Inspector Clouseau
1968  G  COMEDY  1h 36min
CAST— Alan Arkin
MUSIC— Ken Thorne  DIRECTOR— Bud Yorkin

     Terribly unfunny interpretation of that most famous of bumbling detectives, Inspector Jacques Clouseau. Alan Arkin plays Clouseau this time around, who’s been sent from Paris to London to investigate the workings of a gang suspected to have pulled off a train robbery. The gang now see that Clouseau will be the perfect patsy for their next job: robbing thirteen Swiss banks simultaneously. To do so they wear Clouseau masks and blame him for the crime. Clouseau must fumble across Europe if he’s to solve this one in time. The absence of star Peter Sellers and director Blake Edwards are painfully obvious from the start. Arkin as Clouseau leaves a lot to be desired (let’s face it: he stinks) and the James Bond wannabe hijinks are less than inspired. Though this is an official addition to the Pink Panther series, few consider it canon, if that makes sense. Regardless, the film feels like a lazy copycat, with little or no design. Its worst sin is simply that it’s boring, which is a sin not easily forgiven.
OUR RATING— *
PRECEDED BY— The Pink Panther (1963), A Shot in the Dark (1964)
FOLLOWED BY— 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)