Where Is Parsifal? (1984)

Director:

Henri Helman

Writer:

Berta Domínguez D.

Stars:

Tony Curtis, Berta Domínguez D., Erik Estrada

Cast

Credited cast:
Tony Curtis	...	Parsifal Katzenellenbogen
Berta Domínguez D.	...	Elba (as Cassandra Domenica)
Erik Estrada	...	Henry Board II
Peter Lawford	...	Montague Chippendale
Ron Moody	...	Beersbohm
Donald Pleasence	...	Mackintosh
Orson Welles	...	Klingsor
Christopher Chaplin	...	Ivan
Nancy Roberts	...	Ruth
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Arthur Beatty	...	Jasper
Victoria Burgoyne	...	Gabriella Veronica
Frank Jakeman	...	Mafia Bodyguard
Ava Lazar	...	Sheila
Vladek Sheybal

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

skywriting | bare breasts | money problems | marriage problems | question in title | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

19 July 1985 (UK)

Also Known As:

C'è qualcosa di strano in famiglia

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is often incorrectly considered to be a lost film, since it has never been commercially available in the UK or USA, however the film was released on PAL VHS by Seven Keys Video in Australia during the 1980s and those video versions still exist as of August 2011. The misinformation about the film being lost is due to the fact that although it was screened at the 1984 Cannes Film Festival, it was withdrawn prior to its official release date in the UK.

User Reviews

Most Unsual Comedy, But Understandably Lost and Forgotten

It took me years and years to track down a copy of this strange comedy.

I first heard about it in the early 80s, when Peter Lawford's widow, Patricia Seaton, was interviewed and asked to comment on Lawford's final film. I remember her saying that Orson Welles did not socialize with the cast, and he actually had his meals brought to him so he could eat privately.

This interview was about 1983 (after the film was completed) and then I believe that years later, the movie eventually premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, and then was never released theatrically or on tape thereafter. Today, it seems lost and forgotten, despite the all-star cast.

Tony Curtis seems to be having fun with this role, but other than Mr. Curtis, the other stars show up rather briefly.

Also, actress Marisa Berenson has a role, but she is not listed in the IMDb credits, nor is Parsifal listed in her own filmography.

One of the oddest devices in this comedy is how the director likes to speed-up the action for comic effect, reminiscent of older, zany screwball comedies.

I appreciate the interesting insight from the other user commentators, who provided the information that this personal "vanity" project is based on the eccentric life of the Salkinds, the producers of the Superman and Three Musketeer films, among others. That helps shed some light on this movie, but doesn't make it a better viewing experience, unfortunately.