The opening gag from “The Party,” a 1968 film starring Peter Sellers, directed by Blake Edwards.
Unless you’re totally allergic to silly 60s comedies, rent/stream/download the whole thing; you’ll never be able to hear “birdie num num” with a straight face again. As in the Pink Panther series, Edwards’ almost silent film-level of commitment to sight gags and “business” (object work and physical humor) dovetails perfectly with Sellers’ ability to improvise. If you like Jacques Tati (“Hulot”,”Mon Oncle”, “Playtime”) you’ll like this–and vice-versa.
Sellers was stationed in India during the last months of World War II, so his portrayal of “Harudi V. Bakshi,” while utterly broad, isn’t completely uninformed. Also: dig Bakshi’s groovy Morgan three-wheeler.
Speaking of groovy, here’s the trailer:
