of her brother's and she knows, she
hardly saw them because sellers wouldn't allow her to go and see
her own family. They came and it got to the
point. Also, where sellers basically
stayed in his room? Once shooting was over for the
day, he would stay in the room and she would have to stay in
the room with him occasionally. I gambled that he did get
Venture down to the pool, maybe two or three times because he's
Over bit more Mortimer. That's right.
Yeah. You know, there's of the
Italians are all lounging around the pool and then sellers would
just dive bomb causing the biggest splashes he could, you
know, to ruin everyone's, you know, not sunbathing.
But even when so the nanny was taking Victoria out down to the
poolside in him and occasionally Britt would go down there, but
he was as though she was betraying him and she would have
to come back. Back and even got to the point
where the nanny was spending most of the time with Victoria,
not in the adjoining room because of the really, the
relationship between them Pisa and Britt in their room and I
mean, that have been going on I gather from when because of shot
Interiors, Etc, some cinecitta. And you know, the and I find
this absolutely amazing, you know, the scene where he goes,
the two scenes. He stops her from being an
actress on the structure. Yeah.
Which is the Via Veneto one of most famous, you know,
Boulevard, yeah. It was in the 60s, everyone.
Anybody would be seen there and to think I could pull lots of
strings but he couldn't pull the string to have that shut down.
So he had it rebuilt for three, three blocks at chin, a cheetah
Traffic lights role. I mean cars.
Facades of hotels. Yeah, so all this was going on
and throughout filming and one of the artists is of, I mean, I
love Peter Sellers. I mean, I love him as a
performer. But yes, what I've read, I've
read, Roger Lewis's book, mmm. It's and but when you see, you
know, the Dark Side of Silence. Hmm.
And he during filming, he said to her one day.
I've seen the rushes of what you did yesterday.
And he said something on the lines of it was one of the most
terrifying things I've ever seen.
I think you should go and see it and you just think there's Britt
you know making she said watch 2223 when she's making this film
cell is about 40 and you're meant to be encouraging your
wife but at the same time you're putting her down and you know
I'm imagine it couldn't have been that wonderful experience
shooting his film. Well how much Hm.
Much do you think she relished the scenes in the film where she
has to throw various items at found over new cheesehead?
Yes, she never misses. She never misses with a lovely
little touch from sellers is when he's talking to Nana
vannucci and he's picking out different sized bowls and he's
rubbing em because they obviously cold.
And I just think. Yes, sellers improvise that
there are, I mean that throughout there are moments
where I mean, I love I love it when He has as for Britt see
when he meets the police chief and they go into his office and
then there's that wonderful moment after he sort of silly
given the role in the film. With any just vents, you just
stops throwing things around. It's just, you know, it's just
as that's what we do. Ask, you know, I hate to be
actual times. It's some, there are that lovely
moments throughout from sellers again.
My deepest gratitude and Good morning, good morning.
Such a deep rich evil. Excuse me.
Good morning. The fox decides that he's going
to take this Cairo, gold job on. He's going to somehow or other
Smugglers gold into Italy. And he has to meet okra.
Okra is the guy who so who was okra is, is the is the
Mastermind Mastermind behind the actual price paid by a Kim
Tamara? Who's you, if, you know,
especially known for Orson Welles films True evil.
Especially yeah. Cool Joe grinding.
That's right. Yes yes trial as well.
Yes. So so sellers has to go and meet
with this okra so he goes to this restaurant as part of it as
part of a party of tourists and he's disguised and I think it's
the only because he he does wear lots of disguises and play
different parts in this film. It's it is it is the fox playing
apart and generally speaking using his own voice but this is
this is a this is A rare instance where the fox is
disguised, as an American, and he's doing that, what they would
call in the Goon show, the Hearn voice, which is making American
noises not actually. Yes a saying, any words?
And then he sees this beautiful woman who is Maria, Gracia
Bacala but yellow. Yes.
Miss Italy 1959. Yeah, that's a lovely bit of
business here with the. So, Really Icarus is set right
behind Maria and Maria is voice voice saying is mouthing the
words that our crew is saying. In order to not to arouse
suspicion from nosey Parker's all the authorities or whatnot.
This is really good. Yeah.
And especially because Disney order Disney all just three
whiskeys and then of course he's correcting.
This is only meant to be two of you.
Yes. Let's say I'm Then, of course,
when the waiter comes along it is your with a tourist.
So, you're going to One Whiskey and one glass of wine.
If it's, I mean going to be going with, you know, with the
Brits thing, it's I mean, I actually think that the scene
that she plays later on with Victor Mature when she tries to
seduce him. Hmm.
It's probably one of the best scenes in the film.
Well, that's just words without sellers.
Is it? Because it is a bit of a
thankless role Gina Romantica and she does a lot of whining
throughout. But the scene with Victor Mature
is that it's actually one of the more stronger scenes in the
film. Which brings us.
The, I mean, we should mention Victor Mature because I think
Victor Mature is performance is supers tremendous.
He really gets it. And it's interesting because of
course, Victor Mature was sort of, he's been, you know, been
sort of lamb but he was sort of a butter people's jokes for many
years, you know, because of his because of your acting.
But I'd say, I always say, you need to see him as Doc Holliday
in John, Ford's My Darling. Clementine is absolutely
wonderful. In that role.
But and so here he is, I gather it was.
You hadn't made a film for five years and this was the longest
stretch that it had without making a film.
