by Ed Sikov
For making their extraordinary knowledge available, let alone their facilities, I thank Sandra Archer, Barbara Hall, and the other librarians and staff at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Margaret Herrick Library; the librarians and staff of American Film Institute’s Louis B. Mayer Library; the special collections librarians at the University of Southern California and the University of California at Los Angeles; the New York Public Library; the librarians and film archivists at the British Film Institute; the librarians at the Theatre Museum in London; Fred Zentner and Dejan Zamurovic at the Cinema Bookshop in London; and, as always, Ron Mandelbaum and the guys at Photofest in New York.
Any contest for the title “World’s Greatest Peter Sellers Fan” must result in a tie between Maxine Ventham and Dimitris Verionis. Both of these marvelous and appreciative people provided access to rare materials and important contacts. They gave me support and solid friendship when I needed it most, not to mention critical observations about their favorite performer. Maxine and Dimitris are devoted to the life and work of Peter Sellers, and they each helped me to understand him much better than I could have on my own. There may be observations in this book that will upset those with whom they put me in contact. I can only say that I never meant this book to be mean.
I trusted my friends Christopher Bram and Matthew Mirapaul enough to let them read my first draft. They gently steered me away from my worst impulses; they suggested improvements kindly; and they told me they thought the book was funny, which is what I hope Peter Sellers himself would have appreciated. It was Chris who kicked me out of my writer’s block by suggesting that I write Peter’s life story as a sympathetic black comedy; Matthew suggested the title.
I love my agent, Edward Hibbert, as well I should, since I owe him my career. What could be better than to have a brilliant actor as your agent? Fans of Frasier know Edward as Gil Chesterton, the British food critic; I, however, am most fond of his stage performances as Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest and Frederick Fellowes in the Broadway smash Noises Off. Edward’s associates at Donadio and Olson—Neil Olson, Ira Silverberg, and Jesse Dorris—are kind enough to advise me, take my phone calls when Edward is out of town or in rehearsal, and hold my hand as often as I beg them to do so.
This book’s genesis occurred in the offices of Hyperion when Jennifer Barth, the editor of my earlier biography on Billy Wilder, and Alison Lowenstein, her assistant, were discussing ideas for my next book. They, not I, came up with Peter Sellers, and I think they made a very good decision.
Peternelle van Arsdale edited this book with a fine eye and a sharp pencil, two things every author needs. She’s the greatest, and I’m forever in her debt. Thanks to Natalie Kaire, this book sailed smoothly through its transition from manuscript to print, and I am thrilled with the way it turned out. Thanks also to Donna M. Ellis, senior production editor; Laura Starrett, copy editor; and Phil Rose, art director.
My parents, Irving and Betty Sikov; my partner, Bruce Schackman; and all of my extended family make me appreciate, each day, how lucky I am in every way—not least of which is that none of us are famous.
Mr. Strangelove
A Biography of Peter Sellers
Ed Sikov
The first American biography of one of film’s greatest comedians, MR. STRANGELOVE is the story of a screamingly funny, desperately unhappy soul—a man who thought he was empty. Sellers, who could mimic anyone and don any mask at will, was privately convinced that his personality had no core—that there was no personal substance under the put-on characters he so readily and hilariously assumed. ”The Goon Show“ made him famous; ”I Love You, Alice B. Toklas“ and ”What’s New, Pussycat?“ turned him into a 60s flower-power icon that still resonates today. And yet Sellers, whose blistering improvisations could ruin takes by sending the casts and crews of his films into peals of uncontrollable laughter while the camera was running—remained confused and lonely, difficult to work with, volatile one minute and hopelessly lethargic the next.
In this exhaustively researched book based on tons of interviews, Dudley Moore, John Cleese, Christopher Plummer, Goldie Hawn, Shirley MacLaine, Sophia Loren and many others recount colorful stories of working with this comic genius. From his adolescence in Catholic school (Sellers was Jewish), through his joining up with the Royal Air force, and his catapulting to fame due at least in part to one of the most fiercely driven stage mothers in the history of performing arts, MR. STRANGELOVE traces the development of Seller’s unique humor. Perhaps most valuable to his rabid fans are the in-depth behind-the-scenes accounts of his work with Stanley Kubrick, Blake Edwards, and Billy Wilder, among others. And endlessly fascinating are the women Sellers chose to fall in love with, marry and divorce.
No film comedian has had more influence over today’s comic stars than Peter Sellers, the man who broke all the rules of comedy. Thanks to him, those rules have never been reassembled. Written by Ed Sikov, respected film historian and highly praised author of ON SUNSET BOULEVARD, this is a riveting look at Peter Sellers’s work and his mysterious inner life, a portrait that will engross his endlessly renewing legions of fans.
Copyright © 2002 Ed Sikov
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or
reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of the Publisher.
For information address:
Hyperion,
77 West 66th Street,
New York, New York 10023-6298.
Visit our Web site at www.HyperionBooks.com.
ISBN: 1-4013-9897-9
First eBook Edition: November 2003
eBook Info
Title:Mr. Strangelove: A Biography of Peter Sellers
Creator:Ed Sikov
Publisher:Time Warner
Identifier:1401398936
Language:en-us
Price:10.95
