The Pink Panther (1963)

The bumbling Inspector Clouseau travels to Rome to catch a notorious jewel thief known as "The Phantom" before he conducts his most daring heist yet: a princess' priceless diamond with one slight imperfection, known as "The Pink Panther".

Director:

Blake Edwards

Writers:

Maurice Richlin (screenplay), Blake Edwards (screenplay)

Stars:

David Niven, Peter Sellers, Robert Wagner

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
David Niven	...	Sir Charles Lytton
Peter Sellers	...	Insp. Jacques Clouseau
Robert Wagner	...	George Lytton
Capucine	...	Simone Clouseau
Brenda de Banzie	...	Angela Dunning
Colin Gordon	...	Tucker
John Le Mesurier	...	Defence Barrister (as John LeMesurier)
James Lanphier	...	Saloud
Guy Thomajan	...	Artoff
Michael Trubshawe	...	Felix Townes
Riccardo Billi	...	Aristotle Sarajos
Meri Welles	...	Monica Fawn (as Meri Wells)
Martin Miller	...	Pierre Luigi - Photographer
Fran Jeffries	...	Greek 'cousin'
Claudia Cardinale	...	The Princess

Storyline

The trademark of The Phantom, a renowned jewel thief, is a glove left at the scene of the crime. Inspector Clouseau, an expert on The Phantom's exploits, feels sure that he knows where The Phantom will strike next and leaves Paris for Switzerland, where the famous Lugashi jewel 'The Pink Panther' is going to be. However, he does not know who The Phantom really is, or for that matter who anyone else really is...

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Plot Keywords:

jewel thief | diamond | bumbling | inspector | framed for robbery | 

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Taglines:

You only live once... so see the Pink Panther twice!!!

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

MGM Official site of the 40th Anniversary

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

20 March 1964 (USA)

Also Known As:

La pantera rosa

Filming Locations:

Hotel Cristallo, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy

Box Office

Gross USA:

$10,878,107

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mirisch G-E Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System) Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

David Niven previously played a jewel thief in Raffles (1939).

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Goofs

When Simone is holding George's graduation photo it has no border or white frame. Yet if you look very carefully when Charles hands it to her and after when he puts it under the ash tray on his night stand the photo has as a white frame border.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Gem dealer 1: As in every stone of this size, there is a flaw.
Sultan: A flaw?
Gem dealer 2: The slightest flaw, your excellency.
Gem dealer 1: If you look deep into the stone, you will perceive the tiniest discoloration. It resembles an animal.
Sultan: An animal?
Gem dealer 1: A little panther.
Sultan: Yes! A pink panther. Come here, Dala. A gift to your father from his grateful people. Some day it will be yours. The most fabulous diamond in all the world. Come closer.

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Crazy Credits

Although the film's title actually refers to a jewel, the credits are presented in a cartoon sequence featuring a pink panther who interacts with the lettering in various ways -- spinning letters around, unscrambling words, inserting extra credits for himself, and so on. The cartoon panther has subsequently appeared in the same manner in several sequels to this film and eventually his own TV series The Pink Panther Show (1969).

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Connections

Referenced in Alexander (1986)

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Soundtracks

The Pink Panther Theme
Written by Henry Mancini
Tenor Sax solo by Plas Johnson

User Reviews

Promise of Great Things to Come

"The Pink Panther" is a risque (for its time) romantic heist farce starring David Niven and Robert Wager, as uncle and son jewel thieves. Also included is a small slapstick part was Peter Sellers (originally to be Peter Ustinov) as the French detective hot on their trail. While the romantic farce isn't bad, the exquisite slapstick timing of Peter Sellers not only kept this movie from being an innocuous but one-note affair, it also was the genesis of a comic legend. Actually two, since the cartoon Pink Panther appears in the credits.

There's no Cato or twitching Inspector Dreyfus (they come in the next Clouseau film, "A Shot in the Dark", one of the funniest movies ever made). Viewers who grew up on the later Pink Panther films that revolve around Clouseau are bound to be disappointed, but they shouldn't let their disappointment mar the movie. Peter Sellers is funny enough in every scene he's in (in fact, he does some of his best Clouseau work in this movie). But "The Pink Panther" should be approached as a film in its own right, and accept its terms as the movie defines them. This is a subtle bedroom farce based on a heist, and it has its unique, languid beauty.