Main Cast: David Niven, Peter Sellers, Robert Wagner, Capucine, Claudia Cardinale
Release Year: 1963
Country: US/UK
Run Time: 113 minutes
Plot
In the first in a series of detective comedies from director Blake Edwards starring Peter Sellers as bumbling French Inspector Jacques Clouseau, the mishap-prone snoop is actually a supporting player. David Niven stars as Sir Charles Litton, a suave jewel thief known as "The Phantom." Vacationing in a deluxe Alpine resort, Litton's real purpose is to purloin the Pink Panther, a gem of enormous worth owned by a princess (Claudia Cardinale). On his trail for years, Inspector Clouseau keeps losing his quarry, perhaps because his wife Simone (Capucine) is Litton's lover and alerts him every time her husband draws near. Also after the Panther is Litton's American nephew, George (Robert Wagner). At a posh costume ball at the princess' villa, the bauble is stolen and Clouseau, still trying to determine the bandit's identity, is framed for the crime himself. The Pink Panther made Sellers and his Clouseau act so popular that the character moved to center stage in a series of farcical sequels. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
Review
One of the most successful franchises of the 1960s and 1970s, director Blake Edwards' Pink Panther movies were a hit from their first installment, in 1964. The film introduced many of the series' hallmarks: Peter Sellers' endearingly inept Inspector Clouseau; the lanky animated pink panther of the credit sequences; and Henry Mancini's instantly recognizable score. Clouseau is a more minor role here than he would be in the future. Sellers' scene-stealing work -- in a part originally intended for Peter Ustinov -- secured him starring status in the subsequent films. His sense of comic timing is unparalleled, in both dialogue delivery and physical humor. Though The Pink Panther isn't as funny as its sequel, A Shot in the Dark (also from 1964), Edwards gives the screwball humor an effortless feel. Such farce was a departure for Edwards, previously best-known for the bittersweet Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) and the somber Days of Wine and Roses (1962). The Pink Panther would be followed by eight sequels of varying casts and quality and a popular television cartoon. ~ Brendon Hanley, All Movie Guide
Brenda de Banzie - Angela Dunning; Fran Jeffries - Greek "Cousin"; Colin Gordon - Tucker; John Le Mesurier - Defense Attorney; James Lanphier - Saloud; Guy Thomajan - Artoff; Michael Trubshawe - Novelist; Riccardo Billi - Greek Shipowner; Martin Miller - Photographer; Meri Welles - Hollywood Starlet
Credit
Fernando Carrere - Art Director, Hermes Pan - Choreography, William Theiss - Costume Designer, Blake Edwards - Director, Marshall M. Borden - Editor, Ralph Winters - Editor, David Zinnemann - Editor, Henry Mancini - Composer (Music Score), Johnny Mercer - Songwriter, Franco Misliacci - Songwriter, Philip H. Lathrop - Cinematographer, Martin Jurow - Producer, Jack Stephens - Set Designer, Reg Allen - Set Designer, Arrigo Breschi - Set Designer, Lee Zavitz - Special Effects, Blake Edwards - Screenwriter, Maurice Richlin - Screenwriter, Don Lusher - Musical Performer, Yves Saint Laurent - Costume/Wardrobe
Intended as the first in a series of films based on Niven's character 'The Phantom', the popularity of Sellers' character, bumbling Inspector Jacques Clouseau led to Clouseau, not the Phantom, headlining the rest of the series. The film also introduced the cartoon character of the same name, in an opening credits sequence animated by DePatie-Freleng Enterprises.
The Pink Panther was shot in Italy, Paris, and Los Angeles, California. It was originally released theatrically by United Artists, and is now available on VHS and DVD from MGM Home Entertainment. The Technirama film was shot in an aspect ratio of 2.20:1 in Technicolor. Promotional taglines for the initial release included "A Madcap Frolic Of Crime and Fun" and "You only live once, so see The Pink Panther twice!" The film is number 62 on Bravo's list of "100 Funniest Movies". The score was listed at #20 on AFI's 100 Years of Film Scores. As the series had not yet taken shape, this is the only Pink Panther movie made by Blake Edwards which does not star Herbert Lom, Burt Kwouk, or Graham Stark.
As a child, Princess Dala receives a gift from her father, the Shah of Lugash: the Pink Panther, the largest diamond in the world. This huge pink gem has an unusual flaw: looking deeply into the stone, one perceives a tiny discoloration resembling a leaping pink panther – hence the name. As the camera moves in, this image comes to life and participates in the credits. When Dala is a young woman, rebels seize power in Lugash and then demand possession of the jewel, but the exiled princess refuses to hand it over.
Dala (Claudia Cardinale) relaxes on holiday at an exclusive skiing resort in Cortina d'Ampezzo, where noted British playboy Sir Charles Lytton (David Niven), who leads a secret life as a jewel thief called "The Phantom", has his eyes on the Pink Panther. His American playboy nephew, George (Robert Wagner), follows his uncle to the resort hoping to steal the jewel and blame it on the Phantom, not realizing that the Phantom is his uncle.
On the Phantom's trail is French police inspector Jacques Clouseau (Peter Sellers) of the Sûreté, whose wife Simone (Capucine) is – unknown to him – the paramour of Charles and helper in the Phantom's crimes. Clouseau tries to stop the theft attempts, but he is so clueless and clumsy that when several attempts are made at a fancy-dress party, he looks everywhere but the right place. Throughout the film, scenes at the skiing resort's hotel show Madame Clouseau dodging her husband while trying both to carry out Sir Charles' plans and to avoid George, who is enamoured of her.
In spite of himself, the buffoonish inspector captures Sir Charles and his accomplices. Conviction looks inevitable until Sir Charles and Simone hatch a plan to frame Clouseau. The defense calls a surprised Clouseau to the stand as their lone witness. The barrister asks a series of questions that suggest Clouseau himself could be the Phantom. The unnerved Clouseau pulls his handkerchief out of his shirt pocket – revealing the jewel planted there by Madame Clouseau.
As Clouseau is being driven away to prison, a regretful Simone expresses fears that he will rot in prison. Sir Charles points out that "it takes years for people to rot; and when the Phantom strikes again, he'll be free as a bird." In the police car, the officers tell Clouseau that as "The Phantom", he is a "national hero" and a sex idol for millions of young women. When they ask him, with some deference, how he committed all those robberies, he smiles a little and says, "Well, you know... it wasn't easy."
The cartoon character of the Pink Panther then closes the film.
Cast
Peter Sellers with Capucine in a publicity photo for The Pink Panther.
Gale Garnett as the voice of Princess Dala (uncredited)
Soundtrack album
The soundtrack album was released on RCA Victor, and consisted of music written by Henry Mancini, performed by his orchestra, and featured in the film.
All songs written by Henry Mancini, except where noted.
