I saw PP 1 with Steve Martin - a typical childish burlesque of our
times. left me unimpressed and made no connection whatsoever with the
original PP series. even a single still-photo of Sellers as Clouseau
beats the whole Martin movie by miles.

Unfortunately, I haven't seen the Arkin PP. I think I should, though.

Zeljka

The only reason I attempted to watch Steve Martin's 'Pink Panther' was because
it just happened to be sitting there as I was looking through a friend's movie
collection. I didn't get very far before I stopped it. I am a huge Steve Martin
fan, though I think he is no longer the comedic genius he once was. The fact
that he would do a Pink Panther remake simply confuses me. I love the idea of
Steve Martin doing Clouseau-esque comedy, but why an actual remake of the
unremakeable?

It seems to me that Steve Martin has run out of steam as a comedian, though he
has turned out to be quite a good writer. If you wish to have your faith in Mr.
Martin restored, check out his book of plays 'Picasso At The Lapin Agile', or go
see a performance if the opportunity presents itself. That book made me laugh
until it hurt.

By the way, does anyone have an opinion of the Alan Arkin film 'Inspector
Clouseau'? I have not seen it yet, but I wouldn't mind getting some feedback
from you fine people first.

The satirical website "The Onion" has a mostly-serious sister site, the
AV Club, and this week a columnist takes a look at the first two Pink
Panther films in a well-written piece:

http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-pink-panther-a-shot-in-the-
dark,23500/

Also, if you go to the site's main page and scroll down, a DVD review
of the new "Being There" disc is available.

- Rori

Hello!

Those Americans with basic cable packages may have WGN America, a
national superstation airing out of Chicago. Ads have been running
today for a block of Pink Panther films this coming Sunday afternoon
(Dec. 7), two of which feature PS. Times are Eastern:

1 pm - "A Shot in the Dark"
3 pm - "Inspector Clouseau" (the entry where Alan Arkin played Clouseau)
5 pm - "The Pink Panther Strikes Again"

It's worth noting that the local WGN Channel 9 in Chicago will not run
this block; however, it is a CW affiliate and thus will be airing some
of the later Panthers as Jason informed us. :o)

- Rori

Yay Carol for your dillegent Peter research! You are a jewel in our group.
*hugs*

- Rori

> Well,I thought I'd pass along these rather sweet words from Christopher >
Plummer's book.

New bio-new quotes-From Christopher Plummer.There is one chapter on Return Of
Pink Panther and no index to see other topics or names to look up.
Here's a quote:
  " In Return of the Pink Panther was a diamond of comedians-Peter Sellers.
Peter Sellers in my opinion and many others did his best and funniest
performance of Clouseau in this movie.
He was like a child and leaped into this chance to play Clouseau again.And he
put his whole being into it.It brought him back on top as a comedian and
financially.
The outtakes that Blake collected of Sellers playing the final scene are
priceless-Peter trying all sorts of accents from Indian to Polish,changing his
lines,reversing dialogue on purpose,breaking himself up take after take,while
the rest of us,including the crew remained hysterically out of control.
I also loved working with Blake.His quirky,oblique,zany side,improvising
brilliantly with Peter-who shared the similair twisted sort of imagination and
ideas-which never stopped flowing from his off beat brain.I loved this working
experience.
I was never to see much of Sellers again.Peter that strange tortured soul could
be delightful one moment and deeply sullen the next.
He was to make many more entertaining movies- and one of my favorites was Being
There.I am lost in admiration for Peter-that flaky genius. Yes I think genius.
I think he suffered badly like a great many comics.He paid so dearly for his
inspired magic."



Of course,These are  just a few words from this bio.
I've read he (Plummer)didn't much like Sound of Music and in the book he calls
it the S&M. Only one b&w photo from a scene of the PP movie.
Well,I thought I'd pass along these rather sweet words from Christopher
Plummer's book. Title is In Spite of Myself .

