The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976)

Director:

Blake Edwards

Writers:

Frank Waldman (screenplay) and
Blake Edwards (screenplay)

Release Date:

17 December 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Family

Tagline:

Who is this man ? And what is he doing ? Who Cares. But don't miss my new movie...

Plot:

Charles Dreyfus escapes from the mental asylum and tries to kill Chief Inspector Jacques Clouseau. He doesn't succeed at first...

Plot Keywords:

Clouseau | Color In Title | Kidnapping | Laughing Gas | Policeman

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Peter Sellers	...	Chief Inspector Clouseau
Herbert Lom	...	Dreyfus
Lesley-Anne Down	...	Olga
Burt Kwouk	...	Cato Fong
Colin Blakely	...	Drummond
Leonard Rossiter	...	Quinlan
André Maranne	...	Francois (as Andre Maranne)
Byron Kane	...	Secretary of State
Howard K. Smith	...	Himself (scenes deleted)
Dick Crockett	...	The President
Richard Vernon	...	Fassbender
Briony McRoberts	...	Margo Fassbender
Dudley Sutton	...	McClaren
Murray Kash	...	Dr. Zelmo Flek (scenes deleted)
Hal Galili	...	Danny Salvo

Also Known As:

Inspector Clouseau Strikes Back (USA) (working title)
Inspector Clouseau and the Doomsday Machine (USA) (working title)
The Pink Panther Strikes Back (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:G (Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Iceland:L | New Zealand:PG | Brazil:14 | Canada:PG (video rating) | Finland:K-16 | Ireland:PG | Netherlands:AL | Norway:12 (re-rating) | Norway:16 (original rating) | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Argentina:Atp | Singapore:PG | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Bavaria, Germany

Company:

Amjo Productions

Trivia:

Lesley-Anne Down replaced Maud Adams.

Goofs:

Continuity: As the three characters are plummeting into the river at the end of the film, it's obvious that Clouseau is being played by a stunt double. Peter Sellers' hairy back, so obvious in the previous scene, has been replaced by a perfectly smooth one.

Quotes:

Olga Bariosova: Do you think you could fall in love with an ex-Russian agent?

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

Until You Love Me

Hilarious overkill

A Shot in the Dark is a better movie but The Pink Panther Strikes Again is the high water mark of the Pink Panther series. Most movie series' throw all inhibition out the window at one point or another and that is the case here. The movie is unrestrained folly with as much style as a hammer over the head. But it's so well done that the movie keeps it's pace of intense idiocy throughout with a slow storm of truly funny bits. The goofiness must never abate or the movie will be exposed and it doesn't abate. Sellers again plays Clouseau with bumbling incompetence. His dead pan style and seriousness in the face of his role is what makes it so great. He's clearly the only one who thinks he's a legitimate police officer and character to begin with. Clouseau's voice that was just slightly unintelligible in A Shot in the Dark is a complete parody here and it's an absolute joy every time I hear it. I can never keep a straight face any time Clouseau says the word 'room.' Only a great comedian can take something so simple and make it classic. Herbert Lom is as good as ever as the tormented Dreyfuss. He's more believably crazy than a lot of other actors I've seen try it. The scene where Clouseau accidentally abuses him at the mental health institute is priceless. One of the few scenes in comedy where I burst out laughing every time is when Dreyfuss steps on the rake and falls back into the water. You never see it coming the first time and it's a riot. The scenes in the gay bar are refreshingly funny despite the stereotypes that are a little less than kind. Clouseau's questioning of the staff is also one of the classic bits in comedy of completely brilliant overkill. His falling down the stairs off of the parallel bars is another burst out laughing moment, as well as when he accidentally whacks Mr. Stutterstut with the ball and chain stuck to his hand. The scenes with Cato are also better than they were in A Shot in the Dark. This movie does not have the gorgeous style or comedic genius of A Shot in the Dark but plays it's stupid humor better. After this, it was probably unnecessary to have any more Pink Panther movies as this was the over the top plot to end all plots. I absolutely love watching this movie.

7.6/10