Blue Sky Casting #2

Stanley Kubrick’s WHAT HO, JEEVES!

From the novel by P.G. Wodehouse.

Bertie Wooster — Alan Cumming

Jeeves — Philip Stone

Aunt Agatha — Peter Bull

Aunt Dahlia — Peter Sellers

Anatole — Scatman Crothers

Roderick Spode — Steven Berkoff

Gussie Fink-Nottle — Murray Melvin

Corky Pirbright — Sue Lyon

Madeleine Bassett — Shelley Duvall

Sir Roderick Glossop — Patrick Magee

Florence Craye — Papillon Soo

Bingo Little — Malcolm McDowell

It’s striking how few good films exist of P.G. Wodehouse’s work. His time in Hollywood resulted in only a couple of additional dialogue credits which don’t really show his unique gifts, and most film and television adaptations fall flat. 1937’s A DAMSEL IN DISTRESS, with Fred Astaire, perhaps comes closest to capturing Wodehouse lightness, gentle absurdity and sheet funniness, aided immeasurably by the cast, and George Stevens as director (Stevens had photographed numerous silent Laurel & Hardy shorts and developed beautiful comedy timing himself).

But clearly what’s needed is the master’s touch.

“Another day had dawned all hot and fresh and, in pursuance of my unswerving policy at that time, I was singing ‘Sonny Boy’ in my bath, when there was a soft step without and Jeeves’ voice came filtering through the woodwork.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8cFtl6Mggc

Let Fred make your day!