Robin Williams on Peter Sellers and DR. STRANGELOVE

[@koookeee]

"Comedy can hit that hard." You hit us damn hard too, Robin. Thank you for everything.

[@DerekLyons]

Peter Sellers RIP and Robin Williams RIP, two of my Comedy heroes !

[@lawrencedoliveiro9104]

Too many of the good die young.

[@brandond73]

I don't consider anyone who kills themselves a "Hero". Suicide the the most selfish act a person can do. It leaves the people who loved that person wondering why and blaming themselves. Burn in Hell I say!!

[@Syncopator]

@@brandond73 That's a little extreme. Obviously Robin was troubled, suffered from depression and you have no idea what kind of things he was dealing with. I wouldn't say his death was "heroic" but his life certainly could have been.

[@irondolphin9387]

Brandon Darnell The idea that people should “burn in hell” for killing themselves is frankly horrible. I have known people, good people, who decided to take their own lives and the fact that you believe those people should suffer for suffering is just deplorable.

[@georgetravers9333]

@@irondolphin9387 , having know a child kill herself for being a conformist and unable to deal with adolescence, this hell is very much on Earth, and the kingdom of heaven very much the way to pray for.

[@iamseetherfan]

Still have so much love for Robin Williams. A talented actor, a genius comic, a tortured soul. RIP wherever you are.

[@ruly8153]

Deadpool He’s such a lovable ball of goof

[@bensonmeier9808]

All those same qualities applied to Peter Sellers too.

[@odysseusrex5908]

I like ti imagine that he and Jonathan Winters, and Lucille Ball, and Groucho Marx and maybe Laurel and Hardy are all sitting around sharing a drink and a smoke with Mark Twain and cracking each other up.

[@minicle426]

​@@odysseusrex5908Spike Milligan?

[@beachbum4691]

I quote from five years ago "RIP Robin Williams wherever you are" reply > I suspect God and a good many people around him enjoy a good laugh, I have my own suspicions as to where he ended up ;)

[@moviepeasantispeasanted]

0:21 That is a great Dr. Strangelove impression.

[@jkorshak]

The scene in Doctor Strangelove he references, where Sterling Hayden is talking about purity of essence and how he denies women his essence, then there's a shot of Sellers as Mandrake and he's kind of shuddering, realizing Ripper is out of his mind, and almost under his breath, "Heheh, yes, Jack, yes." It's a short sequence but it's a good one - Sellers just nails it.

[@Herman47]

So too does Sterling Hayden, who some might legitimately argue, was even funnier than Peter Sellers in that scene.

[@funkyalfonso]

Herman47 Good point. Those upward shots of him smoking that cigar are outstanding.

[@mortalclown3812]

@@Herman47 Agree. Very glad Hayden had this role. I think it was good for him. Just began his autobiography.

[@anonUK]

Sellers had long experience of dealing with Milligan, who was a different type of loony to Ripper, but a loony nevertheless.

[@alho9231]

@@anonUK RIP Spike

[@itslikethesamebutdifferent8020]

Robin was right on the money with this one. Peter Sellers is probably my favorite comedian ever. The stuff he did was pure comic genius.

[@moonstruck336]

howdy partner !

[@justbanter8727]

Great that comedic artist Robin should admire Peter Sellers so much, an equally talented comedic actor - R.I.P. both these great men.

[@KenFromBeara]

The_ Pentaquark. sellers did commit suicide? i thought he died of a heart attack??

[@justbanter8727]

JK Wiseman You are absolutely right - I just double checked; I'd always been under the impression it was suicide!! Thank you for the heads-up. It seems he changed his 'Will' on the very day he died, just coincidence I guess, but a history of heart attacks for sure. Will edit my Post :)

[@kaymuldoon3575]

JK Wiseman you are correct. Peter Sellers died of a heart attack.

[@funkyalfonso]

JK Wiseman Sadly he died of a heart attack. Also sadly his son Michael died the same way 26 years later on the same day. RIP both of them.

[@butterflymoon6368]

No peter sellers was not a great man. Talented though.

[@genehenrylindgren]

They both had a special kind of madness for which I am eternally grateful.

