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Poster THE GHOST OF PETER SELLERS_11x17.

THE GHOST OF PETER SELLERS

DCP/HD • 2018 • CYPRUS/USA • 90'

A film by Peter Medak

The Ghost of Peter Sellers is a documentary based on the movie Ghost in the Noonday Sun, which Peter Medak directed in Cyprus and England in 1973. The film starred Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan, Peter Boyle, Anthony Franciosa, Murray Melvin and was produced by John Heyman (World Film Services) and Columbia Pictures. The script was a 17th century Pirate comedy. The original Ghost movie was shot mostly on the Mediterranean sea on real ships which nobody ever attempted before. Before shooting began, the Greek Captain delivering the Pirate ship to Kyrenia's magnificent 7th Century Harbour was so drunk that he crashed the ship into the Quay. The production descended further after Peter Sellers lost confidence in the film and fired the producers and the DOP. Structured around the original director Peter Medak and his journey back to the island 42 years later, this documentary recaptures what it was like to work with the geniuses Sellers and Milligan and how it became a total disaster.

Produced by Vegas Media Ltd

Original language: English

Peter Medak is an award-winning international film director, born in Budapest, Hungary in 1937. In 1956 he fled to England at the age of 18 during the famous uprising against the communist regime. He immediately began his film career with associated British Picture Corporation in Borehamwood. He studied and worked his way through by being an assistant editor, assistant cameraman and eventually assistant director on some of the most remarkable British Films of the late 50's and early 60's. He was fortunate enough to work with some of the most legendary British film directors such as Sir Carol Reed, Anthony Asquith, Fred Zimmerman and many others. In 1963 Peter was signed by Universal Studios in Hollywood where for the first six months he had the chance to observe Alfred Hitchcock and many others. He started directing television for the studio in Hollywood and in England. In 1967 he went under contract with Paramount Studios where he finally achieved his dream and directed his first feature film called Negatives with Glenda Jackson in her first ever film. He then proceeded making two highly acclaimed black comedies: A day in the death of Joe Egg (starring Alan Bates and Janet Suzman) and The Ruling Class (starring Peter O' Toole) for which he received an Academy Award Nomination. Since that time he has directed a great number of feature films on both sides of the Atlantic starring Peter Sellers, Alan Bates, George C Scott, Richard Harris, Gary Oldman, Ted Danson and many more.

In recent years Peter has made The Krays which won him The Evening Standard Award for "Best Director in England". Then he made Let Him Have ItRomeo is BleedingThe Men's Club and others. In addition, he has directed a great number of television plays, mini-series, films for television, operas and stage productions over the past 50 years of his directing career and continues today.

Festivals: Venice Days Film Festival  • Telluride Film Festival • Raindance Film Festival • Beverly Hills Film Festival

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Awards: Best Documentary & Golden Palm at Beverly Hills Film Festival

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