Inspector Clouseau (1968)

Director:

Bud Yorkin

Writers:

Blake Edwards (based on a character created by) and
Maurice Richlin (based on a character created by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

19 July 1968 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Mystery

Plot:

A string of robberies has occurred in Britain and it's up to Inspector Clouseau to catch them.

Plot Keywords:

Robbery | Great Train Robbery | Scotland Yard | Detective | Clouseau

Cast

Alan Arkin	...	Insp. Jacques Clouseau
Frank Finlay	...	Supt. Weaver
Delia Boccardo	...	Lisa Morrel
Barry Foster	...	Addison Steele
Patrick Cargill	...	Commissioner Sir Charles Braithwaite
Beryl Reid	...	Mrs. Weaver
Clive Francis	...	Clyde Hargreaves
Richard Pearson	...	Shockley
Michael Ripper	...	Steven Frey
Susan Engel	...	Carmichael
Wallas Eaton	...	Hoeffler
Tutte Lemkow	...	Frenchie LeBec
Katya Wyeth	...	Meg (as Kathja Wyeth)
Tracey Crisp	...	Julie
Geoffrey Bayldon	...	Gutch
John Bindon	...	Bull Parker
Anthony Ainley	...	Bomber LeBec
Robert Russell	...	Stockton
David Bauer	...	Police Chief Geffrion
George Pravda	...	Wulf
Eric Pohlmann	...	Bergesch
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Martin Beere	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Craig Booth	...	David (uncredited)
Julie Croft	...	Nicole (uncredited)
Barbara Dana	...	Nun (uncredited)
Robert Gillespie	...	Senior Swiss Banker. (uncredited)
Marjie Lawrence	...	Peggy (uncredited)
Leon Lissek	...	French Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Arthur Lovegrove	...	Innkeeper (uncredited)
Will Stampe	...	Fishmonger (uncredited)
Paul Tropea	...	Child at Grave (uncredited)

Directed by
Bud Yorkin

Writing credits
Blake Edwards		(based on a character created by) and
Maurice Richlin		(based on a character created by)
Tom Waldman		(written by) and
Frank Waldman		(written by)

Produced by
Lewis J. Rachmil	....	producer

Original Music by
Ken Thorne

Cinematography by
Arthur Ibbetson		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
John Victor-Smith		(as John Victor Smith)

Production Design by
Michael Stringer

Art Direction by
Norman Dorme

Costume Design by
Dinah Greet

Makeup Department
Ernest Gasser	....	makeup artist
Wally Schneiderman	....	makeup artist
Pearl Tipaldi	....	hairdresser

Production Management
Charles Orme	....	production supervisor
Robert Watts	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael Frewin	....	second unit director
Kip Gowans	....	assistant director

Art Department
Terence Morgan II	....	set dresser
Mickey Lennon	....	stand-by prop (uncredited)

Sound Department
Jonathan Bates	....	sound editor
Gerry Turner	....	sound recordist (as Gerald Turner)

Special Effects by
Colin Chilvers	....	special effects supervisor

Camera and Electrical Department
Skeets Kelly	....	photographer: second unit
Tony Spratling	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ivy Baker	....	wardrobe supervisor

Music Department
Ken Thorne	....	conductor

Other crew
Ann Skinner	....	continuity
Gerry Chiniquy	....	title designer (uncredited)
John W. Dunn	....	title designer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Mirisch Corporation, The (presents)
• Mirisch Films

Distributors

• United Artists Corporation (1968) (UK) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1968) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1977) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Warner Home Video (1988) (UK) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Video (1996) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (VHS) (widescreen)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• DePatie-Freleng Enterprises (DFE)  titles created and designed by (as De Patie-Freleng)
• TVC London  title animation

Also Known As:

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:S | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | UK:U | Canada:G (Manitoba/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Australia:G | Singapore:PG | USA:G | West Germany:16

Company:

Mirisch Corporation, The

Trivia:

Alan Arkin got the role of Clouseau because Peter Sellers was busy doing The Party (1968), directed by Blake Edwards, who was also the director of the previous Clouseau-films. He was replaced by Yorkin. Later, Sellers and Edwards would return to the series. With them, the original composer (Henry Mancini) also returned.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: A supposed Parisian fishmonger has an English accent.

Quotes:

Inspector Jacques Clouseau:Yes, well, life is not all shoot-shoot, bang-bang, you know.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Pink Panther Story (2003) (V)

If you're more a fan of the 1st 2 Panther movies, you may like this..

Most peoples opinion of the Pink Panther series is that as long as Peter Sellers was alive the films were classics. The ones made with leftover footage of Sellers, not so good, and the ones without Sellers ("Son Of PP", The Ted Wass "Curse Of PP", the Steve Martin remake)stink.

Well I am NOT of that opinion. Sure, it's nearly impossible to watch ANYONE else pretending to be the good Inspector, or a relative. But for me the best Panther films are the first 2 60's gems, "Pink Panther" and "A Shot In The Dark". Once Blake Edwards resurrected the series in 1975 with "Return" and "Strikes Again" the films got more and more silly and preposterous. I mean Clouseau' boss Dreyfus in an insane asylum or as the "Phantom Of the Opera" ruined the films for me long before most fans cried foul.

The thing I loved about the original 2 films were that, silly as they were, they were within the realm of possibility. That wasn't the case after "The Return of The Pink Panther", which I recall actually seeing in the movies on it's original release.

Perhaps that's why i'm much more forgiving of films like "Curse Of The PP" (the Ted Wass vehicle) because they didn't get as far out as the 1970's entries in the series with Sellers.

After finally catching the much maligned "Inspector Clousea" I have to say, although missing Sellers all the same, this is actually my 3rd favorite entry in the series right after the original two, and much better than the Steve Martin remake.

Of course one of the things for me that adds to it is the entire 60's vibe-I feel this is simply the most enjoyable time period to place this type of farce in. There's allot of 60's-isms that just fit in with this type of comedy. There's a reason Austin Powers tapped into the 60's thing for much of it's humor.

Arkin doesn't imitate Sellers (unlike Steve Martin) and plays Clousea a bit understated, but for me it works much better-again as one tries to image these things happening within the realm of real life. It's just too bad we don't have Herbert Lom as Dreyfus or a Henry Mancini music score (though there really is nothing wrong with the movies score at all as it is).

At this point in my life i've see the original Panther" and "Shot In The Dark" multiple times, but "Inspector Clousea" only twice making it my very favorite "Panther" movie to pull off the shelf and watch on my DVD burned from a cable TV showing of the flick.

Go into it with an open mind (especially those who somehow may not know the other movies in the series very well) and you could easily enjoy this very much..Far from a failure in my book..