[@NxDoyle]

When Peter was asked about the characters in Strangelove, he obviously cited the man himself, a barely restrained and sometimes unrestrained muscle memory causing semi-involuntary Hitler salutes (perhaps one of the finest bits of comedy ever committed to film. Mandrake he loved because he was reminiscent of so many officer types he met (and pretended to be) towards the end of the bally mess. Seemingly the only sane man in a cadre of crazies, Sellers' Mandrake is a gorgeous blend of stiff upper lip Englishness, barely restrained desperation, a note of cowardice and a beautifully layered conveyance that his demise may come, not just at the hands of Ripper, but a broken bureaucracy compounded by the resistance of another nutter in the form of equally ranked Col Bat Guano. The other character, President Muffley, tends to be overlooked, even by Sellers. But his phone call with the Soviet head honcho Dimitri Kissov is magical.

[@ingvarhallstrom2306]

The way he talks to the drunk Russian general Secretary like he's three years old.."The bomb. The Hydrogen bomb...."

[@mrfrankiej932]

@@ingvarhallstrom2306 Of course I do. Of course I like to say hello. Whole film was and still is a masterpiece. Still holds up so well today.

[@peterzang]

Well played sir

[@Stratword_]

Dr. Strangelove has so many gems.

[@VolkswagenNut1969]

If anyone could have pulled off the sellers roles on a Strangelove remake, it would have been Robin. I can't think of anyone else offhand that comes close.

[@ronin.bishop]

Tim Moses he should've been offered the role of Clouseau. I think he would've been more committed to it than Steve Martin.

[@bryanrendleman2001]

Jim Carry ?

[@pilummurialis6490]

Geoffrey Rush played Sellers, and you practically can't even tell the difference between them in parts in the film The Life and Death of Peter Sellers

[@HolgerRuneFan]

Williams was a cipher in talent compared to Sellers. He would have destroyed the movie.

[@southerncomfort7490]

This is a very interesting observation. Much as I hugely admire the talent of Mr Williams both as s comic and as an actor, I suspect that you might be right. Williams had a wonderful talent, brought to the fore in 'Good Morning Vietnam.' However, when comic - Mrs Doubtfire apart - Williams was always playing Williams. And he did brilliantly. But a Seller's, he was not. I am sure that he would be the first to recognise that fact, hence his admiration for PS.

[@edmundkockenlocker4672]

I can't help feeling that we're now living inside a Stanley Kubrick movie for real.

[@darthvirgin7157]

i never thought about Robin’s inspirations. i always knew he INSPIRED many comedians. but as to who inspired him, never thought much of it. but after he mentioned Peter Sellers’ performance in Dr Strangelove, it made a whole lot of sense. i also do know that he was a big fan of Johnathan Winters as well.

[@clayz1]

Thank you AFI fir putting this clip up. So little material and so many great laughs.

[@georgestuart8656]

I was a young child when me dad took me to see two movies. Dr Strangelove and the Manchirian Candidate. I had absolutely NO CLUE what either of them was about. Dr. Strangelove is right up there with my favourites now.

[@madmaxbocka]

Nailed it. Kubrick was the Starchild of the entire 60's revolution. He threw the first real pitch. Dr. Strangelove 1964.

[@vanpenguin22]

Ingenious and yet the only natural ending was going out with a montage of detonations to the accompaniment of Vera Lynn's "We'll meet again "

[@JoseMorales-lw5nt]

You do know the original ending was a pie fight in which the War Room goes into a political frenzy of thrown pies. When the American President gets nailed, he fains death as he lies on the ground. One of the officials stands over him and says: OUR YOUNG PRESIDENT HAS BEEN CUT DOWN BEFORE HIS TIME. Guess which 1963 assassination altered that original cinematic ending?

[@vanpenguin22]

@@JoseMorales-lw5nt Saw the documentary too

[@renelopez2244]

Love both of these great talents.

[@Alcagaur1]

"The first time we saw people suffering from 'Waldheimers'" - that fantastic distillation that was Robin's mind in free flight, performing surgery with comedy to get at the marrow of the matter.

[@elevenseven-yq4vu]

Perfect wit, perfect delivery.

[@fredsalfa]

I miss him.

[@steinwaygrande3971]

Alfa Won So do I and I guess we are not alone. Such a brilliant mind and quick sense of humour . A great tragedy indeed and we will never know what was going on his mind the day his life ended.

