The Real Peter Sellers
Andrew Norman
Throughout the world, people regard Peter Sellers purely as a comedic genius: surely, one of the greatest ever to have lived. But, the astute observer will notice that he always appeared to be acting, even when being interviewed. So, who was Peter Sellers?
Sellers once said, "I could never be myself you see. There is no 'Me'. I do not exist. There used to be me, but I had it surgically removed." Clearly, this was not intended to be taken literally. Instead, the inference is that somehow, he had lost his sense of identity.
To discover the real Peter Sellers is no easy task, and when we do, what we encounter is a totally different persona from the comedic characters that he portrayed on the screen.
Sellers had celebrity status: a succession of beautiful wives; immense wealth; magnificent motor cars; expensive yachts; a house in Mayfair, and various palatial residences. But far from being happy, he was plagued by self-doubt; ambitious, but never satisfied. And so, he resorted to superstition, clairvoyance, and drugs to get himself through the day.
For all Sellers’ worldwide fame as ‘Inspector Clouseau’, many regard the film Being There, in which he played the character ‘Chance’, a gardener, as his masterpiece. In fact, the film was a damning indictment of the false god of materialism.
Sellers’ obsession with the character of ‘Chance’, makes it seem likely that this was the kind of person he aspired to be, and wished that he had been.
Duration - 4h 52m.
Author - Andrew Norman.
Narrator - John Applemore.
Published Date - Thursday, 18 January 2024.
Copyright - © 2022 Pen and Sword ©.
Location:
United States
Description:
Throughout the world, people regard Peter Sellers purely as a comedic genius: surely, one of the greatest ever to have lived. But, the astute observer will notice that he always appeared to be acting, even when being interviewed. So, who was Peter Sellers? Sellers once said, "I could never be myself you see. There is no 'Me'. I do not exist. There used to be me, but I had it surgically removed." Clearly, this was not intended to be taken literally. Instead, the inference is that somehow, he had lost his sense of identity. To discover the real Peter Sellers is no easy task, and when we do, what we encounter is a totally different persona from the comedic characters that he portrayed on the screen. Sellers had celebrity status: a succession of beautiful wives; immense wealth; magnificent motor cars; expensive yachts; a house in Mayfair, and various palatial residences. But far from being happy, he was plagued by self-doubt; ambitious, but never satisfied. And so, he resorted to superstition, clairvoyance, and drugs to get himself through the day. For all Sellers’ worldwide fame as ‘Inspector Clouseau’, many regard the film Being There, in which he played the character ‘Chance’, a gardener, as his masterpiece. In fact, the film was a damning indictment of the false god of materialism. Sellers’ obsession with the character of ‘Chance’, makes it seem likely that this was the kind of person he aspired to be, and wished that he had been. Duration - 4h 52m. Author - Andrew Norman. Narrator - John Applemore. Published Date - Thursday, 18 January 2024. Copyright - © 2022 Pen and Sword ©.
Language:
English
Opening Credits
Duration:00:00:13
Author's Note
Duration:00:04:01
Preface
Duration:00:04:47
Chapter 1
Duration:00:05:13
Chapter 2
Duration:00:05:18
Chapter 3
Duration:00:09:40
Chapter 4
Duration:00:13:01
Chapter 5
Duration:00:15:32
Chapter 6
Duration:00:11:14
Chapter 7
Duration:00:07:52
Chapter 8
Duration:00:04:23
Chapter 9
Duration:00:03:35
Chapter 10
Duration:00:02:37
Chapter 11
Duration:00:10:32
Chapter 12
Duration:00:27:35
Chapter 13
Duration:00:05:40
Chapter 14
Duration:00:02:50
Chapter 15
Duration:00:07:17
Chapter 16
Duration:00:04:36
Chapter 17
Duration:00:08:26
Chapter 18
Duration:00:02:10
Chapter 19
Duration:00:07:11
Chapter 20
Duration:00:06:45
Chapter 21
Duration:00:07:47
Chapter 22
Duration:00:17:38
Chapter 23
Duration:00:10:39
Chapter 24
Duration:00:08:07
Chapter 25
Duration:00:07:44
Chapter 26
Duration:00:25:33
Chapter 27
Duration:00:12:16
Chapter 28
Duration:00:12:26
Chapter 29
Duration:00:08:00
Chapter 30
Duration:00:12:07
Closing Credits
Duration:00:00:09