Will The Real Mr. Sellers Please Stand Up (1969)

[@jessiejames7492]

So cruel that clip of the bull fighting bull’s body being dragged away from the ring. Bull fighting shd be banned. Uncivilised, cruelty!

[@michelekett8450]

Spike understood Peter and this is an amazing picture of how people get lost when their childhood is damaged by the emotional limitations of parents. No blame, it’s how it happens and some cannot overcome their conditioning.

[@andrewd.conard5088]

Must have been concerned about him. It was like he knew Peter was on a collision course.

[@AnthonyMonaghan]

This is wonderful, one of the greatest things Milligan ever wrote (I'm presuming he wrote the commentary) and recited. Peter Sellers always strikes me as a sad, lost and scared character...striken by life. Milligan, even with his crippling depression always found the beauty in the end. Thank you for uploading this essential timepiece.

[@pauljohnson2982]

Couldn't have said it better!

[@KrystalLake]

28:52 : Oh wow! That right there is the beautiful sound of Keith Moon laughing! :-) Such a wonderfully infectious belly laugh. Man, I would give anything to be able to go back in time and hang out with Peter Sellers, Keith Moon, and Graham Chapman. What a dream!

[@xander7ful]

The problem with entertainment geniuses like him is that there is no place in Western society for them except on a stage or in front of a camera. When they aren't working, society expects them to live like normal people & they can't. They try, but it creates loads of problems & complications for them. In primitive societies such as in Africa, they have healthy ways of letting those who are psychologically "different" have their space. But in Western society, those people are labeled & drugged or, if they have money like Peter, they drink & drug themselves to death. Very sad & dysfunctional.

[@georgeshelton6281]

This reminds me of when I looked into; one of the 1974 Playboy magazine issues, it depicts one of Dinkey Segal's X-rated cartoons. It shows all of these women; rowing hard, on a Viking ship.

[@georgeshelton6281]

The women were naked; except for a peace of loincloth, that conceals their hip and vulva.

[@MrMoggyman]

Such a shame....so insecure and vunerable.....despite his truly brilliant and remarkable talent. So many people trying to take advantage, and the effects of his manic depressive nature. It made me feel like what he needed was someone just to hug him and say, 'Peter it is ok. It is ok. The people love you. Peg would want you to be yourself, and to find true happiness and live your dream, rather than running away from it and dwelling on the past.' The loneliness of the introversion of his true self, hiding behind characterisations, black moods, obsession with the paranormal, and low self esteem, as all around him that he had trusted and relied upon over the years left him, and those that were with him were pushed away. So very sad. I feel for Peter. Standing and looking in a mirror for two hours, he must have felt the very deep concious guilt of his past actions. It could all have been so different. He could have found his fireside to sit and warm himself against if he had tried and made the effort, and not run away. It all could have been but for the demons that dwelled within him.

[@wrevflatwoods6225]

Honestly, as someone who struggles with a personality disorder, his struggle with trying to find some sort of identity really rings true for me. But it's like... I was able to get help and a support network. He never did. He thought he was fat and ugly and talentless, and no one ever taught him how to structure his life (being sort of coddled the way he was). He truly was a beautiful talented man who had a lot of problems and was unfortunately swallowed by them. I too wish I could have given him some sort of support, although im a simple nobody of a gal. His films got me through some dark times, i just wish hed gotten the help and support he needed.

[@markgc1316]

Spike was one of very few friends who wasn't a sycophantic suck-up. To listen to Stark and Lodge, you'd think Sellers could do no wrong - indeed you'd think he was the most wonderful man who ever lived, but their admiration of his unique flair for comic-acting blinded them to the madness within, and his tragic inability to function as a normal human being. His genius lay in his tortured soul and demented outlook. He was genuinely awful to all who loved him.

[@ProjectFlashlight612]

I see you've read The Life & Death Of Peter Sellers, in which PS is painted as an unrelentingly nasty and cruel human being, to such an extent that you find yourself simply refusing to believe that anyone who was truly that horrible could have ever had a film career. That book is as much as an one-sjded, vindictive beat-up by a pretentious over-writing ponce as the hagiographies of him are flowery lies. The truth lies very much in the middle. I see you also have not read the book well enough, because it makes quite clear that Milligan himself had serious problems - not least of which was an abiding fear and hatred of Jews, a patronising bigotry towards Indians, and a mental state so precarious that he could lapse into suicidal or homicidal violence at the tip of a hat.

