Sellers’ last laugh

Press, 1 December 1980, Page 12

Sellers’ last laugh

AT THE CINEMA

Hans Petrovic

“The Fiendish Plot of Dr Fu Manchu” ‘(Carlton) is Peter Sillers’’ last film and will be remembered as such, not as his best. . .?\ It probably also Will be Dr Ku’s last film; with.'its main assertion to fame being its ability to turh; Sas Rohmer over in his grave'.- *' ’• Sellers, obviously, ■ is the ideal Manchurian candidate, giving him the charicO to play two distinctly different characters in about seven different disguises. This.:great actor is at his best in all ; the roles,- but I still get the feeling that Sellers must; have wondered at

times what he was doing in this film, which comes across more Fulish and Funny. While all the Fundamental comic ideas are there (and many of them Work), the

over-all effect is more of a Fudged, Furfuraceous Fug*. Sellers appears-as the 168-year-old Dr Fu, who is looking for the necessary ingredients to replenish his elixir of life; and also as his . arch enemy, Nayland Smith, formerly of Scotland Yard. This gives these two the chancfe to appear as anything from an old antique dealer, to a Chinese chef and an impersonation of Elvis which may turn Presley over in his grave. To play all these partS'Sellers proves himself as an excellent Funambulist on a Funicular, Fulminating with less than a Fungible plot. David Tomlinson' and Sid Caesar turn up as English and American custodians of the law, although the Fuzz also seems to have copped more than the lot.

The saxaphone - playing policewoman (Helen. Mirren), who is whisked away to a riiysterious laboratory in the Himalayas to become A slave of love, comes across well;' However, with even the best talents, the film Is more Fusty than Fulfilling, leaving one wondering which is the membered tar the variety of

r roles he has projected on to (the screen, as he explained I about the making of this , film: ' ■" '■ ■'■■■ “When I find a voice for a '• character, everything else i falls into place. I know precisely how he should walk ■ . . . react ... . or hold a cup.” . ; In the case of Fu Manchu, Sellers; was determined not to: resort to the. stilted stereotype of swapping his “Rs” for “Ls.” “It’s demeaning. its • been" done" to death and its not funny, he said. Instead, he conceived the notion that Fu Manchu . had been educated in England's

plummy prep school, Eton, where he was . known as Fred. His speech also reflects what Sellers called Fu’s “extraordinary sex appeal—after all, if you've devoted 150 years to depravity, you’re bound to get good at Nayland Smith’s voice was easier to get down. “His voice is like my own,” Sellers said. “I think It’s the way I’m talking now, although I’m not quite sure. I’ve been doing this for so long, I’ve half forgotten.”

Let all these great. charaeters rest in peace.