This is a lively, intelligent, mostly enjoyable film, but it misses perfection because of the affected cornball performance of Peter Sellers. Sellers plays Henry Orient, but he seems to be performing in some completely different movie.
If this was the performance the director wanted, shame on the director. But if this wasn't flawed planning (and writing), but rather mis-casting, then double-shame on the director for failing to replace Sellers when he found he could not control him.
Great physical comedians such as Sellers, or Robin Williams, or Steve Martin, must be held on a tight rein in the intimate arena of cinema, or their manic energy kicks out the frame, and tramples the rest of the cast. What saves this movie is that Sellers does not have a lot of screen time, and almost none on the same sets with the rest of the principal players.
Instead of Sellers, Hill should have cast Elvis Presley... Really! Elvis would have been a perfect and totally plausible Henry Orient. And the movie would have been both a huge hit, and an enduring classic. Thanks to Sellers it is merely a curious period piece.
7/10
If this was the performance the director wanted, shame on the director. But if this wasn't flawed planning (and writing), but rather mis-casting, then double-shame on the director for failing to replace Sellers when he found he could not control him.
Great physical comedians such as Sellers, or Robin Williams, or Steve Martin, must be held on a tight rein in the intimate arena of cinema, or their manic energy kicks out the frame, and tramples the rest of the cast. What saves this movie is that Sellers does not have a lot of screen time, and almost none on the same sets with the rest of the principal players.
Instead of Sellers, Hill should have cast Elvis Presley... Really! Elvis would have been a perfect and totally plausible Henry Orient. And the movie would have been both a huge hit, and an enduring classic. Thanks to Sellers it is merely a curious period piece.
7/10