Soft Beds, Hard Battles

Super Sellers gives full show of his great abilities by playing completely different characters, Like he did in "Dr.Strangelove". Only this time he's pushing to the extreme! Hilarious movie, great comedy. I didn't give a super vote because (alas) it is only Peter Sellers who keeps it going, although it's more than enough for a genuine laugh! :) No, HE is GREAT (was it really needed to say so? even after the Pink Panther series?)

The tag line: "The film with Six Best Sellers in one!"

a) The word Best in that sentence is misleading; b) That sentence is funnier than the film itself.

"Soft Beds" is a very disjointed, rambling film set in World War 2. France is being invaded, and a local brothel seems to be getting mixed up in the conflict. A group of prostitutes, with help from a British and an American soldier, save Paris from being blown up by the Gestapo.

Well, there you have it. I don't think I'd need go on, as that sums up the whole rubbishness of the film adequately, but I think I might as well press on.

The only reason anyone may remember this film is because Peter Sellers plays six roles. However, none of them are impressive, and several are characterisations played with far better flair in his other films; the old man who is married but prefers to spend time with the young ladies was played a lot better in "Waltz of the Toreadors", whilst the Japanese man, with pidgin English, was funnier in "Murder by Death". Sellers also plays another French character who has about 3 minutes screentime and isn't worth remembering, a Gestapo leader who is neither funny nor menacing, and Adolf Hitler, there so that we can make a joke about the fact that the Fuhrer was racist. It sums up the tone of the film quite nicely. The only character played by Sellers who gets any laughs is a British officer, who has the same voice inflections as Captain Mandrake from "Strangelove", and is funny only because Sellers can say "Sod it!" in a funny way.

The film is just a long line of sketches involving prostitutes getting one over on the Nazis, with the British Sellers wandering in and out of the narrative to shoot someone. The rambling, unfunny plot, coupled with several scenes in which people die of flatulence, are the final nails in the coffin for this sorry film. In fact, the only fun one could get from this film is the fact that the cast list is chocker with actors and actresses you'll recognise from other shows (including Phillip Madoc, and good old Nick "the Brigadier in Doctor Who" Courtney, uncredited, and managing even to out-act Sellers with 3 lines). And Rula Lenska is topless in her first scene, which probably counts for something.

It's rubbish. Stay away. 3/10

Peter Sellers actually gives a performance playing numerous roles in this boring unfunny farce, as he even plays a Japanese officer and speaks real Japanese language! But not even the great Peter Sellers can save this tired boring movie that fails in all gags and humor (except for the scene where the bed flips over). I could see why United Artist took two years to release this film, and the film only lasted a week in most cities. It's not on video here in America, but it's recommended to any Peter Sellers fans only. Others beware!

What I find interesting about this rather domestic small budget film (made at a time when Sellers's box office clout was at its lowest) is the fact that, yes Sellers plays six different characters, however the film is not saturated with him. In fact Sellers blends in remarkably to the rest of the film.

Although I wouldn't necessarily call this film a comedy, there are some funny little bits in it, its strikes me more as a delightful war-time adventure story.

In my opinion, the main focal point of this film is brothel owner Madame Grenier and her girls and their work for the French Resistance in occupied France. Sellers plays a whole host of characters around this central plot point and comes across far more as a counter-point to the action of Mme Grenier and her girls instead of screaming "Peter Sellers film Peter Selers film!" In his roles, he's also playing rather straight, not pushing for laughs, unlike his rather outrageous and dominating roles in the Pink Panther films.

All in all, this British-made film is rather domestic in feel, not a big budget, and while it's enjoyable if you happen to come across it on cable one day, but don't be prepared to be knocked out.

December 2021

Yes Soft beds hard battles features Peter Sellers in about 6 different roles here, well as some other recognisable faces such as Jenny Hanley and Rula Lenska.

Interestingly when this came out it was an X certificate apparently and now its only a certificale 12, it does feature quite a bit of nudity.

Watch out for Gabriella Licudi from a great film called You must be joking, she looked so different here.

Largely a fun film, that perhaps loses it way a little towards the end.

8 beds out of 10.