The Party
An accident-prone Indian actor transforms an exclusive Hollywood party into a delirious cascade of social and physical calamities.
Overview
A clumsy actor's accidental invitation to a lavish party leads to a night of unexpected chaos and hilarity.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- irreverent
- breezy
- lazy sunday
- classic comedy night
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as an inventive cult comedy powered by Peter Sellers's exuberant performance and Blake Edwards's unconventional visual staging, while acknowledging its offensive brownface portrayal.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The party scenes fill the hi-tech villa with overlapping guests, background actions, and visual disruptions rather than directing attention to a single gag.
Hrundi Bakshi's well-meaning presence repeatedly unsettles Fred Clutterbuck's hand-picked party guests and their carefully managed social environment.
Bakshi's clumsiness and first experience with alcohol turn his earnest attempts to mingle into increasingly elaborate disasters.
The magnificent villa, flowing drinks, entertainment industry guests, and rigid host expectations provide the setting for the comedy's social disruption.
Films like The Party, and why
The Pink Panther
shared physical comedy, social embarrassment, and meticulously escalating party chaos
Playtime
shared observational slapstick, visual gags, and an outsider disrupting an affluent social setting
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
shared ensemble farce, misunderstandings, and comic breakdown of a formal gathering
Movie Details
- Director
- Blake Edwards
- Release Date
- 1968-04-04
- Runtime
- 99 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (894)
Cast
- Peter Sellers
- Claudine Longet
- Natalia Borisova
- Jean Carson
- Marge Champion
- Al Checco
- Corinne Cole
- Dick Crockett
- Frances Davis
- Danielle De Metz
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Party about?
- An accident-prone Indian actor transforms an exclusive Hollywood party into a delirious cascade of social and physical calamities.
- What is The Party like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Party as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Party violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Party.
- What did critics think of The Party?
- Critics broadly regard the film as an inventive cult comedy powered by Peter Sellers's exuberant performance and Blake Edwards's unconventional visual staging, while acknowledging its offensive brownface portrayal.
- Which films are like The Party?
- Films with a similar feel include The Pink Panther, Playtime, and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.
- How long is The Party?
- The Party runs 99 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Party?
- In United States, The Party is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
