The Party (1968)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Blake Edwards

Writers:

Blake Edwards (story)
Blake Edwards (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

4 April 1968 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

If you've ever been to a wilder party... you're under arrest.

Plot:

A clerical mistake results in a bumbling film extra being invited to an exclusive Hollywood party instead of being fired.

Plot Keywords:

Beautiful Woman | Bathroom | Havoc | Culture Clash | Howdy Partner

Cast

Peter Sellers	...	Hrundi V. Bakshi
Claudine Longet	...	Michele Monet
Natalia Borisova	...	Ballerina
Jean Carson	...	Nanny
Marge Champion	...	Rosalind Dunphy
Al Checco	...	Bernard Stein
Corinne Cole	...	Janice Kane
Dick Crockett	...	Wells
Frances Davis	...	Maid
Danielle De Metz	...	Stella D'Angelo (as Danielle de Metz)
Herbert Ellis	...	Director (as Herb Ellis)
Paul Ferrara	...	Ronnie Smith
Steve Franken	...	Levinson
Kathe Green	...	Molly Clutterbuck
Allen Jung	...	Cook

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Australia:G (TV rating) | Portugal:M/12 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Argentina:Atp | Canada:G | Finland:S | France:U | Norway:7 (DVD rating) | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:6 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Mirisch Corporation, The

Trivia:

During the scene in which Peter Sellers wrecks the upstairs bathroom, the band downstairs can be heard playing "It Had Better Be Tonight," which was originally written and used both as a vocal and as an instrumental score in the first "Pink Panther" film.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: In the scene mid-way through the film where the woman is playing guitar and singing, the sounds of the guitar strings are not in sync with her finger plucking. There are also sounds from other instruments like a flute playing along with the music yet she is performing solo with only the acoustic guitar.

Quotes:

Hrundi V. Bakshi: We have a saying in India...
Michelle Monet: Yes?
Hrundi V. Bakshi: Yes.
Michelle Monet: Well?
Hrundi V. Bakshi: Well what?

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Best! Movies! Ever!: Embarrassing Moments (#1.19)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

It Had Better Be Tonight (Meglio Stasera)

Like Chaplin

I always find it strange that people think a comedy should have you rolling in your chair… not so! There are movies that one gets a warm, funny feeling inside and that one appreciates the subtleties of the acting and set ups. Often a laugh a minute movie is forgotten quickly, but those movies that simmer and let the humor seep out slowly often linger in the mind.

The Party is a movie shot in the sixties with all the hang-ups and social undertones that were abundant then. I laughed myself silly then and today I still laugh with the benefit of hindsight and years of social and cultural change.

Peter Sellers' performance is on a level par with Chaplin; a rare achievement for any actor.