Looking things up at Amazon.com, they are currently taking pre-orders
for additional PS Blu-Ray titles in 2009. However, unlike "Being
There", there is no box art or info on bonus content available yet
(i.e., whether there will be exclusive bonus material), so the dates
Amazon has for them may well be subject to change. Also, there hasn't
been a proper press release through conventional DVD websites for any
of these titles, so at this point it's really up in the air for those
that don't have Amazon details.

January 29 - "The Pink Panther"
Date not confirmed - "Dr. Strangelove"

- Rori

The pre-order at Amazon is up for a new release of "Being There" on
Region 1 DVD February 2nd, 2009. For $19.98, it will include a new
featurette, "Memories from Being There", in addition to the
theatrical trailer you'll recall from the old disc. And have a gander
at the *beautiful* cover!

http://www.amazon.com/Being-There-Ruth-
Attaway/dp/B001IHJ988/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1226298747&sr=1-3

In addition, Warner will also release a Blu-Ray high-definition DVD
of the film on the same day, for those who have the newer players. It
costs $28.99. In addition to the trailer and the new featurette,
there are some exclusive bonuses that will *not* be on the standard
disc (as per Blu-Ray practice):

- Gag reel
- Two recently discovered scenes (!!!)
- Alternate ending (possibly the original end credits?)

http://www.amazon.com/Being-There-Blu-ray-Peter-
Sellers/dp/B001IHJ974/ref=ed_oe_blu

(Currently, Amazon is offering 25%-31% discounts on pre-orders of
either disc.)

Our Peter is going into 2009 in style with his *very first* high-
definition title in time for a special anniversary! Cheers!!!

I was watching a movie I hadn't seen in ages. The Scarlet Pimpernel-starring
Leslie Howard.I begins -large letters -LONDON 1792.Howard plays an aristocrat
fluff by day and is non other than The Scarlet Pimpernel by night.A British hero
who rescues people from France who will be set for the guillotine-and brings
them back to safe England.Set during the French Revolution.
By day he is in England as Sir Percy Blakeney.I had a cool surprise when Sir
Percy went to see the Great Mendoza box-and win-against Jackson.We can see a bit
of the bare fisted fight-and Sir Percy just knew he'd win, and brags to all that
he just knew he would.
I wish I had seen it with a bunch of people to jump up and shout-The Great
Mendoza has the GREATEST relative in the world.The S.Pimpernel is a fictional
hero,but Mendoza's great great grandson is a hero in fact-to me.I wonder if
Peter ever saw the movie.
Another surprise was on the video jacket cover there were notes saying Leslie
Howard was actually working for British Intelligence -AT THE TIME HE WAS MAKING
this movie(1935).And 9 years later -June 1st 1943 he was killed on a secret
mission for the British Gov.-when his plane was shot down over Portugal.
Most remember he was Scarlet O'hara's meek beau in Gone With The Wind.Actors are
never "just" actors.Can't live without them.