[@markgc1316]

ProjectFlashlight612 Overblown, pompous & flowery maybe, but supported in fact by the testimony of his wives, children, directors and colleagues in other books, who describe his behaviour as egocentric self-absorbed, delusional and often malicious. A more talented character-actor there has probably never been, but not a funny man to live with. I stand by my first comment, which most observers agree is fair.

[@jessiejames7492]

Mark GC most real comedians arent easy to live with...Not Jerry Lewis, Danny Kaye or even Charlie Chaplin...I think they were the best in their field at one time or other and something has to be sacrificed along the way....sadly their families suffered...

[@OofusTwillip]

Mark GC Perhaps Sellers had Borderline Personality Disorder. He certainly had many of the symptoms.

[@jessiejames7492]

Borderline Personality Disorder. ? I think we all have it in some form or other..nobody is perfect .:)

[@RobertLocksley385]

Sellers was completely mental. Whilst posted to (back then) Ceylon during World War 2, he was adamant that he had heard a tiger when there were no tigers on the island. On his demob he moved back in with his mother and went back to acting like a ten-year-old when at home, with his mother waiting on him hand and foot. Even Spike Milligan thought it odd for a grown man to act the way he did. Then, all of this strangeness certainly contributed to his incredibly dry comedy genius.

[@giri.goyo_yt]

Cheers, a hundredfold for uploading this, Cinephilia and Beyond.

[@meredith218461]

A radical and and insightful documentary about the tormented genius of Sellers

[@reneeelliott7264]

This narrator has harsh words for Peter. I like Peter Sellers. It's hard for a jokester to be normal. He was a wonderful actor.

[@perkyporkpie]

Even as a kid when I first saw this I thought it was very odd. I met Spike when I was older and I told him I thought it was as much about him as Sellers-he was not pleased. I still think there is something dreamlike and wonderful about this,

[@papalaz4444244]

made up shite

[@FuturamaFiz]

It just makes me so, so unspeakably sad how his life turned out. I have to cry :(

[@MissBooful]

A bloody enjoyable watch. Thanks.

[@proudfoot.proudfoot]

Thank you for posting this.

[@عباسالسراي-ه9ع]

هههههههه

[@georgeshelton6281]

It's amazing that; Peter Sellers; never met the 'Monkees' or even the original 'Gilligan's Island' cast members. Peter Sellers, didn't even meet Sherwood Schwartz.

[@georgeshelton6281]

This personal Peter Sellers video; had also remind me of the one 'Geico' TV commercial in particular, the audio TV commercial narrator said, "chances are you're not made out of money."

[@johnmitchelljr]

Thank you for sharing this.

[@zxingzxing]

Love the late Great Peter Sellers RIP

[@illaveyoubutler2]

A poem of a documentary....Milligans commentary alone is a revelation

[@justininfrance]

Wow, what a devastating critique. Superb analysis by Spike Milligan. I'm amazed Sellars let it be broadcast. I think I'd cut my throat if this was about me. Did his friendship with Milligan survive this film?

[@MDBellamy]

I've never heard Spike Milligan this direct! It hurts to listen to this. Who knew Peter Sellers better than Spike? Spike is so right about that "island of isolation." I'd love to close with a witty, insightful comment, but witty, insightful comments don't/can't do Sellers justice. It's interesting, though, how his accent varies (in real life) during the program. Can he really have been that insecure in his own identity?

[@TheMoot1]

Milligan was psychologically spot on - profound and honest without pretence regarding his friend's inner world

[@theonlyantony]

This was in some part due to his knowing how it felt. Depression is a killer.

[@robbob6629]

one of the best damn things i've ever seen im my life. brilliant.

[@peterm1826]

you haven't seen much then

[@georgeshelton6281]

Every educational video I see and hear about Peter Sellers; mainly deals with, untold stories about Peter Sellers. It's understandable that; Peter Sellers had, lived a short life.

[@bobbest1611]

20:00 he might not stab someone but he had no problem slapping his wife around or being cruel to his children.

[@MDBellamy]

I apologize for this second post, but I've watching this documentary a second time and feel it needs an Addendum. First, Spike is a fine narrator. I don't know if he wrote his script but he knew Sellers very well. His pain and his love for the man are tangible. Sellers drove and drove, looking for something genuine (a homeplace, according to Milligan). Let us hope he finally found peace and redemption, given the joy he bestowed on us.

