Prog Digest – An Xperience Column

Prog Digest – An Xperience Column – by Klyde Kadiddlehumper.

“I’ll be out of here by 3:00 tomorrow.”  Or something to that effect.

Those are the words of Aldo Vanucci – The Fox.  A notorious Italian thief in “After the Fox,”  a brilliant 1966 comedy starring Peter Sellers, Britt Ekland (his wife at the time), and Victor Mature. Sellers as the lead, Ekland as his younger sister, and Mature as an over-the-hill matinee idol. All part of a fake movie, a heist, and a hilarious car chase. Oh, did I mention this was Neil Simon’s first ever screenplay?  You can check it out on YouTube.

As you, dear reader, may have gathered, Klyde has been going down memory lane and picking up some lesser-known brilliance along the way. Lost on so many and appreciated mostly for one thing – sometimes we just gotta spread the love a bit.

This time – Peter Sellers.

Certainly, you are all familiar with the Pink Panther – but the rest of his career was filled with British radio and TV and International film genius. Films I’ll not delve into here, but that you ought to seek out, include Kubrick’s “Lolita” and “Dr. Strangelove” (as three, count ‘em, three distinct characters), “What’s New Pussycat,” “The Party,” and “Being There” (a masterpiece).  These films, in and of themselves, would make a stupendous career for most. Sellers was so much more.

His personal life was, well, like many of us, a mess – married three times before he passed in 1980 at 54. His work is certainly a reflection of that.

Were you aware that he was the star of a James Bond film? Yup. There were many contractual and rights issues with Ian Fleming’s work in the ‘60s (into the ’80s, actually) which resulted in … wait for it – Casino Royale. Where it seems the entire cast played James Bond (David Niven, Sellers, Ursula Andress (Vesper Lynd/James Bond), Daliah Lavi, and Woody Allen as Jimmy Bond. Hell, Orson Welles was Le Chiffre. A comedy James Bond film.

Campy, stupid, and endlessly entertaining. George Raft flicking a coin like in Scarface. Oh yeah.

Then, perhaps my favorite: “The Magic Christian.”  This film has the distinction of being the first, real starring role for Ringo!

The premise is simple enough. Peter Sellers is Sir Guy Grand – the richest man in the world.  He believes everyone and everything has its price. Adopting Ringo off a park bench, they set out to prove it. Paying off a cop who gave him a ticket – and he does. Paying off the two combatants in the televised heavyweight boxing championship – to dance in the ring. Indeed, the final scene is, well, umm … disturbing. It is, however, accurate. Perhaps more so today than ever.

I suggest you hunt them up, take a look, and then find some other Peter Sellers films and the like. Why? Well, a break from the world is always a good thing – and these are refreshing. And while you are at it, check out the film “Son of Dracula,” starring Ringo and “Countdown Gems,” one and all.

Until next time.

Klyde

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