Before Peter Sellers became indelibly identified with Inspector Clouseau, he made a fair number of funny films across the pond in his native Britain. Five of his best, made between 1959 and 1963, have been gathered by Kino Lorber for the Blu-ray box set, “Peter Sellers: Early Classics.”
Though he’d already established himself with radio’s “Goon Show” as one of the UK’s most inventive comedians, Sellers was still a relatively new face when he appeared as a corrupt Middle Eastern Prime Minister in “Man In a Cocked Hat.” Popular British funster Terry-Thomas, Sellers’ frequent partner-in-crime, plays opposite him as an envoy; he also co-stars in “I’m All Right, Jack,” a satire of labor relations that featured Sellers as a no-nonsense shop steward and established him as a comic force to be reckoned with.
Both of the above pictures were made in 1959 by the Boulting Brothers, twins John and Ray, a pair of trend-setting filmmakers known for their anarchic comedies. Richard Attenborough and Ian Carmichael, who were given their start by the Boultings, both appear in “Jack,” along with Margaret Rutherford.
Sellers has larceny on his mind in “Two Way Stretch” (1960) and “The Wrong Arm of the Law” (1963), as the master thief behind a series of cleverly committed burglaries. Both feature Lionel Jeffries. As the progressive chaplain in “Heavens Above” (1963), another comedy from the Boulting Brothers, he seems to offend nearly everyone. Familiar faces in this one include Roy Kinnear and Irene Handl, who appears in three of the five films in this set. The films look as good or better than one would expect. Bonus material includes audio commentaries, theatrical trailers and interviews. Info: kinolorber.com.
Putting Jack Benny’s lesser known films on Blu-ray is a swell idea. They may not all be as good as Lubitsch’s “To Be or Not To Be,” but they’re well worth seeing. Even though he was best known for his radio and TV programs, he could be highly amusing on the big screen. And fast-paced, entertaining musical comedies like “Man About Town” and “Artists and Models” almost never show up on streaming outlets.
Jack is a Broadway producer in “Man About Town” (1939) instead of his usual persona, but we get to see him play the violin. And we get Dorothy Lamour in a bathing suit instead of her typical attire, a sarong, but no one’s complaining. Eddie “Rochester” Anderson pretty much steals the show as Jack’s butler, as on radio and TV; he has a specialty dance number here that’s a highlight, as does a young Betty Grable. Phil Harris, another mainstay of Benny’s shows, also scores. There’s very little plot but you’ll be so entertained you won’t notice.
The speciality numbers also provide the highlights in “Artists and Models” (1937), and special they are. They’re provided by the likes of Louis Armstrong, Martha Raye, Judy Canova, Ben Blue and the wonderful comic singing quartet, the Yacht Club Boys. Jack’s an advertising man in this one, with a young Ida Lupino as his co-star. Both films are presented in sharp, crisp B&W prints. Audio commentaries and theatrical trailers are included in the Kino Lorber box set, “Jack Benny: Comedy Classics.”
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