Since he'd been and serving during the second world war.
And he, I mean II, when I was re-watching, it it finally
dawned on them on me, who I think he's actually being in
that film, which famous Hollywood actor.
He is mimicking in that in, after the fox, and that is Burt
Lancaster. All right, if but especially
early Burt Lancaster film, especially with because a bit
like us, of course was an acrobat such things but
Lancaster, I don't know. If you remember Frank gorshin,
who played The Riddler, I do? Yes, Batman.
Frank, Frank. Sorry to drop your Frank
gorshin. Had The Misfortune of appearing
as one of the acts on Ed Sullivan.
Show the night, The Beatles were on the First Time The Beatles a
bid and no one in that audience was interested at all Frank
gorshin and his comedy stylings. Yeah, it was interesting because
my father would have been interested in Frank gorshin, so
he used to heightened No, that's just slightly heightening and
impersonations and he still wanted all teeth because the
Burt Lancaster was a lot of teeth.
Always had that smile and you can see it.
There are just wonderful moments in Victor matures performance
where he's the the beauty in his pearly whites you keep seeing.
I do love the fact that they use a Victor Mature film.
Yep. In the film.
Yep. Which was Easy Living made in
1949. He plays in American football
player who suffers from a heart condition.
Also Stars Lucille Ball and Lizabeth Scott who you see in
the film. Can you can you give me some off
the top your head, any other films that have done that, where
they feature films of the, somebody within a feel, somebody
within a film, who's, in the news in the main film?
If you know, how can I call you back and edit calculated to the
in? Yeah, I can think of everything.
I could think of one example but it's not a film.
It's from an episode of Columbo. Magoo and episode know it's
where it's the episode with Janet Leigh as though, okay?
As the murderer and she's a sort of faded actress dancer, you
know, and she made loads of hit films in the 40s and 50s.
And then she's, as I say, faded Into Obscurity and she has a
little screening Cinema in her home and she will spend most
evenings watching her old films. Well, I was grabbing Gloria
Swanson. Is it in Sunset Boulevard?
I've not seen since it better than she watches herself as
because she's obviously as you know, she's the fading silent
movie. Star who is living well.
But the Janet Leigh is watching actual Janet Lee films from or a
Janet Lee film from early 50s. I think Gloria Swanson's
watching herself as young as she used to write.
I say yes. Right.
Right, right. Right right.
Okay. I'm a must be.
I think that probably is. Jim will generally be as you
just say Janet Leigh watching a young.
In Italy, Gloria Swanson watching the younger glorious.
Well, I think that is generally the case.
If I could think of any other way, I've got another one.
I just thought of go on. It's a film called deterrence
don't film from the early. 2007 me, the limey.
It's the lime in its poor cow. That's right.
Yeah. That's here we go.
Victor Mature must shamefully. I've never seen other than this.
I've never seen a victim at your film.
I've never seen him in a film. You've never seen the robe.
No, I haven't not an Easter time, it's always on.
No, no, I haven't. And I do like, old films.
Don't get me wrong. I just watch My Darling,
Clementine, okay, I will write that down.
I'm writing it down now. Yeah, but it did, because he's
got great comedy timing. He's does comedy chops in this.
Had he ever done comedy before this?
Not as far as I know. I think he generally, you know,
because he was, he's a bit of a hunk.
Yeah. And he's got good.
Strong features quite been large features as well and he
generally played because in things like the Rope, he plays
Demetrius the slaves. So he's you know, he's chest
will be on show sort of thing and must in case.
I forget one of my favorite lines in the whole of this film
is when Martin Balsam. Mmm, we're taking a Pelham, 123
the mounting bolts in place. So, Victor Mature is Tony power.
Only Powell who is this spading Hollywood movie actor.
Yeah. And Martin Balsam places
manager, Harry. Yes.
And when FF goes to meet Tony power for the first time in his
hotel suite, right? I think this, that particular
scene is probably one of the best scenes in the whole of the
film. It is just because when he walks
in to begin with the first thing he says, as Martin Balsam opens
the door. His coat Federico for Abruzzi
and Martin Paulsen says something Eliza at him speak
Italian. So now, I am 43 close Abruzzi,
but that whole scene where he's pitching the film to Victor
Mature. But when because, of course,
Martin Balsam stunning more and more exasperated because he's
going. Well, what's the film?
What's that picture about? And then sellers walks over to
the window of the hotel room and just Points to the window.
And says, that's what it's about pointing to outside.
And there's a beautiful pause and Victor Mature goes widows.
Just love that, man. And it's the same as when he
sang when Martin Balsam, then says, well, what about a
contract and sellers is mmm, as for Britt see, then grabs.
Victor Mature, gives him a kiss on the cheek and says that's my
contract. And Martin boss and says can I
have a copy for my lawyer? It's just Just a wonderful.
And I have watched film about three or four times over the
last week, I was also watching the two members of his sellers
gang in that scene. And there's a wonderful moment
where the want the, the more gormless one with the curly
hair, who was actually a french actor, okay, Mac ronay who was a
French acrobat. So some of those shots, you know
when you see them leaping onto the top of the where the camera
is it's a shooting and are leaping up sides of the
building. He could actually Do that.
But there's a the two of them in that scene that he's constantly
trying to steal fruit in the background and he finally steals
Martin bosses banana. The you just they are constantly
doing something in the background while, you know,
Sellers and mature. But I just think that whole
scene is just beautifully played well.
