The Return of the Pink Panther (1975)

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
Peter Jones	...	Psychiatrist
Herb Tanney	...	Nice Police Chief (as Serge Tanney)
Mollie Maureen	...	Mrs. Vando (as Molly Maureen)
Nadim Sawalha	...	Museum Guide
Andre Charisse	...	TV Newscaster
Michael Nightingale	...	Museum Tourist
Pamela Abbott	...	Museum Tourist
Francis Mortimer	...	Museum Tourist
Yashaw Adem	...	Museum Guide
Milton Reid	...	Japanese Restaurant Owner
Hugo De Vernier	...	Doctor
Claire Davenport	...	Masseuse
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Carol Cleveland	...	Swimming Pool Diver
Jeremy Hawk	...	Jealous escort (scenes deleted)
Tony Adams	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Peter Samuelson	...	Clothing thief (uncredited)

Directed by
Blake Edwards

Writing credits
Frank Waldman		(screenplay) and
Blake Edwards		(screenplay)

Produced by
Tony Adams	....	associate producer
Blake Edwards	....	producer

Original Music by
Henry Mancini

Cinematography by
Geoffrey Unsworth

Film Editing by
Tom Priestley

Casting by
Weston Drury Jr.

Production Design by
Peter Mullins

Makeup Department
Harry Frampton	....	makeup artist
Jeanette Freeman	....	hair stylist (as Jeannette Freeman)

Production Management
Derek Kavanagh	....	production supervisor
Peter Samuelson	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bert Batt	....	assistant director
Guy Sauteret	....	assistant director

Art Department
John Siddall	....	set dresser
Jack Stephens	....	assistant art director
Gari Bacon	....	props (uncredited)
Bill Beavis	....	scenic artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gerry Humphreys	....	dubbing mixer
Jim Roddan	....	dubbing editor
Peter Sutton	....	sound recordist
Doug E. Turner	....	dubbing mixer (as Doug Turner)

Special Effects by
John Gant	....	special effects

Stunts
Dick Crockett	....	stunt supervisor
Joe Dunne	....	stunt supervisor
Jack Cooper	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Frank Batt	....	grip
Peter MacDonald	....	camera operator (as Peter Macdonald)
Cedric James	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Animation Department
Ken Harris	....	animator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Bridget Sellers	....	wardrobe supervisor

Music Department
Henry Mancini	....	conductor
Douglas Gamley	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Billy G. Arter	....	transportation coordinator (uncredited)

Other crew
Kevin O'Driscoll	....	accountant
Beti Parry	....	production assistant
Constance Willis	....	continuity (as Connie Willis)
Ken Harris	....	title designer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Incorporated Television Company (ITC)
• Jewel Productions (present)
• Pimlico Films
• United Artists

Distributors

• United Artists (1975) (USA) (theatrical)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
• United Artists Corporation (1975) (UK) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Film de Mexico
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1977) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Artisan Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• CBS/Fox Video (1985) (Belgium) (video)
• Channel 5 Video Distribution (1986) (UK) (VHS)
• Focus Features (2006) (USA) (all media)
• J2 Communications (USA) (laserdisc)
• Lions Gate Films (2003) (North America) (DVD)
• Live Video (USA) (laserdisc)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1997) (USA) (DVD)
• Top Tape (Brazil) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures (2006) (UK) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Video (2006) (USA) (video)

Other Companies

• Richard Williams Studio  animation and titles

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 (Nova Scotia) (original rating) | Canada:G (Manitoba/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Canada:PG (Nova Scotia) (re-rating) (2005) | 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:

Revealing mistakes: When Clouseau picks up the lady/man he is seated on the left hand side of the car but when she carjacks him she drives away on the right hand side.

