The Return of the Pink Panther (1975)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Blake Edwards

Writers:

Frank Waldman (screenplay) and
Blake Edwards (screenplay)

Release Date:

21 May 1975 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

You may rest assured that there's trouble, because Inspector Clouseau is on the case...That's the trouble.

Plot:

Inspector Clouseau is put on the case when the Pink Panther diamond is stolen, with the Phantom's trademark glove the only clue.

Plot Keywords:

Clouseau | Diamond | Pink | Pink Panther | Panther

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Peter Sellers	...	Insp. Jacques Clouseau
Christopher Plummer	...	Sir Charles Litton
Catherine Schell	...	Lady Claudine Litton
Herbert Lom	...	Chief Insp. Charles Dreyfus
Peter Arne	...	Col. Sharky
Peter Jeffrey	...	Gen. Wadafi
Grégoire Aslan	...	Police Chief Lundallah (as Gregoire Aslan)
David Lodge	...	Mac
Graham Stark	...	Pepi
Eric Pohlmann	...	The Fat Man
André Maranne	...	Sgt. François Chevalier
Burt Kwouk	...	Cato Fong
Victor Spinetti	...	Hotel Concierge
John Bluthal	...	Blind Beggar
Mike Grady	...	Bellboy

Also Known As:

Blake Edwards' The Return of the Pink Panther (UK) (complete title)

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:G (Manitoba/Quebec) | Canada:G (Nova Scotia) (original rating) | Canada:PG (Nova Scotia) (re-rating) (2005) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | UK:PG (video rating) | UK:U (original rating) | Hungary:14 | Australia:G (DVD rating) | Brazil:10 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Finland:K-12 | Netherlands:AL | Norway:11 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | USA:G

Filming Locations:

Gstaad, Kanton Bern, Switzerland

Company:

Incorporated Television Company (ITC)

Trivia:

Douglas Fairbanks Jr. was offered the role of Sir Charles after David Niven proved unavailable. After some consideration, he turned it down, paving the way for Christopher Plummer.

Goofs:

Continuity: The "jumping light bulb" changes places just before Clouseau discovers it.

Quotes:

Col. Sharky: I will be forced to shoot you.
Claudine: Who's forcing you?

Movie Connections:

Featured in "De wereld draait door: (#4.66)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

THE RIDE OF THE VALKYRIES

Hold on to your hats!!!

Return Of The Pink Panther marked Peter Sellers first appearence as Inspector Closeau since A Shot In The Dark (1964) and kicked off a celebrated Pink Panther sequel trilogy. To follow was The Pink Panther Strikes Again and Revenge Of The Pink Panther. I say trilogy because of course 'Revenge' saw Sellers' last outing before his premature death.

This film is a refreshing return to the roots of the original with Closeau on the trail of the PP diamond after it is once again stolen by the infamous Phantom. The Phantom's alter-ego, Sir Charles Webb (Christopher Plummer taking over from David Niven), is naturally assusmed to be the culprit but he is in fact innocent and so joins in the search.

Steve, from the first page, is spot on with his review of the film. It is slow and quite dismal when Sellers is not on screen and the sub-plot involving Sir Charles is weak and uninteresting, which was not the case with Niven in the original but nevertheless Plummer is an inspired choice for the role. Actually, the whole story isn't really clear or upfront, just Sellers at his best. And when he is on the screen, its gleaming with hilarity with a genius at play.

The result is a comedy which has its obvious flaws but also one which has many, many memorable and rip-roaring laughs. Return Of The Pink Panther is an irrestible treat and a must-see. I'm just having trouble figuring out which is better - this or Strikes Again. They're both great!