The Bobo is a 1967 British comedy film directed by Robert Parrish and starring Peter Sellers and Britt Ekland. The screenplay is based on the 1959 novel Olimpia by Burt Cole, also known as Thomas Dixon. Plot Singing matador Juan Bautista is offered a break by a theater manager if he will seduce the beautiful Olimpia. Cast Peter Sellers as Juan Bautista Britt Ekland as Olimpia Segura Rossano Brazzi as Carlos Matabosch Adolfo Celi as Francisco Carbonell Hattie Jacques as Trinity Martinez Ferdy Mayne as Silvestre Flores Kenneth Griffith as Pepe Gamazo Al Lettieri as Eugenio Gomez Marne Maitland as Luis Castillo John Wells as Pompadour Major Domo Don Lurio as Ramon Gonzales Antonia Santiago Amador (La Chana) as flamenco dancer Production Original novel and play The film was based on the novel Olimpia by Burt Cole, published in 1959. The New York Times wrote that "the author does have an ability to see with imagination and occasionally literary artistry. What he lacks ... is not flamboyance, but a story with substance." In 1961 it was announced that David R. Schwartz had written a theatre adaptation titled The Bobo, with former Moss Hart assistant Joseph Hyman slated to produce, Norman Jewison to direct and Diane Cilento and Shelley Berman to star. Jewison said: "It's not a slick comedy. It's a little different and much fresher." In 1962, Caroline Swan was named as producer, but the play never materialized. Development In August 1962, George Cukor announced that he would produce a film based on the book to star Ava Gardner. In May 1966, it was announced that film rights to the play were owned by the team of Eliot Kastner and Jerry Gershwin, who had recently produced Harper and Kaleidescope for Warner Bros. They signed a deal with Peter Sellers to star in the film and possibly direct it. In August 1966, it was announced that Sellers' wife Britt Ekland would appear in the film as the first of a five-film contract with Gershwin. Eventually, Sellers decided not to direct and Robert Parrish took the job. Shooting Filming took place in Italy and Barcelona in August 1966 and at Cinecittà Studios, Rome. It was a difficult shoot, as Sellers and Ekland were having marital problems and Sellers' mother died during filming. Sellers insisted on directing some of the film. Soundtrack "Imagine," the song heard with the titles, was written by Francis