Quotes:

Dreyfus: [after Clouseau has demolished two trucks and a swimming pool in Nice] Now he's off to Gstaad. Today, a paradise in the Swiss Alps - tomorrow, a wasteland.
[rolls his eyes and lets out a deep breath]
Dreyfus: Compared to Clouseau, Attila the Hun was a Red Cross volunteer!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Unknown Peter Sellers (2000) (TV)

Soundtrack:

The Greatest Gift

The Return Of "Clouseau"

The famous and invaluable diamond known as the Pink Panther is stolen once again from the museum in Lugash, and the authorities decide immediately that to effect the return of this National Treasure they must seek the help of the one man they know will bring the needed expertise to the case: Clouseau. And so it is that `The Return Of The Pink Panther' is entrusted to none other than the inimitable Inspector (Peter Sellers) from France, much to the chagrin of Chief Inspector Dreyfus (Herbert Lom), who, knowing what unbridled mayhem Clouseau is really capable of, would like nothing more than to be rid of him once and for all. But such a request from the sovereign authorities of a friendly nation cannot be denied, and Clouseau is therefore dispatched with all haste to Lugash, with orders to bring the criminals to justice, and insure that the case is indeed-- to quote Clouseau-- `solv-ed.' Some ten years had passed since director Blake Edwards and Sellers had teamed up for the brilliant film `A Shot In The Dark,' before coming together once again for this third installment chronicling the misadventures of the `belov-ed' Inspector Clouseau. But the wait was certainly worth it. Cleverly written and delivered, it affords Sellers ample opportunities to do what he does best: Make you laugh. Whether affecting an alias in disguise or forthrightly confronting the usual suspects, Clouseau deftly uncovers every `ploy' attempted by the unscrupulous thieves he seeks. There are moments so hilarious that even co-star Catherine Schell (Claudine) has trouble keeping a straight face at times; but rather than being a distraction (as you'd think it would be), it somehow makes it even funnier. And it's a great example of why this movie is so good, and why it works so well. Simply put, it's fun. Edwards has a formula for success that begins with having a good story at the core, an excellent supporting cast to flesh it all out, then mixing it all together with the main ingredient which is, of course, Sellers. It's one that works, and of which directors of some of the more recent fare being proffered as `comedy' could benefit. Christopher Plummer is well cast as debonair master thief Sir Charles Litton, bringing an air of sophistication to the film that contrasts so well with the antics of Sellers. Characters returning after debuting in `A Shot In The Dark' include the terrific Lom, whose Chief Inspector Dreyfus is the perfect foil for Clouseau; Andre Maranne (Francois); and of course Burt Kwouk as Clouseau's ever-attacking manservant, Cato. The scenes between Sellers and Kwouk, in which they spar at Clouseau's house, are a riot, as is the way Sellers and Lom play off of one another throughout the film (or the series, for that matter); Lom's `reactions' alone to what Sellers is doing are classic bits of comedy. Rounding out the supporting cast are Peter Arne (Colonel Sharky), Peter Jeffrey (General Wadafi), Gregoire Aslan (Chief of Lugash Police), Victor Spinetti (Hotel Concierge) and John Bluthal (Blind Beggar). A number of elements go into making a comedy work, and `The Return Of The Pink Panther' has them all, but most especially, Peter Sellers, who without a doubt is one of the funniest actors ever to grace the silver screen. His comedy works because he always plays it straight and allows the humor to flow naturally from the situation at hand; there's never a laugh that is forced or false. Consider one of the opening scenes in which Clouseau, walking a beat, questions a blind beggar with a monkey about having the proper permits to beg, all while the bank in front of which they are standing is being robbed. There's a purity about it that makes it a joy to watch; the kind of film you can see over and over again and never get tired of. One of the great things about video and DVD is that it affords us the opportunity of cuing up this film-- as well as the other `Panther' movies-- at will. For a lot of laughs, take advantage of the technology at hand and check out Peter Sellers and discover what `classic' comedy is all about. It never gets old, and somehow just keeps getting better with age. I rate this one 9/10.