434. The Party (1968)

Starring: Peter Sellers, Claudine Longet, Natalia Borisova

Director: Blake Edwards

Running Time: 95 mins

The Party is an American film about a buffoonish Indian actor who is mistakenly invited to a prestigious party, and quite evidently, chaos ensues.

The main thing to say about this film is that it is very stationary. The fact that it is in effect just a guy aimlessly wandering around a house talking to people and obviously going to end up causing mayhem in this world in which he doesn’t belong quickly gets boring, and it’s often difficult to really laugh at or enjoy any of the comedy throughout.

Of course, the main character’s a loveable guy, and you really do want to support him and see him have a nice time at this party, as well as being able to get one over on the pretentious people who criticise him, so it’s a very happy film to watch.

Also, some of the relationships he strikes up with various other guests at the party are quite funny, and the fact that he is such a seemingly innocent man makes his reactions to people evidently trying to shun him even funnier.

However, this film doesn’t have any direction or framework whatsoever throughout, and that aimlessness does make it just a little difficult and consequently boring to watch. The quality of the comedy isn’t hilarious either, nor is it totally satisfying, but it is indeed a happy and simple film to watch, so that’s why it gets a 6.5.