I think that before FF even gets in the room when we first see.
Victor Mature and and Harry in the hotel room.
There's great back and forth between them.
Look at those teeth are okay. Just look at them.
How many people are the world over?
40? Can still say?
They have their own teeth? And how many people in the world
over 50 can still say they're only 40?
Hello, I want to talk to Hollywood California, please.
I would I'm speaking English. Look at this.
This. Look at this solid as a rock.
Come on there. Give me hit the stomach.
I'll hit you later, Tony. I'm making a call.
That's right. Sam duffman of devilment
Studios, that's one shot the stomach Harry, excuse me
operate, I have to hit someone and I wrote down, I was getting
some, some Troy McClure vibes from from Victor Mature.
The character of the victim of jurors playing.
Yes, he's, you know what he says to he says, to Harry.
Come on, hit me in the stomach. And - Canary sort of what do you
mean and then eventually it's a and then, you know, Victor
Mature, doesn't Flinch, sorry 30-pound doesn't Flinch keeps
the smile, the smile, the teeth and then he excused himself
because into the next room and just basically collapses on the
floor. You kind of wonder how that
whole role was pitched to Victor Mature.
We want you to play pretty much a self dried up.
Yeah, your best work is behind you.
You've got a few too many wrinkles.
We want you to send yourself up and he does it beautifully.
Yeah yeah. I mean the hair dye.
Yeah as you say the teeth it's to there's the line that's the
line, you mentioned, near Route, neo-realism and and Harry's
definition of neo-realism is no money.
Well yes, I mean it's, you know, it's shooting on the hoof.
It's interesting talking about money because de Sica was, he
was in debt to seek. It was a gambler, right
constantly was gambling. He didn't, he always went for
the quick fix. So we didn't play things, such
as poker or Bridge. He played pontoon or roulette
and the everyday. So generally de Sica would take
it. There would be a two hour lunch
break and then you have an hour's nap and and but every day
at 4:00 p.m., he would make a telephone call to when this is
when they're on the island of ischia he would telephone of a
casino in Monte Carlo and put money Lera on the roulette
wheel. And I need to be on the phone,
listening to the sound of the ball, going round and round and
round. And in generally the people
heard him swear in Italian and then slammed the phone down.
So Neil Simon thinks that DeCicco kind of took this film
on because to pay Freezing pay for his debts.
Hmm. But of course de Sica.
We can't miss out. The de Sica appears in the film.
Yes doesn't make. Lovely Cameo from himself and
which of course helps move the plot of the film along because
our do vannucci and his gang steel and all the equipment.
Well they're all Disick is film. Yeah, Rick said that the secret
is filming a film called flight from Egypt.
Yeah. And It's a Biblical epic and
there's someone supposedly John Huston noses, it's tall enough
to be John Huston. But yeah, yeah.
And then of course, they set the fans going to whip up a
sandstorm which obliterates all view or vision and as the same
players Aldo and the Gang have stolen all the film equipment
and to seek is just sat there set there on that.
They're yes on the ground and isn't his assistant in their
underwear and Left in their underwear.
Yes. One of the things that if you
read enough Peter Sellers biographies, as I did, when I
was younger, whenever this film was covered that, there was
always the same quote from sellers regarding de.
Sica sellers was quoted as saying he thinks in Italian, I
think in English and that's the quote, I've picked up as well.
Yeah. And at one point, I believe
Sellers as as what's his wand, he It having to seek a fired and
replaced by his old chum, Joe McGrath yeah.
Whoo. If used keep refusing to hit but
who would actually end up working with sellers on the next
sellers project which was the disastrous Casino Royale
Christina. Oh yeah, hmm.
Yes. Because there's another code a
story to the Joe McGrath so I gathered that cell has decided
on a whim that he wanted, every member of the cast and crew to
have to beat British sausages, And that's why don't, you know,
coming from a country that produces, you know, salami?
Yeah, prosciutto. I mean, the list is endless.
I mean, I could myself, I could permanently graze on Italian
meats and cheeses that I've, and I will be in my element and he
had. So Joe McGrath, through sellers,
had the sausages helicoptered from Harrods to Airports in
probably Heathrow. I'm an imagined and then it was
the sorties were flown to Rome to Napoli and then transported
to this Kia. So people could have British
sausages. Wow, we're talking about
sellers, you know, trying to remove Vittorio de Sica because
Britt ekland said that she thought that he was, he was at
that stage in his career where he thought he was better
qualified to direct his movies. Then established directors, and
I can imagine that cell has had only directed one.
Film Pride will hit. Yeah.
He directed one film, which was mr.
Topaz, what he was loud? It was 1960, 61, right.
And it was not a happy film was not a to sit success of.
No. Yeah, I mean it's interesting
cuz sellers would work, you know, we'll work, it was working
with thinner it. We've been Kubrick and it I just
think he had one hell of an ego. It did, he did interestingly
just on that? What's that why what whose idea
do you think it was? Because I'm I'm sure that Neil
Simon didn't come up with this himself.
Whose idea was, was it to have a quote phone call from Sophia?
Yes. Well, of course, bearing in mind
this is the is not credited on the.
If I remember, right? He's not credited on the opening
credits and the opening credits, by the way, I absolutely
fabulous. And the song is, Oh yeah.
And when I was a young boy, I think now that, you know, that
Drew me in straight away. I mean, the song is just an area
where that it's just stays in your head forever.
