The Pink Panther

1963  NR  COMEDY  1h 53min

CAST— Peter Sellers, David Niven, Capucine, Robert Wagner, Claudia Cardinale, Brenda DeBanzie, John LeMesurier, Fran Jeffries

MUSIC— Henry Mancini  DIRECTOR— Blake Edwards

     Who is the Pink Panther? Rather, what is it? The infamous diamond known as the Pink Panther belonging to a vacationing Indian princess is the target for the European cat burglar dubbed The Phantom. The Phantom is the target of French inspector Jacques Clouseau, a bumbling idiot whose wife has more than a fleeting acquaintance with the thief himself. Part heist story, part slapstick comedy, part bedroom farce, The Pink Panther has both moments of laugh out loud hilarity and moments of monotonous boredom. The marvelous antics of Peter Sellers are enough to send anyone into a fit of giggles, yet the lulls in between, centering on David Niven and Robert Wagner as two oversexed Romeos, is easily forgotten. Followed by many a sequel. Deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the United States Library of Congress National Film Registry.

OUR RATING— ** ½

FOLLOWED BY— A Shot in the Dark (1964), Inspector Clouseau (1968), The Return of the Pink Panther (1975), The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976), Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978), Trail of the Pink Panther (1982), Curse of the Pink Panther (1983), Son of the Pink Panther (1993)

REMADE AS— The Pink Panther (2006)