The Party (2 Disc Special Edition) [1968] [DVD]

I am almost certain that back in 1968 this movie was considered very funny if not hilarious. It is very much in line with the spirit of the late 60s, both in cinema and TV comedy terms. It’s a slapstick comedy movie where Peter Sellers excels in the role, with some laughter inducing pranks, but only in the first 30-35 minutes before he runs out of steam as the scenario degrades rapidly and becomes considerably ad-hoc. One can also see it as an endorsement of Blake Edwards’s trade mark style for his future movies. Move the clock forward to 2019, when I first watched the movie, and it would seem reasonable for the movie to be described as politically incorrect, tad offensive and questionably amusing. But, ...that’s over half a century after the film was made!

I love Peter Sellers, especially when he's on top form and here, he is most definitely. So much so, feeling a little poorly I stuck the DVD in the player as soon as it arrived. Normally, DVDs can take days/weeks, even months before I get round to seeing them.I had seen this on TV many years before and after purchasing the Pink Panther complete set online, I added 'The Party'. Why not, I thought.The gags are both visual and spoken, expected and unexpected. When you expect the expected, the unexpected actually happens, no doubt helped by seasoned Sellers director, Blake Edwards.Many have written reviews going into those gags in detail and the validity of an English comic actor playing an Indian but all that takes up valuable laughing time. So, watch it, laugh and soak up the crazy late swinging '60s fashions and furnishings. Watch out too, for the tiddly waiter who says almost nothing but is almost as funny as Sellers.The 2 disc Special Edition has a short colour accompanying booklet which is fun and on the bonus disc, it is listed as having 'The Party Revolution:"A New Technology" featurette (whatever that might be!), a documentary and several profiles, original trailer and some extra Sellers interviews and clips. Subtitles for the main film are in 12 of the most common European languages.If you enjoy Clouseau (and who does not?) then this a must and should be on prescription (the DVD is currently about half the cost of an item on prescription - and gets to work straight away!)

Sellers at his best is great entertainment but this time it didn't seem to work for me, perhaps partly because I dislike that kind of party, and because his character seemed pathetic, also the sixties clothing and hair - oh dear! It evoked some chuckles here and there.

There is only one possible way to describe this movie and that is hahahahahahahahahaha and more hahahahaha. Peter Sellers at his funniest. That man had the ability to make a stone statue laugh. I first saw this movie a long time ago, yet it still has the ability to have you rolling on the floor in laughter. If you like Peter Sellers, then you just have to buy this movie. Watch it again and again, you will never stop laughing at his antics.

A very funny film, I watched this film years ago on the tv but it was never shown again, was so pleased I found it on Amazon. Peter Sellars is hilarious as the uninvited guest at a party, he creates chaos as he usually does, the house where the party is held is very luxurious that’s until Peter Sellars turns up and wrecks the place.

Thoroughly enjoyable 1960s comedy, directed by Blake Edwards, where Peter Sellers plays an accident-prone extra who is inadvertantly invited to a Hollywood party at a movie mogul’s hi-tech house.This particular edition has plenty of features on a bonus disc: archive interviews with Sellers; plus a fascinating insight into the making of this largely-improvised film that first used video playback technology on set.

When I saw this for the first time, it’s silliness had me in stitches. But then I was young.Sadly it has aged painfully and I now find it almost cringeworthy. I need to sneak it out of the house under darkness

This is one of my favourite films, and has been ever since I first saw it.Peter Sellers plays an Indian actor with great dignity and honour, as well as some delightful Clouseau-esque tomfoolery. The plot is very simple - Sellers is accidentally invited to a high class party, and wanders through the luxurious house, interacting with the other guests and catering staff.What I most admire about this film is the way the viewer is invited into the party with such intimacy. There are several sub-scenaria, into which Sellers wanders. Each time I watch The Party I notice something extra "out of the corner of my eye" in these scenes. It is quite exquisite.How to compare it? I suppose there is an element of Inspector Clouseau, but this is not the most powerful ingredient. I cannot think of another film that occupies the same place as this one. There is a feel of mid-to-late 1960s psychedelia, and also a degree of the dominant, older generation letting its hair down yet remaining staid.Definitely recommended.