And it's my favorite is one of my favorite film songs of all
time and wonderful credit. Which, of course were the Bob
Morris England binder Bender? Yeah.
Who's James Bond?
That's right. And, and so he designed Morris
printed design, the, the opening credits, which, which is this
cartoon fox, and he's trying to get gold and he's being, he's
being obstructed in this aim by various members of police and
it's, it's animated by a guy called Dick horn.
Yes, whoo, I was working it corn, something to do with the
Beatles. Yeah, he was working on the
Beatles cartoon TV series. Yeah.
And Bender had worked on had done the design.
The mouse that roared title sequence.
So a lot of a lot of sellers films from the late 50s to, to
the sort of late 60s, had animated title sequences.
There was, was there a conscious and over attempt for this film
for after the fox to be compared with, The previous sellers film.
What's new pussycat? Well, yes, because the tagline
was you caught the Pussycat now? Chase the fox?
The fox? Yeah and and and the the title
sequence, it's again, it's just, it's got this Echoes of the
what's new pussycat? Yes.
Title sequence. And isn't what's new pussycat?
Was that written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David,
absolutely yeah. Yeah, by the way, obviously The
Hollies He's saying the theme tune with sellers, providing
little asides, which is fantastic.
However, it didn't chart. Did it not?
Well, it will let you know, mind you, there's a lot of good
things in the charts and 9066, I guess.
Wonderful, Junior Choice, one of my noticed on Twitter.
When the guy that communicate with on Twitter guy called Alan
Des message. Me and he said that he saw The
Hollies on tour in the late 90s. And they played after the fox
with sellers voice, lift from the original recording and
queued in live by the keyboard player.
One, that's great. So I need to you you asked me a
question about Sofia Loren though.
Yea Yea the phonecall. Yes.
Sorry. Yeah, so it's not credited on
there but there are two writers. There is De Seekers writer
churches are is 17 e who was with de Sica from around about
9. Team early 1940s.
So you worked with the Seeker throughout that, you know, 40s
50s, excetera, Etc, and the wonderful meeting he had with
Neil Simon at the Savoy, and he 17, he didn't speak a word of
English. And he opened the door to the
old Simon and sin buongiorno. And then Neil Simon said that,
he then, Spoke back to him and he said, buongiorno grad C and
Neil Simon said, well that was all my vocab in Italian and then
they sat there for 30 minutes just leaving through magazines
until The Interpreter arrived and apparently, first,
interpreter was awful, they come actually another interpreter in.
And then, I mean, this is really, how marvelous Neil Simon
was as a writer as well. The idea is that 17?
He was bringing he about three days later, he was able to go
back for another meeting with him with the changes.
The script. So you have this.
So you've got sort of this English, Italian hybrid of a
script being written than by these two wonderful writers.
And I think maybe the it's interesting with us to feel
around gag because, of course, A Feeling Ren de Sica are.
As one Sofia, Loren the, her Academy Award that she won for
two women and was directed by De Sica.
She was the first foreign actor to win the academy.
Emmy Award, you know, to win the Academy Award for that film.
So her close affiliation with de Sica, and of course, sellers
obsession with the feeler N. I hope it wasn't sellers idea, I
hope it was 17 into Seekers, and idea, to put that in because I
imagine that de Sica would be aware through severe lower end
of sellers Devotion to her. I do hope that's the case below.
It would probably have tickled Summers fancy.
Hello. Just a minute Milano.
Hello Sofia. Hello my darling.
You know, Sophia I told you I'm busy with the Tony pal, I'm
sorry, Sophia, you will have to get somebody else.
Sofia the, I'm sorry my darling, there's no path for you in the
picture. Would I lie to you?
Sofia, Sofia. Don't Tony talked to this girl.
She's hysterical. She's hysterical.
Talk to her. Please.
Hello. Hello.
Sofia. She hung up, she'll kill me.
She'll kill me, it'll be annoying.
Italian newspapers. Why don't you two?
I've just remembered something regarding Sellers and sort of
behavior with Britt ekland when they came back after filming
Neil. Simon flew back with them and
they came back to London. Then we're going to watch a sort
of rough print of the film. And they were In the cards
together making their way and they drink, they were driving
through the wall, West End, and Britt.
Ekland noticed The Odd Couple was on the play with Jack
Klugman and Victor spaghetti playing the roles, right?
And she said she said, oh look, look Peter there's Neil's play.
We must go and see it. And I gather that Neil Simon
said that sellers in a rage said, what the hell's going on
between you two and then Neil Simon Wonderful thing in his
Memoir. He said that what could have
happened when she said it was look.
Oh, look Peter, there's chekhov's, the seagull.
Let's go and see it. Then sellers would have replied
what the hell's going on with you and that dead Russian.
But there you are. There's another, you know, that
controlling I want to just very briefly the chief of police in
in what's the buzz the little village called severely oh Devon
earlier. So they've DeCamp to this.
Coastal Village where the boat is going to bring in the golden.
They're going to film this fictional film that they're
making with Jody Powell and Gina Romantica and every member of
The Village wants to be involved as well, but the chief of police
probably foremost among them because he's good morning.
Good morning. Now I gather that actor had to
learn his lines phonetically because he didn't speak English,
is that? Yes, that's a Lando.
Bazinga Ron, you probably don't know for Monte Carlo or bust.
Oh well I'm not seeing that for many years and Anakin yes.
