Christopher Guest discusses Peter Sellers and Dr. Strangelove

The A.V. Club’s comedy festival wrapped up last weekend, featuring comedians like Patton Oswald, Aparna Nancherla, and Mike Judge. Among those guests was actor, writer, and director Christopher Guest, who is probably best known for his work on the 1984 film This Is Spinal Tap. Taking part in the festival’s Modern School Of Film live-event series, Guest talked about his love for Peter Sellers in Dr. Strangelove and why this particular Stanley Kubrick film resonates with him.

[depaola]

I am now 55 and love BOTH Peter Sellers as well as Christoper Guest !! Classic laughs !!

[RumbleFish]

I could listen to Nigel Tufnel tell stories all day!

[binaway]

Best line in that movie.
Gentlemen. You Can't Fight In Here. This is The War Room.

[williamburnham]

In relation to 2001, and the comment on actors, Kubrick had one of the finest comic actors playing a minor non comic role at the start of the film, that being the brilliant Leonard Rossiter

[mordantfilms]

I love how he says he's not an impressionist after all the dead-on ones he did on the Lampoon Radio Hour.

[katskillz]

The issue is that Christopher believes film is an extension of the stage and theater, and thus should be character-centric, so acting makes the film.

That does not at all do justice to the variety of film philosophies that developed throughout the 20th century. It is a visual medium, with the unique elements of editing and camera perspectives. Kubrick was one of those who understood his role in moving the art form forward, and that means its not all about acting and plot. It's about exploring the potentials for the camera and the editing room to describe new, unorthodox angles on events, shifting the audience's situated perception to not identify with a human character but say consider the worldview of an A.I. system, or an off world entity with superior intelligence. Or to construct entire worlds within a single film that are in conflict with each other in a grand chess game (2001 does all this).

Christopher Guest basically said he walks into movies looking for acting inspiration, so he's the last person int he world to ask opinions on great innovative films.

[nanaobx]

This is so above my head...but I adore both Peter Sellers and Christopher Guest.

[realwinnertoughguy]

The lighting was brilliant. Production value was top- notch.

[theoriginalchefboyoboy]

not a Sellers line but still a fav: "Of course I love you, sug. One day I'm gonna make you Mrs. Buck Turgidson..."

[rachel]

When Dr. Strangelove makes his first appearance, he's smoking a cigarette and, as he wheels himself into the light, we see the ashes all over his suit. It's the little things and subtle nuances that make someone a comedic genius...like Chris.

[VladWFPReviews]

Quite a fan of Mr Guest's - got to see him perform live on the Mighty Wind tour - but strongly disagree with his take on 2001. But you can't make someone like something they don't like.

[QwazyWabbit]

I’m sorry, this clip was cut so badly, I don’t understand the points he was making. The only point I understood was about going to 2001 stoned and even then, why would anyone want to see 2001 stoned?

[cepson]

2:38 I thought he was talking about H.A.L.

[greva]

He’s right. While I admire Kubrick, too many of his films feel like movies made by a robot that knows the nuts and bolts of movie making, knows what humans are, and knows that humans watch movies. In short, astounding amounts of ambition and technical ability, but filmically, Kubrick is a technician with no actual connection with humans, on screen at least.

[billharris]

And of course Peter Sellers himself said Kubrick and Terry Sothern were fantastic

[robstimson]

Loved Strangelove AND 2001. l also loved Mad Magazine and their take on 2001; "201 minutes of Space ldiocy."

[jackal]

I've always heard that Kubrick was generous in his praise for other directors. I guess that Guest--who apparently doesn't know that Kubrick never went to film school and financed his own first features--is on the other side of that divide as well.

[your_royal_highness]

I smoked dope (and did more) when watching 2001 multiple times as a teenager in the theaters. I did not giggle, I was in awe of the scope of the film; it was almost a spiritual experience. I considered it the best movie of my life until a couple of decades ago. It is most certainly dated now.

[almada]

I respect that he doesn’t tow the line and say everything Kubrick touched was gold, like everyone else says. You’re expected to say Kubrick was a god, period, and all his films are masterpieces. Chris doesn’t feel that way.

[guitaoist]

2001 wasnt about actors, but film
Itself, no wonder self centered actors dont “respond” to it