The Return of the Pink Panther

1975  G  COMEDY  1h 54min

CAST— Peter Sellers, Christopher Plummer, Catherine Schell, Herbert Lom

MUSIC— Henry Mancini  DIRECTOR— Blake Edwards

     Director Blake Edwards and star Peter Sellers return to the world of comedic mystery in the fourth Pink Panther film. The Pink Panther diamond has been stolen from the Lugash museum in which it was displayed, despite the high tech security system protecting it. It seems the culprit is none other than the Phantom (see The Pink Panther [1963]), yet he swears his innocence. Lugash officials want Inspector Clouseau on the case, seeing as how he took down the Phantom in the past. Clouseau fumbles and bumbles his way through Lugash, the French countryside and the Swiss Alps in his search for the perpetrator. Meanwhile, the Phantom scrambles to stay alive as the European underworld all believe him to be the thief. More plot-heavy than it needs to be, which is a bummer. But the real disappointment is in the antics of Sellers. Sure, he’s still entertaining, even after an eleven year absence, but the funny seems rather forced whereas with other films in the series the comedic flow is impeccable. Still, this is better than Alan Arkin’s attempt at Clouseau. Then again, what isn’t?

OUR RATING— ** ½

PRECEDED BY— The Pink Panther (1963), A Shot in the Dark (1964), Inspector Clouseau (1968)

FOLLOWED BY— 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)