Yes he plays the leading Italia. Roll Em.
Okay. Okay we have this courtroom
scene where the whole village essentially is on trial and
it's, there's always that Bittersweet tone to the film
during this because you see Tony Powell realizing that he's been
maybe total fool of in this film.
Yes, and his face Falls and and the footage that they show is so
amateur amateur. This also sending up Italian
done. Whenever one of the reasons why
I disiike, am may have taken on this film.
It is also sending up the sort of emergence that came in the
late 50s, early 60s of Italian films with with people such Is
Fellini and antonioni the sort of, you know, jerky cutting of
the film, The close-ups. Sure.
And things going out of focus and I think the Seeker is
enjoying sort of ripping his fellow film directors.
And I love the fact that I mean, it's not spoiling it for anyone
who hasn't seen it. But when the in the, in the
courtroom with the film critic gets up and applauds the fill
and you may find a strange time. Sure.
But I would actually like to see the god of Cairo, the way it was
shot. Yeah, because they're all, I
just love it when Tony powder. When he, when he, when he, when
he falls into the chair. I just it's a beautiful shot in.
There's that lovely bit of Martin Balsam.
We just moaning right into the camera lens and of course this,
you know, Britt ekland. You know, there's a lovely nose
to be shot from underneath. Hmm.
To mate Brick. Heck man, look ugly.
Yeah, yeah. No, I actually, I actually
really want to see that film. I'd like to see.
I wish there was more of it. Well because yeah, because
Federico for bring disease, it is just improvising.
He they don't have a script. So he says he tells Gina and
Tony to run, just go just go running and they run around the
whole village. I think.
Don't know, remind me is Tony, wearing a trench coat, I think
he is, isn't he? Yes, he is and then he decides
it. Isn't he later on and decides to
remove his trademark, his trademark check trench coat?
Yes, which is another I'm sure he didn't bit did Victor.
Mature will have upon shown for trench coats in his films Dino.
I reckon he probably did. That is a good.
Queen Question. Can we come back?
It doesn't matter then and I'll give you the right answer.
Yeah. This doesn't that bit out.
Okay. Okay.
But yes, so so Aldo vannucci is sent back to prison and I'm not
going to spoil anything because I think, as I said, I remember,
is I remember being as a young boy seeing this film and it was
just one of those endings where I just sort of looked at the
screen went, what kind of again? Because, of course we've had a
precursor to this scene. Earlier on in the film.
And I would like to point out that the doctor, the prison
Doctor Who was paid by pierluigi Peterson is his one and only
film, okay? He's not an actor, but he was
chosen for his, he's a costume designer.
Right? So he from a distance, if he
squinted, he could pass for sellers in a beer to Sellers and
glasses, we've Garces on. So there's that thing of
neo-realism using somebody who's not an actor, which is also The
same for Aldo and Gina's mother is played by Lydia, Brad.
See, who was the wife of the Italian actor?
Rossano Brazzi Rosanna brother to you probably know from South
Pacific and David lean summertime and Neil.
Simon said that this seeker at audition.
Lots and lots of women to play mama venucci and they went out
to dinner and this is when Neil Simon said you, See the
magnetism of De Sica. He would go into a restaurant
and every everyone would stop and he would be given all the
best food, and he was in the restaurant here, in the
restaurant, he looked across, and there's Rosanna Brad.
See with his wife. Lydia, and he went to Neil
Simon. I found none of an Uchi and he
went over. He knew Rosanna Brad.
See, and he said to Lydia Brad. See said, would you like to be
in my film? And she said, I'm not an actor
and he said all come and have a test and she did, and then she
is melzer. And would you like to would you
like to guess how old she was when she made that film?
Mmm. Well, is it a bit of a?
It's a hoary Old Chestnut. That Italian women aged very
well because of all the olive oil was, that was outright.
And so she, she was either. She was either, it's either
going to be, she was even something like 90, or she was a
today 31. The one who's the same age as
sellers? No, yes.
So says they're both 40, the roundabout for she's really.
Yeah. Oh my God.
Obviously they, you know, but still make up on and greater
hair and but still on them. Yes, it will.
Please mention David Lodge by the way because I know David
Lodge. Yes.
So God would be completely forgot to me.
There's an obligatory David Lodge mentioned in every show
and this this week, so it right at the beginning, there's this
lovely to but Morris 10. Mm.
Of course, not mention my worst enemy.
So, Maurice denim. So we have the, the actual
pre-credit sequence Which is the actual Boolean.
Van is robbed. Yes.
Have you managed? Because he, I mean, I know
you're a stickler for detail. I hope that you've managed to
track down that copy of Playboy that the security.
No, I have not, okay, of such things but but the, the robbery
occurs. Then we have the credit
sequence, the wonderful credit sequence.
And by the way, the incidental music that's throughout this
film is great as so 1966, isn't it?
And it down in the Italian version?
It's not, it's not, it's Italian.
So Is actually a different score on the Italian.
Alright? Okay, but we have this soon as
the opening credits are over, we have what we can as I'm assuming
it's like, it's mentally Interpol.
Would you would you say? Yeah, I would go into pot.
We have it. And we have Morris denim who had
obviously worked sellers on two-way.
Stretch, he was the prison Governor.
Hmm, two-way, stretch, but he is addressing this Committee of I
guess. Yes, police Commissioners or
lawmaking law enforcers and they are his, they are debating Who
The Mastermind behind the gold robbery could be.
