The Return of the Pink Panther (1975)

It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

The acting in this movie is really good.

Peter Sellers returns as Inspector Clouseau after an 11 year absence, in this amusing sequel which finds the Pink Panther diamond being stolen again, and Clouseau is convinced that suspected jewel thief the Phantom is behind it, which means Sir Charles Litton(Christopher Plummer taking over from David Niven) is the prime suspect, along with his beautiful wife(played by Catherine Schell, though oddly, despite the end of the original film, doesn't seem to be Clouseau's ex-wife?) Herbert Lom again plays Dreyfeuss, and is portrayed as being on the verge of insanity. Burt Kwouk plays Cato, still trying to combat his employer Clouseau! Funny film has lots of inspired scenes, as Clouseau's disguises start to become elaborate. Leads directly into "...Strikes Again!"

Here is more like it, a true comedy with a screenplay that doesn't look ludicrous like that of A Shot In The Dark, and a plot that is so solid that makes you linger till the end to see what the outcome will be. Written, directed and produced by Blake Edwards this 1975 film in The Pink Panther series is breath taking funny and stands as one I will always remember.Inspector Clouseau fake exaggerated French accent is more pronounced in this movie, The Return of the Pink Panther than the previous and Chief Inspector Charles Dreyfus mishaps were funnier than expected, that i found myself looking forward to his next unfortunate mishap. The chief instrument of his (other than the existence of Clouseasu) was his inability to tell which he was holding a gun or a lighter.The film stars Peter Sellers who reprises his role as Inspector Jacques Clouseau. The Return of the Pink Panther also stars the 84th Academy Award (2012) winner for best supporting actor (who became the oldest actor to win the award at age 82) Christopher Plummer who replaced David Niven as Sir Charles Lytton (the notorious Phantom).In this flick the Pink Panther diamond is now back in focus as it gets stolen again, and the man who was part responsible for finding it when it got stolen the first time, was called back to help recover the stolen diamond.The movie plot is funny to the core, with screenplays that will make you hold your ribs from bursting free. The late Blake Edwards (died in 2010) is known primarily for his comedies and this movie shows us why. The plot began in the fictional country of Lugash, a mysterious thief breaks into the National Museum, avoiding all the security pitfalls that were set in place for any prospective thief and steals the Pink Panther diamond. The mysterious thief left behind a calling card, which was a white monogrammed glove with a gold-tinted "P" on it.Feeling outwitted by the thief who was able to get pass the elaborated security system, put in place to secure the diamond, the Shah of Lugash requests the assistance of Inspector Clouseau (Peter Sellers) to help them as they try to recover their national treasure.Clouseau on the other hand had been demoted to a beat cop, to patrol the streets. This was done by his boss, Chief Inspector Charles Dreyfus (Herbert Lom), who despises Clouseau with a passion and dreams daily of killing him.This movie I do recommend to comedy lovers and I will proudly say this movie is better than the remake done by Steve Martin and Jean Reno in both 2006 and 2008.www.lagsreviews.com