[@1060michaelg]

@Tom Beveridge Movingly put, Tom. I am in complete sync with your words. I was in love with Peter Sellers from the time my parents took me, at the age of 7, to see "A Shot In The Dark" at the drive-in. The moment those gunshots rang out and that theme played, I was hooked...and hooked forever! It is hard to pick out a Peter Sellers film that I favor above all others, however---the film I have watched more times and had a HUGE impact on my visual sense was "The Magic Christian" (I had read Terry Southern's novel before I'd seen the film). You had to catch it on a 3 bill night at the drive-in or on an independent late night station at 1am. Now, I have two DVD's and one VHS so I needn't worry. Peter's "depression" was palpable in this piece. (I put quotations around DEPRESSION because I don't know if it always was depression) The waters in the man certainly ran DEEP. I cried and was disconsolate on the day of his death and for some time after. Even today, when I am watching, say, "Being There", I suddenly realize, "This was the last of it...he'd finally been accepted in a serious role...an important work, and he died before he could further explore it." At least he lived to hear the kudos and know he was nominated for an Oscar. I wonder if they'd given it to him if he'd been alive ... Heh, perhaps his death saved Peter from the ultimate slap in the face from the Hollywood establishment? As Spike said, "Good night, sweet Prince."

[@georgeshelton6281]

We see Peter Sellers as a classic comedian.

[@Buelligan88]

What an odd film. What's with that ending? It's like Peter Sellers died at the end.

[@1060michaelg]

Fabulous Piece...a wonder! Spike proves a seer.

[@ayou55]

I love you're channel, keep it up!

[@NoosaHeads]

A very tragic life.

[@steveng.4468]

What is the classical piece he's listening to in his boat? It's some sort of big fanfare. Anybody recognize it?

[@millionseller001]

It's the most serious ive known Spike Milligan to be...

[@joelvalkila]

42:10 Sibelius 5th Symphony.

[@sightsounds9453]

Does anyone now what Sellers himself thought of this film?

[@feddybumpkin5217]

It depended on which Sellers you asked.

[@gardensofthegods]

I'm not even halfway through but already I think it is a really weird video for example showing those insects eating , and those dogs and the women holding them being shown up close with distorted wide-angle lens .

[@barbaraduggan631]

None of know the true inner self of another person ..... only ourselves ... I believe Peter Sellers was bi polar ... as Robin Williams was ... ups and downs that you cannot control ... but there is always a sadness within yourself you cannot explain that Peter Sellers did ... he did not kill himself like Robin Williams but said the truth when he said I would love to be happy ... even though I have everything ....

[@filbertthedilbert1]

Are you the same person that had this on YT before in segments? I enjoyed it very much and was hoping to see it again, thanks for uploading.

[@edwardborries7494]

to bad he couldn't be happy with just Being There

[@kenlieck7756]

It was too Chauncey for him, I guess...

[@1060michaelg]

@@kenlieck7756 LOL That's a bloody good one, Ken! Worthy of more thumbs up and comment. "Too Chauncey..." you clever bounder!

[@clifffor1179]

People thought Peter Sellers was a genius and he tried to live up to an intellectual image by putting on an act when he appeared as himself. He gave it away with Being There where he played an idiot who watched and repeated and who other people thought was special. He was always putting on an act and doing funny voices and putting on masks to deflect from who he was which was a tormented boy who had a very strange mother even Spike said she was unhealthy for him. Peter said Chancey Gardner in 'Being There' was was totally him he related to that character like no other he played that was the film he had always wanted to make....but he played it as Stan Laurel so even when he was being himself he was acting as someone else. There you have Peter Sellers in a nutcase. Nutshell. He did brilliant work and really bad work but he needed something to spark off to be brilliant.

[@andyyelbid]

Basically the whole thesis of the great book 'The life and death of Peter Sellers'. Reading the comments I can say thanks to the tireless research in that book, that Sellers hated this documentary as soon as it was finished and tried to get the broadcast stopped. A very complicated man, I think after the heart attack in 1964 he thought that life, girls ,money and all that went with it were for him. He became impossible to be around, made very few films of any merit after 1965 and lost touch with both his senses and any empathy he ever had. Thanks for a very important upload, doubt if the model is Sharon Tate and if you found this fascinating buy the afore mentioned book, there is also a great bio-pic based on it, here on youtube.

[@Vincek88]

4:45 - so this wasn't a joke, it was their actual game plan?