[@steinwaygrande3971]

For some reason I cant explain it affected me badly and took weeks before I could get my act together. I now watch him on the tube when ever I can

[@steinwaygrande3971]

There was a program on TV a few weeks ago in which his widow explained what was going on in his mind. Specialis Drs and Professors showed his brain patten and compared it to a normal brain patten and you could see the huge difference in his brain patten. A great man with a brilliant mnd taken way to soon

[@fredsalfa]

I think I saw the programme as well

[@steinwaygrande3971]

His brain scan showing a different patten to a healthy patten .

[@sammytheface8821]

After watching RFK jr. Talk about fluoridation of water in America yesterday, Reminded me of General "Jack the Ripper" from Dr. Strangelove...Robin great impression of Jack.

[@bartofilms]

God Speed, R.W. I agree that Peter Sellers was one of the greatest actors. He certainly was the greatest never to receive an 'Academy' Award. He certainly deserved one for 'Being There'.

[@no-oneman.4140]

Well said. Sellers was a genius, a troubled one, but his acting abilities were second to none.

[@simonm7133]

So gratifying that one comic genius recognises and acknowledges another. Could you imagine the two of them together on a late night talk show?

[@sonarmb]

The best and funniest Peter Sellers Movie was also the most underrated...."Being There:. I saw it when I was 14....two days later in English class it hit me and I was sent from the room because I couldn't stop laughing. My English Mistress was about to take me to the Principal, but has the presence of mind to ask what I was laughing about.....When I told about the movie she instead sent me to the library to read. Im now 54 and the phrase "I like to watch" immediately sends me into hysterics.

[@gentboy515]

RIP these 2 :( RESPECT from 2017

[@isaachaze1]

What a little gem this is to find. It's really interesting to watch an interview of Peter Sellers also. He plays so many characters you don't know what to expect from the real person.

[@ExodusPessoa]

One of the greatest tragedies this poor world has ever seen. Unfortunately, we will never get over his loss, it's too big. I'm sorry if I sound pessimistic I can't help it :(. He was loved by so many people, it seemed like everyone on God's green earth loved Robin Williams :(. If he's in a better place, then he now truly knows how the world misses him. And he regrets taking his own life, which was a previous life indeed :(. I hope he has finally found peace :(.

[@ricks7469]

If he 's in a better place, why would he regret doing it?

[@Fugettaboutit]

I said for a long time that Robin Williams was the closest thing to a Peter Sellers for his generation. But later I felt that didn't give Williams enough credit and originality, as he was very clearly his own thing and did things that only he could do.

[@simon359]

My favorite Peter Sellers movie is “Being there!” 🤙👏👏👏

[@VincentConti-m5j]

Ditto on that!!!!! One of my favorite fliks!!!!!

[@alho9231]

We are so fortunate in this day and age that we can relive the performances of these giants whenever we like. RIP Robin and Peter

[@Marksman_12]

Hope you are at peace, Mr. Robin Williams. Every beginning film lover's first bout is incomplete without at least one movie in which you were. If I remember correctly, I first came across you through Dead Poet's Society. Again, may you be at peace.

[@Marksman_12]

*first stint with cinema

[@diegomez94]

We miss you Robin but you still live in our memories, gone but never forgotten.

[@MrReallyHard]

I always had a feeling that you admired Peter Sellers but, it is refreshing to hear you verbally say it.

[@navigatorone1808]

Sellers was an absolute comic genius, & Robin Williams also resided in that zip code..two immortals!

[@jasminnemcdonald94A]

Now they're duking it out for the title of King of Comedy up in Heaven. Robin and Peter.

[@rickykuron3888]

Rip Robin Williams

[@bobdobbs7000]

Ricky Kuron 0

[@jamlym4974]

Amen

[@jesustovar2549]

Just watched Dr. Strangelove, so brilliant, I can understand why Robin Williams holds Peter Sellers in such a high regard, playing three different characters (and he was supposed to play four, Major Kong, but he broke his leg I think, still, Slim Pickens was hilarious), Williams' imitation of Dr. Strangelove was spot on, Sterling Hayden was brilliant too, the dialogue about the 'purity of essence' is insane🤣

[@troutymctrouttrout3809]

Gives me a lot of joy to hear the legends praising Peter Sellers, who I think is alongside Carol Burnett for funniest people to ever live. You can't be truly funny in a movie without great acting and Robin clearly learned this early in his career. We've lost some real gems from this world.

