The Life and Death of Peter Sellers

Rating:
Summary: An attempt to find the real Peter Sellers
Review: A horrifing account of what Peter Sellers was like in his private life. A 'blank' who found it hard to communicate with other people, and was probably very mentally ill. This book has been criticised from various quarters, but look at who Roger Lewis interviewed and then read all the other biographies of Sellers and you will still find an intensly lonely and hurtful (to himself and others) man.

Rating:
Summary: Geoffrey Rush is a Genius
Review: At the outset, I must make it clear that my review refers to the film made by HBO and the BBC which, it would seem, is not to be released at the cinema in the United States. This is a great pity. Rush plays his best role since winning an Oscar in "Shine".

Peter Sellers was a tragic figure. Many gifted people are often such. They tread a fine line between genius and insanity. Sellers certainly trod such a line. He could be vibrant and charming one moment before instantly lapsing into bitter tirades and violence. Yet do not let this characteristic diminish anything of the man's brilliance.

In portraying the man that was Sellers, Rush once again shows that he can be an actor to be acclaimed. There is perhaps no other actor who could have pulled off this stunt. Rush becomes Sellers.

My recommendation to all readers of this review that they must see this film. If it is not released at the cinema then make an effort to track down its cable television release. You will be rewarded for your efforts.


Rating:
Summary: thorough, never boring, but kinda irritating
Review: From nearly all accounts (and Lewis talked to a lot of people), Peter Sellers had serious mental problems and treated many people monstrously. We get many stories, much detail, all of which paints a pretty strong picture. OK, fine. But author Roger Lewis climbs so far up on his high horse to condemn Sellers that after awhile I felt like disbelieving him just to be contrary to the guy

Rating:
Summary: One of the most biased biographies I have ever read
Review: From the computer enhanced photo of a sickly, green-faced PeterSellers on the cover to the ridiculously slanted last page, this bookwas filled with nothing but heresay and boldfaced lies. From the way this "biographer" talks of Sellers, you would think that Sellers slept with his wife or firebombed his house or something. I feel bad for the trees that were killed to create this scandelous trash heap. I suggest "Remembering Peter Sellers" by longtime friend Graham Stark, or "Peter Sellers; A Celebration". True, you won't find dirt, but you will find substantive information and anecdotes about England's greatest comic talent since Charles S. Chaplin; Peter Sellers. END

Rating:
Summary: The Lewis Sellers Bio not the Best out there.
Review: I hated it. I hate the book because it doesn't do Peter's life justice at all. I found it both artless and sensationalistic. Check Amazon.com for better, earlier Sellers bios. I had read two other Seller's bios previous to reading this one. Lewis accentuates a negative, horrific slant of Peter's life, while the other bios I read did not. Note the ghastly, treated photo of Peter on the cover--that will give you a clue to the book's intent. I actually compared another Sellers bio against this one, side by side; I found that Lewis left out more than he contributed to what we know about the man. Yes, Peter's life might be considered tragic, but this book leaves out his search for peace, for God, for love. Lewis ignored the serendipitous and frolicksome sides of Peter's life. There were tantrums, but also many tender, human moments in his life. He loved his dysfunctional parents, he loved his kids, and he tried to love his wives. He did the best he could. It's a slash and burn book, using re-hashed information covered in previous works, but without that balanced viewpoint. I wanted to write the author and tell him so, and I hope he reads this review. Shakespeare was right: "The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones."

Rating:
Summary: The Lewis Sellers Bio not the Best out there.
Review: I hated it. I hate the book because it doesn't do Peter's life justice at all. I found it both artless and sensationalistic. Check Amazon.com for better, earlier Sellers bios. I had read two other Seller's bios previous to reading this one. Lewis accentuates a negative, horrific slant of Peter's life, while the other bios I read did not. Note the ghastly, treated photo of Peter on the cover--that will give you a clue to the book's intent. I actually compared another Sellers bio against this one, side by side; I found that Lewis left out more than he contributed to what we know about the man. Yes, Peter's life might be considered tragic, but this book leaves out his search for peace, for God, for love. Lewis ignored the serendipitous and frolicksome sides of Peter's life. There were tantrums, but also many tender, human moments in his life. He loved his dysfunctional parents, he loved his kids, and he tried to love his wives. He did the best he could. It's a slash and burn book, using re-hashed information covered in previous works, but without that balanced viewpoint. I wanted to write the author and tell him so, and I hope he reads this review. Shakespeare was right: "The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones."

Rating:
Summary: Sad waste of time
Review: Its such a shame that, given the subject of this book,any space at all has been given to the wildly inaccurate and very hurtful (to friends and family)opinions of this "writer". There are always going to be those who claw at fame for themselves by vilifying others,and the sleaziest of all are those who pick on much-loved dead superstars who can't refute the libel in person. The non-research carried out by this "author" included not even contacting Peter Sellers' first wife prior to publication. If anyone wants to spend money and read drivel, this is the one for you.

Rating:
Summary: The biography as a horror novel
Review: Like Fosse's ALL THAT JAZZ, THE LIFE AND DEATH OF PETER SELLERS takes its subject and portrays him as living, breathing monster.

Writing in a florid, stream of consciousness that evokes a long-winded Edwardian poet hopped on coke performing in a Llandudno musical hall, Lewis unleashes a barrage of verbal fireworks as he portrays one of filmdom's true acting geniuses as a cold, calculating, souless creature hell-bent on destroying all around him.

While wading through this difficult (frequently redundant) and morbidly obssesive biography, it becomes obvious that Lewis is (was?) an ardent Sellers fan who has had his illusions shattered.

Lewis takes great pains to praise Sellers' cinematic triumphs as well as expose him as a bloodthirsty monster who craved attention and power.

A hard and difficult read. But fascinating all the same. Ultimately worth taking the time.

Rating:
Summary: Lewis Goes too Far or Not Far Enough
Review: Mr. Lewis does fine research, but what he does with it is disturbing. He indeed interviewed scads of folks who knew the brilliant British comic actor. However, his book amounts to a scathing diatribe against the character of Peter Sellers. Buldging with subjective bias about the character and morality of Peter Sellers, the book ultimately condemns him as an evil man. From almost the first page, Lewis baldly states that Sellers was an evil person, incapable because of heredity and psychological reasons, of being good. In short, the book is the product of Mr. Lewis's private witch hunt. A more balanced and fair bio of the man is "The Man Behind the Mask," by Peter Evans.

Rating:
Summary: Lewis Goes too Far or Not Far Enough
Review: Mr. Lewis does fine research, but what he does with it is disturbing. He indeed interviewed scads of folks who knew the brilliant British comic actor. However, his book amounts to a scathing diatribe against the character of Peter Sellers. Buldging with subjective bias about the character and morality of Peter Sellers, the book ultimately condemns him as an evil man. From almost the first page, Lewis baldly states that Sellers was an evil person, incapable because of heredity and psychological reasons, of being good. In short, the book is the product of Mr. Lewis's private witch hunt. A more balanced and fair bio of the man is "The Man Behind the Mask," by Peter Evans.