Peter Sellers 5-film Collection Terry Thomas

The Peter Sellers 5-film Collection

The Smallest Show on Earth (1957) Carlton-Browne of the F.O. (1959)

I'm All Right Jack (1959) Two Way Stretch (1960) Heavens Above! (1963)

Titles

I'M ALL RIGHT, JACK: When naive Oxford graduate Stanley (Ian Carmichael) is hired as a lowly employee in his uncle's missile factor, the factor's socialist shop steward (Sellers) sees a great political opportunity. Soon, Stanley finds himself stuck between Fred's union and the family business, leading to an epic comedic tug-of-war!

THE SMALLEST SHOW ON EARTH: When their great uncle dies, newlyweds Matt and Jean Spencer (Bill Travers, Virginia McKenna) inherit a dilapidated small-town cinema that comes with an eccentric staff including a drunken projectionist (Sellers), a dotty cashier (Margaret Rutherford) and an ancient usher/janitor (Bernard Miles).

CARLTON-BROWN OF THE F.O.: When valuable mineral deposits are discovered on the forgotten British colony of Gaillardia, the Foreign Office sends bumbling envoy Cadogen de Vere Carlton-Browne (Terry-Thomas) to investigate. But when negotiating with the corrupt Prime Minister Amphibulos (Sellers), Carlton-Browne is convinced to split the tiny island in half, sparking a revolution that builds to an international nuclear showdown.

TWO-WAY STRETCH: Criminal mastermind Dodger Lane (Sellers) is a model inmate at Huntleigh Prison until he and his cellmates hatch a plan to break out of jail, steal a sultan's diamonds from a military convoy and then break back into jail before morning.

HEAVENS ABOVE!: Sellers stars as Reverend John Smallwood, an idealistic prison chaplain who is accidentally assigned to a wealthy parish known for its popular sedative/laxative. When Smallwood insists on ministering to both rich and poor, he manages to somehow infuriate both groups - along with the entire town government!

Theatrical Releases: Various from 1957 - 1963

DVD Reviews

DVD Review: Lions Gate - Region 1 - NTSC

DVD Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	Lions Gate - Region 1 - NTSC
Times	1:20:15, 1:29:51, 1:45:04, 1:27;18, and 1:58:00 respectively
Audio	English (original)
Subtitles	none
Features	Release Information: Studio: Lions Gate Aspect Ratio: All Original Aspect Ratios - 1.66:1 Edition Details: • Text Bio of Sellers DVD Release Date: February 3rd, 2009 5 discs housed in one VHS-sized case (see image above) Chapters: 21,22,26,20,26

Comments:

In January of 2003, Anchor Bay came out with a 6-film Peter Sellers Boxset HERE, that included the five features of this collection as well as Hoffman (1970). It unfortunately went out-of-print and is fetching higher prices by third-party sellers.

All five DVDs in this 'newly' packaged collection are single-layered and bare-bones. All are progressive and anamorphic in the 1.66:1 aspect ratio. Each are coded for regions 1 in the NTSC standard. Each have original audio and offer no subtitles. All films are black and white.

Every transfer starts with the Studio Canal logo - probable source of the D1, and 'British Lion' - production company of the films.

The short story on the image is that they don't look overly poor but leave a lot to be desired. Contrast is at the weaker end with the image appearing muddy having some green/sepia infiltration at times. Detail is moderate and there may be some brightness boosting - notable in Carlton-Browne of the F.O. I don't mean to be too hard on the transfers but the film are generally very good and deserve much better. Bottom line on the image quality is that they are all watchable and of consistent appearance with no flagrant digital weaknesses. I should note that they are fairly clean with no untoward damage marks.

Audio on these Lions Gate DVDs are, like the image, acceptable but not stellar. Dialogue is consistent of a bit on the quieter side and there are no optional subtitles to support the Brit accents.

No commentaries, features, interviews or even trailers - not anything viable. Each disc offers a text bio screen on Peter Sellers. I think I'd have preferred nothing at all.

Overall, digitally-speaking this should be considered a bit underwhelming. Lions Gate seem to at least by trying to re-expose these Sellers gems in one package but we'd appreciate showing fans respect with some form of supplements. The films are great fun and I was very impressed with my viewings. Four of the five of them are absolute classics (The Smallest Show on Earth, I'm All Right Jack, Two Way Stretch and Heavens Above!). If you weren't lucky enough to own the AB set this seems a convenient stop-gap replacement and the titles alone should be worth the price for many. Begrudgingly recommended (solely for the film value!)