[@MANS4ON-Ce137]

Such a great movie! RIP Kubrick.

[@tiffsaver]

Words of wisdom from another comic genius. RIP.

[@TheOresteia1992]

Wow, his impersonations were brilliantly amazing!!

[@lucabrazi3067]

“There’s no fighting in the war room” 😂

[@rlbrett]

It is still simultaneously difficult and painful to watch Robin; yet it is pleasurable to enjoy hearing some of the depth of his intellectual prowess as he mentions--almost in passing--Waldheimer [Kurt Josef Waldheim, the ultimate turncoat during WWII].

[@bobmcrae5751]

Sellers said in an interview that his two most favourite movies were Being There and Dr. Strangelove.

[@majorskepticism7836]

A wonderful human being talking about another wonderful human being. Both died way too soon. Peter Sellers was supposed to play Slim Pickens’ part but injured his leg pretty badly during filming. Of course the leg injury had little effect on the wheelchair parts, but he could not climb onto the A-bomb.

[@sledzeppelin]

His multiple performances in Lolita are absolutely genius as well.

[@BlackCatAllday]

Robin, can't believe you pulled this one over me and can't live to tell the tale. :)

[@patrickgrogan3014]

You are sadly missed Robin.

[@lawrencew3703]

Oh man. just really came across Dr Strangelove recently through coming across Stirling Hayden who had such an interesting life and was such a character then coming across this clip and I thought god i miss Robin Williams a lot he was one of a kind so sad

[@if6was929]

Imagine Kubrick directing a movie with Robin Williams playing multiple roles!

[@tomasronan]

R.I.P. Robin

[@dannymartinez9371]

Absolutely. I didn't need to hear Robin Williams admit this to know he admired Sellers. Sellers to Williams was just the "passing of the torch." Williams took on dramatic roles in his career, I'm sure, because he understood Sellers was more than an impressionist and Williams wanted to explore his own ability as an actor which he did well. The two were kindred spirits.

[@mikegutschow8384]

I have such a better understanding of robin williams just by hearing his opinion of Peter Sellers. In a way, I’m kind of relieved that most movies suck now a days and only a couple are good because now I have more time to go back and discover movies from that past that are groundbreaking and experience them the way someone did when they saw it for the first time. Dr Strangelove is one of the greatest movies ever made, and for sure the best comedy. Still holds up in 2020 almost 60 years later.

[@arpitdas4263]

Sellers and Williams, funniest actors I ever saw

[@philhohnen6193]

Two acting legends!

[@MrSstiel]

Robin Williams. Miss him.

[@ReegusReever]

0:21 Love how Robin Williams remembers to grab his right hand as he mentions the Führer.

[@NxDoyle]

Every actor I know and know of with a deep desire to lose themselves in a character without using big M 'Method' as their vehicle in has Sellers as an integral touchstone. Usually those actors who 'use' and cite Sellers either have a gift for improvisation or they develop it. Sellers is notable as an actor for so many reasons, but the one relevant to this is that Kubrick, famously meticulous, knew that the magic he wanted from Sellers was ultimately achieved by letting Peter play. I am ambivalent about Sellers the man, but as an actor, he was lightning in a bottle.

[@ShaneKilpatrick-i4t]

My favourite part is the debrief talking about the mineshaft. “It will not be difficult. Mine Fuhrer! I mean Mr. President “. 😂

[@KL-hq5yx]

Rip wonderful soul my friend Robin Williams!!!

[@wewhofly]

Sellers always get the bulk of the praise for Dr. Strangeglove. But the film itself is a perfect movie. Not one actor turned up to give anything but their best; from Pickens to George C. Scott. But if I had to choose an acting tour de force, it would most definitely be the scene stealing intensity of Sterling Hayden; for me the anchor of terror around which the comic actors could float.

[@timmundorff2354]

Why, why, why? I can't drive into the city without thinking about him. I passed him behind the Bandshell on Comedy Day in the Park one year. I put my hand out and he shook it. It was like grabbing a live electrical wire. Miss him.