And we have this lovely little sequence is this for likely
suspects. The first one is an elderly.
We cut to this elderly Frenchman in a wheelchair.
In a wheelchair. He's he known as the cat or
something. I didn't write it down.
And he great, he's in a park and he just sort of slowly Wheels as
well. Cheer up to this like Dowager
looking lady and grabs her handbag and then very, very
slowly Will's himself away and she just what does she do?
She just walks up to him and grabs the bag back with a sort
of indulgent smile on her face and then we have the second
suspect is an Irishman I can do Riley.
Michael O'Reilly who has it would appear?
He's developed extreme. What is that myopia?
Yeah. And and he and he actually
wanders into a police station and of course, who was the
policeman in charge? It's David Lodge.
David Lodge playing one of the 17 because I counted them, one
of the 17 policeman. He played on film and television
in his compelling uncredited as is Michael.
Oh, They use played by Timothy Bateson, who, of course, is the
voice of the worm, in Labyrinth. There you go.
Useless piece of shit.
Yes, whereas I think the gentleman who plays the French,
I think he's actually credited as is your final criminal?
Felix Kessler? Yes, German he is on the credits
as well. And he's to hear that in the
reason why it cannot be him is because he has been eaten, too
many cream cakes or kanak first. Whatever it is, they eat in
Germany and he's too huge to get through.
I have a question, I do have a sort of a question about that is
too large to leave the bank. Yeah.
How did he get in the bank in the first?
That's a very good question. It's that sort of question that
just It shows up all the holes in this film script, you know,
I'm still in Port, I mean new assignment because I ride for
this coffee, goody absolute come, run for tough.
And I gather, I mean, I think the film is fantastic.
I think it's one of sellers best films and but it was not a huge
commercial success or a critical success.
Many many critics seem to lay the blame for the film, not
being a success, on De Sica. Yes.
And and what are the things I read was that there seemed to be
this Narrative that he had put together a rather poor cast of
supporting actors who were a bit out of their depth alongside the
Maestro sellers, if you like I mean this is really for the
supporting players that mean they are literally there to be
on back and cords or whatever. L, do venucci I think I mean I'm
Lydia brat see as the mama of course the the two policemen.
Oh yeah. That we mustn't.
Miss out the two policemen who have their own wonderful piece
of theme music whenever they appear in and the tall.
One who never speaks always reminds me of Ron mail from
Sparks. Oh yes.
Now you say that yes and they I mean it's not a lot for some of
the others to do that. I mean, as I say, if you, if you
go back and watch that scene in the hotel suite when for the
recall for Abruzzi is Trying to sell the film to Tony pal.
Do watch the, to his two gang members doing little bits of
business and they are wonderful little bit where sellers is
saying, you know, saying I hear an ocean and I hear a heartbeat
yes. Yeah, you know, I did look, I
did look up some reviews of the time because the film is in the
UK was released end of October beginning, and sorry, end of
September. Beginning of October, and the
September beginning of October and 1966.
So of course there you are watching this film in beautiful
sunshine and, you know, probably starting to rain.
Yeah, yeah, but you've just said the World Cup, haven't you?
The some of the reviews? I've found the financial time.
Well, first of all the New York Times said that they thought the
Peter Sellers acted on a level of Jerry Lewis, bro.
I know broad comedy was the was what they were saying they're
the financial times asked. Question is to Seeker at a
disadvantage, directing a film in English, or isn't he very
good at comedy? Or isn't he very good anymore?
Very so we had the Sunday Express said, as entertainment,
all this would appear as foolproof as a tired as a tried
and trusted old gag. The mystery is how so much
talent and money could have resulted in this mere silhouette
of a comedy. The answer, I think is that it
is also thoroughly. Apple, they were watching a
different film. Well, I think they were the
times though in this country. Did praise Sellers and Victor
Mature for their performances, okay?
From one of the papers, the evening news said the you know
that we were talking with big, keep talking about that scene in
the hotel, with the call to Sofia rennick sector except they
talk about that was absent absolutely top-notch and seen as
well. I just think the things I do
sometimes because Victor Mature did say quite early on that if
sellers plays his cards, right, he could steal this picture from
me. And then later on they, when he
saw the rushes, he said to an American gossip columnist call
Sheila Graham. If I was you, I'd sell your
stock in United Artists. I I actually think that Victor
Mature very, very Nearly steals this film from Peter Sellers.
Yeah, he's performance. Is just wonderful old.
No question of their but I think sellers are still.
Yeah, so it says this needs a head, I think?
Yeah, he's over outstanding but and you can see the contrast in
the two roles between out of energy and Federico.
Yes, it's and I gathered that he was when he was for the, for the
RICO for Britt. See, he was using a bit of De
Sica, but most of it was Mario's a He directed him in the naked
truth and they didn't get on. Yeah, funny enough.
Yeah. So we used a lot of.
I gathered that he used a lot of him when he was playing Federico
for Britt. See.
Okay. Okay.
That makes sense. Makes sense and, as I said, so
yeah, the film was not a huge success and their no Sellers and
Eklund made the Bobo the following year, which I haven't
seen for 30 plus years. I must track down a copy of
that. Watch that and then sellers
would in a sense work with Neil Simon again. 10 years later on
Murder by Death. No, yes.
Which we've covered on this podcast have covered.