[@1060michaelg]

@Vincent Macek Vincent, they were just being cheeky. However, I could see how you would think so, Peter sells it so bloody well. The tip-off (for me) came with the "publicist"...he was a tad over the top with , "And then we wait for three more years and then? NOTHING. For three more years..." I hoped that helped....I know this is a 4 year post but I respond anyway. Also, alot of this is serious and the put-ons come on the heels of a serious moment. Take care, mate.

[@chrismineo1788]

My dear peter. what the fuck were you doing at a fucking bull slaughter?

[@cmoney3001]

im 2 and a half minutes in and i can already tell this is shot

[@allys744]

Just out of curiosity, who was the woman that Peter was taking pictures of around the 34 minute mark? This documentary was filmed in 1969 or so and by this time, he was a two time divorcée, so it couldn’t have been his third wife just yet.

[@oobrocks]

This channel needed to warn us about gross insects & heart operations & "free money scene"

[@doppelbanger5797]

looks like peter enjoyed himself before his untimely end

[@millionseller001]

If id had the money,women and fame he had,i think i think id've done the same!!....True legend,though.

[@peterm1826]

whats the music called at 11:15

[@davedaves431]

pavane pour un enfant defunte - Ravel

[@peterm1826]

Dave Daves thank you

[@davedaves431]

@@peterm1826 Terrible it took you three years to get a reply!

[@peterm1826]

Dave Daves lol. Yep. But I got my answer eventually just goes to prove good things and worth waiting for thank you Dave I appreciate it. I can go and buy it now.

[@rodwayford]

My word, the opening scenes show how women were exploited for amusement.

[@ontologicallysteve7765]

Ah, yes---the good ole days.

[@michelekett8450]

What’s changed in 2022? Perhaps the fact that women won’t take it any more,

[@pigknickers]

42:05 Anyone remember that Strawberry Switchblade record? What's the music here anyone know?

[@baxtermaxtor]

Since Yesterday's opening fanfare came from Sibelius's Symphony No. 5.

[@pigknickers]

baxtermaxtor Ah thanks.

[@doppelbanger5797]

omg Raquel Welch

[@Da1Dez]

25:45 Is that Ringo Starr?!

[@jcjohnsong8570]

Yes ... That's Ringo starr ... He co-stared opposite Peter Sellers in the movie 'The Magic Christian' that was being filmed in 1969 around the time that this documentary was being made ... So some of it was filmed on location behind the scenes while the movie was being made.

[@jessiejames7492]

some parts so sad..

[@fergusdonaghy3124]

Is this a piss take? Has to be one of the weirdest things i've ever seen

[@740am]

Great to watch, but the narration is terrible and only paints one picture.

[@kenlieck7756]

So do the damn Dutch!

[@MrDavey2010]

Sellers was a brilliant comic actor but totally barmy!

[@evelynesimon5758]

I'd like to laugh, really i'd like to...

[@jameswhite6112]

Birdy num num!

[@cavecanem7075]

STOP WHAT CAN I SAY

[@ethanballard1]

Is that Sharon Tate he's photographing at 35:59?

[@christianmarkbelovedsonsut7098]

My first impression was that she looked alot like Twiggy, but I cannot say, since this was before my time and I know little about who was in contact with who at the time.

[@timothyfoster727]

wow

[@geoffjones3920]

Never see the likes again Today’s so called comedians are an embarrassment compared

[@BritishComedyUK69]

Hilarious x

[@georgeshelton6281]

While I was also listening and watching this educational video about; Peter Sellers' personal life I do realize it so that this, was a personal interview a journalist has given to Peter Sellers somewhere/sometime in 1969.

[@georgeshelton6281]

At the same time; you also have to remember that this personal interview has, got me also thinking of the Rock Solid Arcade online computer VG (video game), it's called 'Planet Cruncher.'

[@georgeshelton6281]

There was also some eerie Halloween sounds; served as background noise, in this educational video. Alan Dike was the sound mixer. There was some classical and new age music, being played as soundtrack music.

[@georgeshelton6281]

John Pike was the promoter of this educational video.

[@papalaz4444244]

Was he really a genius, though? Was he just talking rubbish all the time? He was funny when someone wrote good lines.

[@Stonecutter334]

The real Mr Sellers is a scary. Prefer the cinema one.

[@glenrichardson6396]

My God. The shameless self-pity is just jaw dropping. The trouble was he had no shortage of people to encourage it. Glad we don't let entertainers dribble on about themselves so much anymore. Yuk.

[@keithnaylor1981]

Unwatchable with all that distracting nonsense on the screen.

[@mondomacabromajor5731]

Desperately silly king of the idiots - Sellers was the best ....