[@fritzlange7934]

Miss them both so much 💔

[@keithbrown8490]

When people see Dr. Strangelove for the first time and you tell them that one actor is playing three different roles they can't believe it. They will tell you "That was one actor doing those parts !?"

[@krikortersak]

Certainly there are ignorants who do not know much.

[@kosmxrankin1526]

Never knew peter sellers played all 3 until now wow!

[@colinharbinson8284]

Praise from the praiseworthy, is praise indeed.

[@davidgo8874]

RIP Robin Williams! We miss you!

[@davidlawson4281]

Clearly, Williams is a comedian, part time. Sellers, pure satire in Strangelove, my fav movie of all time.

[@fanatamon]

Pure.

[@Insomnia_c1]

That impression was excellent

[@franzhaas6889]

DR. Strange love was such A bold movie. Rip mr. WILLIAMS.

[@MrBILLSTANLEY]

Just yesterday, I selected the same two comedic performances to highlight Sellers' comedic genius.

[@mikegike7273]

So, you have Robin, Richard, Johnathan, and Gilda ALL in the same place. Damn, what a show that is....

[@jonnnyren6245]

0:21 that was bloody impressive dahling Robin!!!!!

[@RootlessNZ]

Williams and Sellers, both brilliant and much missed.

[@robertcooper1952]

My favorite line from the movies: Mein Fuhrer, I can walk!!!

[@georgebuller1914]

I was never - and still am not - a great fan of Robin Williams. For me, he had too much of a 'Me - its all about ME!' attitude in his work, but listening to him here, I can see that the man had a great deal of humility too. RIP, Mr. Williams........

[@lilmisssandi]

peter sellers was just brill whatever he did

[@charbax]

Peter Sellers the best ever.

[@RickyJr46]

A great comedian, and a great movie.

[@andypandywalters]

Praise indeed

[@renelopez2244]

He is 100% correct

[@GreatGardenGnome]

How about that, I've always thought that if a remake was ever done (not that it should), Robin would be the best person around to do Strangelove.

[@RVArmy-is1fy]

This was awesome.

[@terben7339]

Check out The Mouse That Roared, another superweapon comedy with Sellers playing three different roles.

[@ilanklinger2573]

The best black comedy ever.

[@PaceFilmsProductions]

how much u wanna bet Robin's been doing that impression of Dr. Strangelove since he first saw it.

[@brettbenson8359]

I miss Robin Williams..

[@HiVizCamo]

Miss this guy, quite a loss.

[@michaeljames8531]

Sellers was crazy like Williams and started as an impressionist. One person he used to do was Alec Guinness (Obi-Wan) from a 50s film in which he played eight separate members of the same family, clearly had a huge influence on Peter’s decision to emulate a hero of his and so work with Kubrick. Would love it if there was surviving footage of Sellers playing the Slim Pickens role. He was deeply troubled his accent was unconvincing so faked a broken leg to get out of having to do four roles!

[@MrPaulbyron]

There are photos of Sellers in costume as Kong but I've never seen one with the bomb.

[@heather9857]

Of course Sellers, right? But I never realized G C Scott was so funny.

[@sce2aux464]

We miss you both.

[@wondereagle]

Miss him.

[@adamsteele6148]

SslllAuughtereddd!!

[@benpat100]

The more you watch it, the funnier/sadder it gets.

[@glendale6]

George c Scott's secretary. Yum. Very funny scenes with her too.

[@funkyalfonso]

glendale6 Remarkably she was a British actress.

[@super_coop9925]

RIP Stanley Kubric.

[@zeonianking2983]

If he was still alive, I think Robin Williams would've made an excellent Inspector Clouseau.

[@bensonmeier9808]

👍 Yeah! I can just imagine Robin in a trenchcoat, hat and mustache. A lot of people think no comedian could replace Sellers especially Steve Martin, but I think it would have been interesting to see how Williams could have done Clouseau.

[@theslayerishereboi4255]

Peter sellers= Dad Robin Williams= Son

[@phillipbuckley3894]

👍🏼

[@ddewittfulton]

I miss Robin Williams more than some dead relatives. There are some people who I admire who have died that were sad but it was kind of OK. It was OK that Bowie left the planet. Leonard Cohen had an amazing 4th act. But Robin Williams was somehow essential enjoying life. There was so much more to do. (I feel similarly for Christopher Hitchens.)