Yeah, I just there's something I'd like to tell you about
because it has a marvelous quote in the end from Neil Simon sure
there's a lot of superstition when making Italian films and
this A lot of things went wrong when they were shooting this
film. So first of all, when they were
staying in the hotel in ischia, Neil Simon and his wife were
there. He brought his wife there and
his family and he said, 2:00 a.m. in the morning, he kept
hearing been room above a piano, being moved across the floor,
and this went on for, about two or three nights and they
finally, finally spoke to a member of the hotel staff and
the hotel staff said, well, that's very strange.
I mean, because there's no one's staying in the room above you,
but there is a piano in the room.
So then you'll Simon told this story to De Sica and the crew
and then they just looked at him.
Asked and to seek instead, leave it with me, I'm going to change
your sleeping Arrangements. De Sica was also a man, if his
wherever he was staying here, if his bed faced from east to west
he would always move it from North to South right?
Victor Mature a dream one day's filming whenever.
By the Sea, he had to about 45 takes because he just wasn't
getting it right? And he got angry with himself
and he threw his script. Into the sea, the crew stopped
filming. They salvaged the script from
see, scripts in Italy, in Italy are sort of treated as
something. You know, you've got to treat
them respect the actual script, so they put the pages out in the
sun to let them dry and then the local priest came and blessed
the script like its members of the crew kept falling over.
Themselves. Two cars crashed into each
other. Another car went into a shop
window. But the best story of all is,
either a script woman or it was the wife of an Italian dignitary
who came to visit. The set was wearing a purple
dress, really? Yep.
That's that's going to end badly and everyone stopped and because
in Italy we've lent in Lent, the priests used to were purple
cassocks. Yeah.
Which means that you couldn't do any entertaining, which meant he
was the death of your profession.
So everyone stopped because of this, and this had to be then
dealt with filming on ischia. They're very narrow roads and
Victor Mature on his first day, his he would, plea came down
from his hotel room and he was waiting in his car was outside
of the chauffeur and it was a Fiat and he said, I'm not
traveling down. To the set in a field and very
narrow roads. It would take about 30 just over
30 minutes in the feet, to get to the bottom.
He said, no, I want a, I want a limousine.
And I'm not sure if it's actually the limousine that's
used in the film, but they managed to get him a white
limousine. And then the driver, apparently
the driver with the chauffeur before he drove off actually
crossed himself. And instead of taking 30
minutes, it was taking it took an hour and then it would also
take Our to get back up. Oh my word.
Obviously somebody called Peter Sellers saw that Victor Mature
was turning up in a white limousine.
He demanded a car as well? They couldn't get him a white
one. They could get him a black one
and he came down up and down every time they were shooting in
a Black Limousine. I gather also with the color of
the purple sellers was then band purple himself or set sellers
sellers. That was a bugger for the color
purple. And, yeah, because he looks for
the film For purple and green. Yeah, cream is the other one.
Yes, mmm. So this is the power of Vittorio
de Sica in the end because when Neil Simon and his wife and
family came to join, they sat on the set.
De Sica was absolutely adorable with them as was Victor Mature.
I don't know about sellers. Nobody said anything about
sellers, but Victor Mature. He used to take them back up in
the limousine and it was safe to do it at that point when they
arrived because to Seeker, Managed to him, use his power
and the money from United Artists and to have the road
widened. Oh, so the so the car wouldn't
take so long, really back and forth?
Yes. Oh my word.
And there was another thing that used to do at the end of a day's
filming in this Kia that de Sica and Neil Simon, and the
principal cast. So sellers would be there before
he disappeared back into his hotel room, they would take it
in turns to have a drink and a member of the Forecast for them
foot the bill. Apparently, the only one who
didn't join in with this. He used to manage to get all the
way up to his hotel room in time and then lean out the window of
a large glass of red and say. And while everyone was lifting
their glasses, he would say. So you today, and Victor Mature,
never bought around, was always in his room.
I hope that story's true, but that's the power of De Sica.
But Neil Simon was asked about. About making after the fox and
he said, what, you know, what did you, what did you sort of
end the end come up with after making your first screenplay?
And he said, well, what I realized is never write a script
with another script writer who doesn't speak a word of your
language never work with a director who only speaks half of
your language and is only doing it for money and whatever you
do. Never.
Work on a film where somebody wears a purple dress?
Listen, wise counsel. Why don't you?
Yes, mmm, very good. These people are innocent.
They've been misguided misled. Not for gold, not for riches.
But for the weakness of the human Spirit, should we be
punished because we want to feed the hunger of An Empty Soul.
Yes, take them away to a way if anyone must go to prison, it's
me. For I alone am responsible for
this crime because I'm a small Creek.
I go to prison, it's only the big Crooks that go free.
Is that justice justice says that somebody has to pay.
I sentence, you small, crook, 25 years, I accept it happily
Knowing in my joy is hard. At the sister will write to her
brother everyday after school. That her mother will be
protected then cared for by friend hard-working friends. and
that the fine actor has realized that true Talent is never
diminished by the passing years, but don't you worry about
vannucci I will be out of jail. April 1st at 3:00.
Yes, a g. Listen, thank you so much for
for this. It's been very, very enjoyable
and informative conversation that love to have you back again
to talk about another film, another sellers film.
Or even if talk about all of Norway, we've sort of Norway or
sunstruck or doctor in trouble for the no way.
Does have Hermione farthingale We was David Bowie's,
girlfriend. Oh, yes, yes.
