The Ghost of Peter Sellers (2020): Cast & Ratings
The Ghost of Peter Sellers is a 2020 documentary directed by Peter Medak, starring Peter Sellers, Liza Minnelli and Spike Milligan. It runs 1 hour 33 minutes. Critics gave it 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and 74 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.7/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 33m (93 min)
- Director
- Peter Medak
- Genre
- Documentary
- Original language
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English
- Studio
- Yleisradio (YLE)
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Ghost of Peter Sellers About?
The premise of The Ghost of Peter Sellers without spoilers.
This documentary explores the troubled production of a pirate comedy and its lasting impact on everyone involved. Director Peter Medak recounts his harrowing experience, detailing the tumultuous making of the film and the significant challenges faced during filming. The film delves into the complex relationship between Medak and the legendary Peter Sellers, revealing the human toll of creative chaos, ego clashes, and the dark legacy left by a comedy icon.
The Ghost of Peter Sellers Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- filmmaker
- troubled production
- behind the scenes
- failed project
- cyprus
- film director
- actor
- film within a film
- reading aloud
- hungarian immigrant
- told in flashback
- flashback
+38 more Show fewer
- immigrant
- british actor
- eccentric man
- hungarian filmmaker
- hungarian film director
- hungarian abroad
- hungarian in cyprus
- briton abroad
- briton in cyprus
- failed expectation
- name in title
- male name in title
- voice over narration
- talking to the camera
- breaking the fourth wall
- old man
- older person
- reunion
- black and white scene
- underwater scene
- ship
- boat
- year 1972
- screenwriter
- london england
- hungarian in london
- photograph
- reference to michael caine
- reference to roger moore
- reference to mick jagger
- year 1973
- hungarian in united kingdom
- talent agent
- photo album
- old woman
- f word
- reference to variety magazine
- reference to john croydon
The Ghost of Peter Sellers Cast
Peter Sellers leads the cast, with Liza Minnelli and Spike Milligan. Directed by Peter Medak; 16 actors are credited in all.
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Director Peter Medak
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Peter Sellers as themselves -
Liza Minnelli as themselves -
Spike Milligan as themselves -
Peter Boyle
Also Starring in The Ghost of Peter Sellers
· 12 more- Thomas Baptiste
- Joe Dunne Themselves
- Susan Wood Themselves
- John Heyman Themselves
- Louis M. Heyward Themselves
- Norma Farnes Themselves
- Robin Dalton Themselves
- Simon van der Borgh Themselves
- Lorenzo Berni
- Maggie Abbott
- Rene Borisewitz
- Tony Christodoulou
More from Peter Medak
More films directed by Peter Medak, best-rated first: The Changeling, The Krays, Zorro: The Gay Blade and Romeo Is Bleeding.
The Ghost of Peter Sellers Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Ghost of Peter Sellers 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and 74 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.7/10. Our Echo Score gives it 71/100, strongest in character & emotion (80) and weakest in sensory experience (60).
The Ghost of Peter Sellers Echo Score Breakdown
The Ghost of Peter Sellers delivers a generally engaging documentary that combines insightful industry commentary with uneven aesthetic execution. It offers intimate reflections on Peter Sellers’ creative impact and the chaotic production of a failed film, yielding moments of both humor and pathos. While the narrative is absorbing, intermittent pacing lags and modest visual style temper its momentum. Overall, the documentary presents a compelling portrait of artistic excess that resonates despite occasional stylistic shortcomings.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 65
In terms of art and craft, the documentary exhibits mixed visual cohesion and a restrained stylistic palette. Archival footage is integrated with measured editing, yet the overall aesthetic feels flat at times and lacks strong production flourishes. Direction remains serviceable but seldom ventures beyond conventional documentary techniques. As a result, the film’s craft foundations are solid but fail to achieve striking visual distinction.
- Character & Emotion 80
When it comes to character depth and emotional resonance, the film excels in portraying Peter Sellers’ complex personality. The documentary captures both his creative brilliance and personal turmoil through candid interviews and reflective narration. Emotional arcs unfold with clarity, offering nuanced insight into the toll of celebrity indulgence. In sum, the character-driven focus delivers a powerful and affecting portrait of its subject.
- Story & Flow 68
In terms of story and flow, the documentary balances historical context with narrative coherence but yields an uneven pacing. Early segments take time to establish the ill-fated production, leading to a slower buildup. Once in motion, the film remains engaging through instructive anecdotes and focused thematic progression. Despite occasional lulls, the storyline sustains interest and concludes with a clear depiction of creative collapse and personal reckoning.
- Sensory Experience 60
Regarding sensory experience, the film employs a modest musical score and straightforward sound design that serve the narrative without drawing attention. Visual style remains consistent but minimal, relying heavily on existing production footage rather than original cinematography. Soundscapes support interviews effectively but offer limited dynamic range. Consequently, the sensory elements are functional yet unremarkable, contributing to a subdued audiovisual atmosphere.
- Rewatch Factor 65
As for rewatch factor, the documentary offers moderate replay value for viewers interested in film history and celebrity psychology. Emotional depth and industry revelations encourage return viewings, providing fresh insights into Sellers’ complex legacy. However, the uneven pacing and restrained stylistic choices may lessen enthusiasm for repeated watches. Overall, the film retains enough analytical richness to warrant occasional revisit by dedicated audiences.
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IMDb 6.7 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 95% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 63%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 74 Metascore
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 58% User score
See on TMDB
The Ghost of Peter Sellers Trailers & Videos
The trailer of The Ghost of Peter Sellers.
Cars in The Ghost of Peter Sellers
3 cars on screen, including the 2012 Nissan Versa and the 1994 Chevrolet Blazer.
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2012 Nissan Versa Minor role -
1994 Chevrolet Blazer Background role -
2001 Dodge Stratus Background role
Seen The Ghost of Peter Sellers?
Movies Like The Ghost of Peter Sellers
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Peter Sellers Story, Peter Sellers: A State of Comic Ecstasy and The Life and Death of Peter Sellers.
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The Peter Sellers Story 1995 -
Peter Sellers: A State of Comic Ecstasy 2020 -
The Life and Death of Peter Sellers 2004 -
Will the Real Mr Sellers…? 1969 -
The Ghost of Richard Harris 2023 -
Ghost Hunting 2017 -
Peter Lorre: The Master of Menace 1996 -
The Double Face of Peter Lorre 1984 -
Remembering Messiah of Evil 2009 -
The Prince and the Dybbuk 2017 -
That Man: Peter Berlin 2006 -
The Magic Christian 1970
The Ghost of Peter Sellers FAQ: Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings and post-credit scenes of The Ghost of Peter Sellers, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Ghost of Peter Sellers?
The Ghost of Peter Sellers runs 1 hour 33 minutes (93 minutes).
When was The Ghost of Peter Sellers released?
The Ghost of Peter Sellers was released on May 22, 2020.
Who directed The Ghost of Peter Sellers?
The Ghost of Peter Sellers was directed by Peter Medak.
More films by Peter Medak Who is in the cast of The Ghost of Peter Sellers?
The Ghost of Peter Sellers stars Peter Sellers, Liza Minnelli and Spike Milligan, among 16 credited actors.
How is The Ghost of Peter Sellers rated?
The Ghost of Peter Sellers has 6.7/10 on IMDb, 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, 74 on Metacritic and 58% on TMDB.
Does The Ghost of Peter Sellers have a post-credit scene?
No. The Ghost of Peter Sellers has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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