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Mr StrangelovePeter Sellers is well known, not only as the star(s) of Dr Strangelove, but in many other films including the Pink Panther series. And of course there's also The Goon Show. In Mr Strangelove: A Biography of Peter Sellers Ed Sikov tells his story. We hear of Sellers' early life, bought up in the world of show business, and as such never staying in one place for any amount of time. With the coming of the Second World War, Sellers soon was soon working as an entertainer, and meeting people who would be important in his future career. At the start of the 1950's came the Goon Show, which BBC executives had trouble making sense of, but which soon had an impressive following. Sellers thus gained the opportunity to move into ever larger film parts, and in the 1960's and 1970's he was the lead role in many well known films. The main reason I read the book was to find out more about Dr Strangelove. As this is just one of Sellers many films there isn't a great deal about it, but it does include some interesting information on the origin of the characters of the film.
This is a well written book. It could all too easily have degenerated into a list of films made and people met, but Sikov gives a readable account of Sellers' life, giving the reader an insight into his professional success, but also into his problems in keeping his personal life on track.
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Paperback
448 pages
ISBN: 0330482602
Salesrank: 5361857
Weight:0.7 lbs | | Published: 2003 Pan Publishing | | Marketplace:New from $49.90:Used from $0.97 |
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| Amazon.ca info
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Paperback
448 pages
ISBN: 0330482602
Salesrank: 1722994
Weight:0.7 lbs | | Published: 2003 Pan Macmillan | | Amazon price CDN$ 19.21 | | Marketplace:New from CDN$ 19.21:Used from CDN$ 9.99 |
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| Product Description
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| Peter Sellers was a genius, whose unique mastery created enduring comic characters. But behind the man that could make the world laugh was a tragic sadness. Employing his creations as masks to hide behind, Sellers was convinced his own life was meaningless and empty. Acclaimed ("On Sunset Boulevard" - the story of Billy Wilder) biographer Ed Sikov has spoken to many who knew and worked with Sellers, including Sophia Loren, Goldie Hawn, and Roman Polanski. Sikov reveals how Sellers was a casualty of his own insecurities and used his public persona to mask his tormented private life, littered with four marriages (and three divorces), countless affairs, and drug and alcohol abuse. This is the authoritative and touching story of a majestic comedian, showing the very private face of a man whose world was lived through the public arena. 'An authoritative biography and a compulsive page turner.' - Michael Palin, "New York Times". 'Sikov's book is often melancholy, but always informative, and entertaining...They don't really make 'em like that any more - you can't get the wood you know' - Simon Louvish, "Guardian". |
| The Perfect Title for a Genius! **** |
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Peter Sellers was truly a comedic genius and performer. Sadly, his personal problems and his relationships with women and people in general was plagued by his own self-contempt, self-loathing, and insecurities. He only felt like himself when he was other people. Today, he probably would have been under doctor's care and have been treated for depression. Despite his own personal misfortunes and tragedies, Peter Sellers became a huge success, beloved by fans worldwide, and by his colleagues. When he died, Burt Kwouk said "everybody in London felt his loss." It might be fair to say that Peter Sellers was truly gifted and troubled by his own genius even until the end. He was searching for happiness and self-fulfillment all of his life. He might be rest-assured that he was never really alone. There are lot of people who feel the need to hide behind a mask, face, and masquerade in order to develop a personality. He just needed self-esteem. Sadly, his marriages were mostly failures and he never truly found the happiness on earth that he was seeking for here, maybe in the afterlife.
I deducted a star because I believe the book left out his CBE honour by Queen Elizabeth II. He was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 1966 which is one step below knighthood. I felt that should have been included in this book. |
| Entertaining **** |
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I really enjoyed this book. An amusing account of a very talented actor.
His talent for accents in particular has never been matched. There is some footage of him in rehearsals for Dr Strangelove messing about with different accents and it is astonishing he really nails them all, West Country, Yorkshire, several different London accents etc etc.
Anyway, back to the book - a funny, tragic book about a funny, tragic person. Despite his talent and success he wasn't and messed up most of his marriages by being completely well, mad really.
It may cover ground mentioned by other material but I you haven't seen or read that material as I haven't then that doesn't matter really.
Its depiction of the glamorous circles that Sellers moved in at the height of his career is one of it's best points.
I have knocked off a star for the fact that much of the interviews seemed to be cobbled together from other sources rather than carried out by the writer himself, but as has been said by other reviewers some people who knew him will be fed up to the back teeth of talking about Peter Sellers, so getting interviews can't be easy.
Also, many people who knew him are now dead or decidedly long in the tooth, which can't help. |
| Nothing new, maybe, but... *** |
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| A fascinating read of the fascinating, and perhaps rather sinister, life of Peter Sellers. He seems so likeable in his many comedy roles but he was, according to this book, a right royal pain in the butt! Insecure, needy and spiteful but also charismatic, lovable and loved, the subject of this biography lived through interesting times. I love to read about the entertainment industry during the fifties and sixties, to gain an insight into the times, and Sellers mixed with the low and high echelons of the British and American movie industry. A well written book, apart from the strange use of '20th Century'. I would always write *the* 20th Century, but for some reason Sikov just writes 20th Century; thus, 'he was one of the great comic actors of 20th Century'. Put me right off my stride. |
| Mr Strangelove - something new? ** |
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Having read every book written about the maverick Sellers, I was watering at the mouth in anticipation of the release of this. Some 20 years after his untimely death, there are numerous books on the market to choose from (some now deleted, some still selling well) - from accounts by his son to close friends and work colleagues, the man himself is covered from every angle (with the possible exception of a wife - come on Anne Hayes, you are best placed to do this).
Unfortunately, my anticipation was ill-placed. Although very well written, 'Mr Strangelove' doesn't offer anything new on the subject and disappointingly, seems to be codged together using material from previous books and quotes from the excellent Arena 3 part documentary on Peter. There doesn't seem to be any new material here at all - no effort seems to have been made to interview any of the many people who featured in Peter's life (although I am sure they are sick to death of offering words on Peter - having done it so many times now).
If anyone is to write another book about this subject, it has to offer something new and fresh and alternative to the biographies that have gone before. For anyone looking for a good book on Peter, you'd be better placed to read 'PS I love you' by Michael Sellers or the touching 'Remembering Peter Sellers' by Graham Stark. A well written effort by Sikov but that's all - and not enough to make a good book. |
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