Hrundi V. Bakshi works as an extra in Hollywood films, comes from New Delhi, and during a shooting accidentally destroys an expensive set. By mistake, he is invited to a party organized by the producer responsible for the filming, where he unleashes a series of disasters in which all the guests gradually become involved.
I would say that this film summarizes the spirit of the sixties in the film we see hippies, psychedelia, blue and yellow sets and touches of sexual revolution.
The setting where the party takes place is the example, for those years, of the modern mansion, designed to celebrate parties with fashionable guests.
The film is a succession of comic effects that do not need the use of words to convey their humor. This is called a gag.
This film serves to showcase the performance of its protagonist Peter Sellers, mixing absurd humor, where the protagonist finds himself in a strange environment for him and feels very uncomfortable.
It is a film so visual that it is perfectly watchable without sound.
The director, Blake Edwards, is influenced by Jacques Tati who a year earlier, 1967, had released the film Playtime.
One character that almost steals the movie is a drunken bartender played by Steve Franken.
If there's one thing to reproach this comedy for, it's that there was no need to cast Peter Sellers as a Hindu, I would have changed his nationality and that's it. It is possible that in these times of political correctness to see this actor wearing makeup and imitating a Hindu accent is somewhat offensive, but prejudices aside we must place ourselves in the fact that this is a film made to entertain the viewer.
The film is from 1968, but I saw it when I was 10 years old in 1978, my mom and uncles always talked about that mythical movie that made them laugh so much. They took me to a drive-in movie theater where they always showed reruns of hit movies.
I was entertained for a long time and laughed, although I didn't understand more than half of the situations that were presented. In 2001, I rewatched the film again through a DVD, this is where I could understand the scope of this film that entertains and at the same time is a criticism of Hollywood, the film environment, with a very simple plot and also reflects the 60s.
Peter Sellers conveys the enormous clumsiness of the protagonist, but if we detail well it is possible to conclude that Peter Sellers shows influences of Jacques Tati.
Similarly, Rowan Atkinson took ideas from this film for his Mister Bean.
Thank you very much for joining me in this publication, I hope it has been to the liking of the community.
Thanks again for sponsoring these CineTv initiatives, this time CineTV Contest #23 - Favorite Party Movie Link here. I chose to participate with this movie: The Party.
Good luck to all the participants.
This is the source of the first image Source