I love Peter Sellers, but...

It wasn't that he couldn't get him. The studio ,MGM, didn't want him even thought Pal did. At the time you couldn't blame them. Tony Randall was a bigger name at the box office than Sellers. He was a favorite in comedies and this was his chance at a leading role. But by he time the film was released to theaters in 1964, Peter Sellers star had risen as he had become a draw having made 3 films that came out in '64 but before this film. 'Dr Strangelove' came out in Jan. 'The Pink Panther' came out in March. 'A Shot in the Dark' came out in June. '7 Faces of Dr. Lao', didn't come out until August and even though critics like it , it bombed.


Sheldon:Was the starfish wearing boxer shorts? Because you might have been watching Nickelodeon."

With Peter Sellers in the I would not have appreciated the characters, but his genius. This movie allows an appreciation of the characters and the actor.

If we can save humanity, we become the caretakers of the world

I'm a huge Peter Sellers fan - enjoy seeing him in movies that are generally trashed* - and would love to see what he would have done in the role. However, I have to think he wouldn't have given the character(s) the heart and humanity Tony Randall brought.

*Ironically I think he was wasted in Pal's "tom thumb" as an oaf in a fat suit. Terry-Thomas, however, was absolutely in his element.