Peter Sellers and Blake Edwards' careers had stalled when the idea to do a new 'Pink Panther' was mooted. The last 'Clouseau' movie had been the ill-fated Alan Arkin version from 1968. It was not any old Clouseau audiences wanted, but Sellers. Both men agreed to put aside their creative differences and restore the original.'Return' begins in Lugash where the fabulous 'Pink Panther' diamond is stolen once more. The only clue is a white glove found at the scene of the crime, embroidered with the letter 'P'. The authorities call on the man who recovered it last time - Clouseau. The passing years have not been kind to our hero - he is pounding the beat as a gendarme. During an argument with a street musician ( John Bluthal ), Clouseau fails to notice a bank robbery is in progress behind his back. Worse, he helps the robbers get away.Chief Comissioner Dreyfus ( Herbert Lom ) is only too happy for Clouseau to go back to Lugash. It would appear that Sir Charles Lytton ( Christopher Plummer ) is up to his old tricks again. Now retired from crime and living in the South of France with his wife Claudine ( Catherine Schell ), he is concerned that someone is imitating him and decides to track down the real culprit...Forget the plot. It is nothing more than an excuse on which to peg the gags, and many are first rate. There are more laughs to be found here than in the original 'Pink Panther' ( which had too much of David Niven for my liking ) and the Arkin 'Clouseau'. I think I'm right in saying this film was the beginning of Clouseau's habit of mangling the French language. Not only do English people not understand him, but other French people do not either. When he asks Victor Spinetti's hotel clerk for a room, the man thinks he is asking for a 'rheum'.In addition to Sellers returning, we also get back Herbert Lom as the harassed 'Dreyfus', whose hatred of the detective is so great he keeps trying to kill him, and Burt Kwouk as 'Cato', the Chinese manservant who is under orders to attack his boss every chance he gets. 'Return' has one of the best Clouseau vs.Cato scenes, ending with the former trying to do a flying kung-fu leap and crashing through a door into his kitchen. Christopher Plummer replaces Niven as 'Sir Charles Lytton'. When we last saw him, he was with Clouseau's wife ( Capucine ). Catherine Schell's character is not the same woman. It would not be until 1981's 'Trail Of The Pink Panther' that the former 'Mrs.Clouseau' would be seen again. Graham Stark is back also, but as seedy crook 'Pepe', who keeps getting his fingers crushed.'Return' was a big success, paving the way for further sequels. It is not included on the box set though, due to it having been made by a different company. It has since been released separately.Funniest moment? For me its the bit where Clouseau enters the hotel, and a man requests politely he hand over his hat, coat and gloves. Thinking him to be a member of staff, the Inspector does this, and then watches dumbfounded as the man casually walks out of the foyer, gets into a car, waves, and drives off!

This film compares favorably to SO much that hits the screen nowadays that it's well worth seeing; also it's a key part of the rest of the Pink Panther 'series' although not included in the box sets so far. We get the classic "minkey" sequence and meet Cato, for the first time, in one of the series' great slapstick routines. However the film has a sort of split personality and the current DVD transfer is too grainy for a large-screen TV IMHO. So, rent it, but I'd wait for something better if you're looking to collect.I wouldn't exactly say this movie sets the tone for the rest of the series. The original starred David Niven, with an all-star supporting cast including Peter Sellers as Inspector Clouseau. Then Clouseau became the star of "A Shot in the Dark," which didn't involve either the Pink Panther gem nor jewel thief Sir Charles Lytton. This film has them all, so tries to 'balance' the action between Clouseau and Sir Charles. It doesn't work, and probably as a result there were no more such attempts: the series becomes all about Clouseau, and that's for the best. I like Christopher Plummer, but the movie is too 'heavy' when he's on screen - probably the writer's fault. As for Catherine Schell, I'd look at her in anything (or nothing at all) and IMHO her acting compares favorably to at least Dyan Cannon's and Elke Sommers'. Herbert Lom, Burt Kwouk, and Andre Maranne are of course a terrific comedic supporting cast, but Peter Arne has to straddle the comedic and serious aspects of the film, which doesn't really work out.The story shifts back and forth between the perspectives of Sir Charles and Clouseau. The Pink Panther gem, nationalized by the government of Lugash after the events of the original film, has been displayed in the national museum until stolen in a great caper sequence. Against the wishes of his frustrated boss ("how can an idiot be a police officer"), Clouseau, who (sort-of) recovered the gem previously, is recalled from beat duty ("There was some question whether it was the man or his minkey who was breaking ze law") and put on the case at the request of Lugash police chief Colonel Sharky. Clouseau naturally suspects Sir Charles, particularly since his trademark, a glove embroidered with the letter "P," was left at the scene. Sir Charles, however, is surprised; he has been living in retirement and knows nothing about the matter until it is brought to his attention by his mischievous wife Claudine. Knowing he will be suspected, Litton sets off for Lugash to find the real criminal while Clouseau sets off for Nice to investigate Sir Charles' home - and wife. Clues lead both Clouseau ("I am NOT Guy Gadbois") and Sir Charles to a Swiss hotel (and the parrot sequence.) All is revealed in the final confrontation where more than one policeman proves to have been playing a double game.Someone here said it hasn't aged well but I'd say almost the opposite - the first time you see it you'll probably think it hilarious - but it may pall the second time around.