And David Bowie child everywhere was a huge fan of the goons.
You like David Bowie yesterday, but David Bowie, I'm sure.
Did he have a? He, he was, there's a photograph
of David Bowie, wearing a t-shirt was song of Norway on
it. Yes, that was later.
Yes, when he came when he came back in in 2013 for the video
for where are you now? He wore a t-shirt.
Yeah. And for Hermione, That's right.
And Duncan Jones his son, if follows me on Twitter follows
the gumad on Twitter which is very, which is very nice.
So what are you, what projects are you working on at the
moment, Grant? Well I'm going to be running a
course very soon on ennio morricone.
All right. Yeah.
So going through what he did score over 450 films.
I'm not going through all of them, but it's sort of it's a
five-hour course and Highlighting some of these work
because he is one of the greatest composers in the
history of film and my other project which is ongoing and I'm
sort of working through the drafts of it now.
But most of the meat of it is done.
So I've been working since 2000. The idea was in 2015 and I
decided I'm a huge age, David Bowie, fan and all books about
David. Bowie are always obviously about
mainly, about course, behind being a musician, a songwriter
etc, etc. But I was always more inch.
I kind of looked at his acting career film theater and
television and I thought it was a good idea and I met Julian
Temple. Yep.
Directing Boeing absolute beginners and Julian said I was
a great idea. What, you know, if you need any
help, just contact me and of course then sadly.
Everybody died. And I kind of knocked me for
six, for quite a while, but then I've slowly sort of got on with
the process. And so, I've interview quality
of quite a few people, people hadn't been interviewed before.
For some of the film's he made and some chapters are longer
than others. I mean, the Manna fell to us is
pretty long, but then there have been books about the Manna fell
to Earth. So, that's the main project and
I'm sort of now, having to go through the drafts of all the
different. So, every credit he has Has its
own separate chapter. Okay.
So he's so they'll be a chapter devoted to yellowbeard.
Yes, there is, I've already written that.
Really, which he played. He played his shark a shark.
Yeah. But there's some good stories
that he got up to while they were on the because he was on
holiday at the time when the been this galleon ship arrived.
With Graham Chapman. Eric idle, Marty Feldman etc,
etc on it. But Bowie was recharging his
batteries and then got coerced into her.
But he ended up having with being in one of the funniest
times of his life. He said, you know, where these
great Comedians and and also be interesting through that yellow
beard. It's things about Marty Feldman,
and David Bowie, and Bowie's connections with different
members of the pythons, different sort of Interactions,
especially with Erica. Eric idle, of course, his
Godfather to David's, son to Duncan.
Yeah, but there's all these sort of in.
They met him along the way and Bows to huge, British comedy
fan. You know, the goons because he
did goons Impressions and, of course, Pete and Dad.
He and Brian Eno used to do. There's a big fan of Hancock.
Yeah. And around the horn.
Oh yes. Yeah and Eddie went to school it
would have as teachers at school was.
Peter Frampton's, dead, correct. And and it was Peter Frampton's
dad that drove him to hospital when he had that fight, which
caused his eye to change girls, right?
Yeah. We had a fight over a girl.
That's right. That's friend George Underwood.
That's right, that's right. What I want to ask you?
What? I want to end on.
Okay, cuz you mentioned you've also written a book about will
hey yeah, there is a seller's connection.
Well, that was going to ask you what's the sellers connection
when asked me the question, okay.
Which is the better film. Ask a policeman or the boys in
blue. Do you really wish me to answer?
Have you seen the boys in blue? Which is a yes, I have.
Which is a remake essentially, isn't it?
It is a remake of a policeman. I'm not going to pass a comment
in case I upset any Cannonball fans because I did wait the way
I could best answer that for you.
If somebody ever ask me, what's the best will have a film?
I always say it's either. Oh mr.
Porter or ask a policeman. So there's that that Kind of
answers. What's the better film between
us completely? So we'll, hey, I'm Peter
Sellers. So Roger Lewis for the led me to
this will. Hey, in 1925 was in a Revue show
called vanity box, which had a sort of about 26, 27, different
scenes and songs and we'll, hey Schoolmaster, he did lots of
different things but the Schoolmaster sketch was part of
it as well. And this toward from about March
middle of March to the beginning of December of 1925, just
towards Over the UK and when they played South Sea, the Kings
theater in south sea, which I think was in September will.
Yeah, I know he's going. Yep.
To members of the cast, minor members of the cast Peg and Bill
is a good bill yet, and she gave birth. 2, Peter Sellers as well
to Richard Henry, sorry. Yes, to give his real name.
Yes. Because he was known even though
Peter because of the episode. Yeah, and I think I wrote in my
book, which I'd love to rewrite, and they did it, because it's
way too long and not brilliantly written that, I hope.
But I don't think so because we'll, hey, probably probably
wasn't interested in a small baby.
But I I just hope that maybe he did.
Hold him. Yeah.
And passed on the comedy. Baton to the young Richard at
the time because I gave her was in a couple of weeks later or
something. He was brought onto the stage.
That's right. And cried out.
Yeah, Baldur's out. So that's the connection between
will hey, Peter Sellers, what a lovely point to end on G.
We should pop the film on the same time we could have done a
running commentary. Could it onion?
Yeah, thanks again to Graham. Thank you for listening.
Please rate and review in usual places and I will see you next
week. Goodbye.