THE OPTIMISTS OF NINE ELMS (1973)
After a series of dark adult-themed movies, this 1973
family film was a refreshing change of tone for Peter Sellers that demonstrated
once again his phenomenal ability to utterly submerge himself into a detailed
three-dimensional character on screen.
THE OPTIMISTS OF NINE ELMS (also released as THE
OPTIMISTS) was scripted by Anthony
Simmons and Tudor Gates, based on Simmons’ original 1964 novel and directed by
him. An unproduced screenplay was originally adapted some years earlier for
Buster Keaton – and before Peter Sellers was cast, it was originally to star
John Mills who broke his leg before filming, and was later offered to Danny
Kaye. The charming songs, such as the haunting ‘Sometimes’, were written by
Lionel ‘OLIVER’ Bart, and this work very much has that charming, child-centric
magic of the famous musical. With the Beatles’ producer George Martin composing
the music, it was already a prestige piece before filming began.
Sellers plays a character clearly personal to him: Sam
Hall, the ex music-hall variety song and dance man with a line in comedy
patter. He based the characterisation on his father Bill, a veteran of the same
circuit and channels his dad’s Yorkshire accent (specifically Barnsley). It’s a
very rich and textured performance, and his transformation is accentuated by a
prosthetic nose that changes his face remarkably without seeming a crude
disguise. We see him as the die-hard stage trouper still putting on an outdoor
busking show with banjo and organ accompaniment, and when not scratching a
living, as he befriends the brother and sister (Donna Mulane and John Chaffey),
he develops from a gruff and blunt grumpiness to a sweet, imaginative caring
soul covering a deep sadness. His wife died twenty years ago and although he
has the cute and talented Bella, his performing terrier in the act and dear
companion, mortality and the fragility of relationships is never far from his
thoughts. Sellers conveys beautifully this straddling of two worlds of the
imaginative possibilities and harsh realities of life, something the children
desperately need as their parents (David Daker and Marjorie Yates) work every
hour God sends to move them to a better home. His is a subtle and wonderfully
shaded portrayal.
Along the way, Sam’s friendship with the kids deepens
as they peek into his music-hall past, trying on his costumes and sharing his
love for dogs to the point where they manage to buy their own, struggling with
council rules on tenants being banned from owning them. Eventually all comes
right in the end; after Bella is buried by the children as a kind gesture to
their new friend, they share ownership of their new pup with him, giving him a
new playmate to teach tricks to and comforting his loss.
THE
OPTIMISTS OF NINE ELMS is a beguilingly simple film, but at its heart is a deep
and multi-layered Sellers performance that should be seen by every fan,
particularly those who’ve only seen his more flamboyant, less delicate screen
work. Here is an opportunity, as with HOFFMAN and later the stunning BEING
THERE, to watch not just a great comedy actor but a tremendous dramatic talent
when submitted to the right material…
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