That's the title of an autobiograhy by Robert Wagner.Here's a "piece" of it.
"Sometimes a hit has a tangible feel to it because you're having such fun. Pink
Panther was like that.
When Peter Sellers replaced Peter Ustinov,Blake had wanted Peter Sellers from
the beginning. The two of them working on Inspector Clouseau left such a feeling
of creation-it was magical.
The only blight of the great experience of The Pink Panther was when I was
hiding in a bathtub with Capucine.The prop man used the strongest detergent for
the suds and it burned and lacerated my eyes.(and Capucine in private parts).I
was in terrible pain for an endless 3 weeks.
In Hollywood there was talk of writing me out so production time wouldn't be
lost,but David and Peter and Blake refused to continue if they did.They'd shoot
around me until my eyes got better.
Most people in show business have some level of talent. Peter Sellers had a
level of genius.
  Working opposite Peter Sellers & David Niven-for God's sake ! I got a nasty
case of stage fright.They were so good,so seamless in their work,I got the
shakes and wasn't able to look the actors in the eye.
It was Peter who broke my bad habit I'd fallen into.Peter was the only one who
noticed and forced me to confront it.
Acting can't be done tentatively.It's like telling a woman you're in love with
her when you're not.The lie shows. Even if the audience can't tell,you can and
you feel a total fraud.
Only Peter noticed.One day he said 'What the hell are you doing with your eyes
?' He and David then ran scenes with me numerous times,until I was as
comfortable as possible.
Peter was always a little crazy,but I must say I never found him nuts."
It goes on re: Peter's method of extending the orgasm,for a very long time,using
Amyl Nitrate. Wagner warned him that that could "blast his heart right out of
his chest".
Continues.."During Wilder's Kiss Me Stupid it nearly did happen. If after that
he did get a bit crazy-it was always for some reason-and it never bothered me."
A few years after Pink Panther ,Wagner was doing It Takes A Thief and "Peter
Sellers guest starred for me. As always he was great fun. He gave me a gold
cigarette lighter which I have kept by my bed for more than 40 years."
That's about it,was one B&W photo.I'd like to track down that episode-don't know
the title.Takes A Thief had many guest stars. I have read that he plays a duel
role (perfect).An informant in one and a cold blooded killer out to get the hero
in another. Read it has a great ending.
There's a site that shows, I think about 16
episodes.WWW.hulu.com/it-takes-a-thief.I didn't see his name in the cast list,in
those episodes.
Oh well...

In the PSAS mag you asked if this is available.It is on the four disc set of
Celebration of Sellers. It's disc 3 /number 5 on the disc called Sophia & Peter.
I got this special order from Barnes & Noble (USA). They ship,but I don't know
if they ship worldwide.It's worth calling them and ordering-or someone in the US
ordering and sending to you.It's 4 discs with 2 bonus track features.It's well
worth the price and I think has on it everything he ever recorded.

Yay for the cool story! 3 cheers for 83 years of a world with Peter Sellers in
it, for while he may not be among us now, he is still in our hearts.

- Rori

I came across the book The Man Who "Framed" The Beatles-a biography of Richard
Lester-by Andrew Yule,intro by Paul McCartney.
I've only started and it's not all kind words but some is very interesting.Per
the index there will be 19 pages where Peter Sellers' name comes up- some
photos-all B&W.It's not new-late 90's-but I just found it.
Here's a funny quote:
  " Sellers recruited Lester to halp devise a TV commercial for Persil laundry
detergent. Together they came up with the idea of a plowed field,where peasants
carrying large straw baskets filled with Persil were  sowing it like seed.Cut to
little plants growing,the sun shining on little Persil packets.Harvested they
are carried off,placed in a huge vat where peasants trample them like grapes.
Cut to finale,the soapy water pours out and a technician,like a wine
connoisseur,tastes the liquid,rolls it about on his tongue,pauses in thought
before spitting it out and declaring-'It's only fit to wash in.'
Carried away with the idea,and giggling helplessly in their innocence-Sellers &
Lester had the notion that they could push this past the powers-to be."
I found this fun to share-I can picture the fun they were having.
Happy Birthday Peter Sellers.

Thanks for your message Carol. I'm sorry I missed it the other day. I got the
bendy figure too! :o) I've missed hearing from you. ;o)

I think the only extra on the "I Love You" disc was the trailer. :o/

- Rori

I wasn't going to "announce" this,but to Pantherphiles,as we are,Barnes & Noble
has Pink Panther Yoga.It is a "box set" put out by Running Press
(www.runningpress.com).
In the approx. 4 inch box is a 3 inch Pink Panther "bendy"-to pose at will.He of
course also has a 3 inch tail.
The box and "toy" includes a 32 page booklet of The Power of Pink.This to show
and teach every position of yoga you can try,but only a PP bendy could really
do.There are words of humor-to get by.
You also get a 12 by 18 inch color poster of THE very cool cat -PP.
The box says MGM has all TM rights.
Well, it's very cute and very agile.
On another note- I Love You Alice B. Toklas is available on DVD at my library
now.Since it became available it's been out 4 weeks in a row.-very popular-so I
don't know if there are special features-but I think probably not.