Pink Pistons (1966)

Fresh and Exciting

Excellent but underrated film

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

The Pink Panther buys a puny little car, spray-paints it pink and goes for a joy ride. However, the car seemingly has a mind of its own and can kick and race like the speed of light as it pleases. As a result, while on the road, the car gets angry with the other motorists passing him and leaving a trail of dark exhaust, and tries to get even with them, including a drag racing granny! Pretty funny stuff here, and the Pink Panther surely didn't really get his moneys worth in this car. Pretty entertaining from start to finish, and you'll be left eager to know how the panther gets out of this predicament.Grade B+

Just watched this vintage Pink Panther cartoon on YouTube as linked from the Saturday Morning Blog. In this one, the lead character goes to a used car lot. The first car he looks at, he checks the engine and suddenly it collapses! The next one, he checks its gadgets-of which one of them raises the seat the Panther sits on up high-and it seems to be a good fit for him so he buys it. It turns up the car has a mind of its own, however, as it coughs when his owner spray paints it pink or later on when it gets challenged to a drag race by an antique car granny...Directed by Friz Freleng protégé Hawley Pratt, this cartoon is quite inventively funny almost all the way through. It's just the ending that's a little predictable. Still, Pink Pistons is certainly worth a look.

Our pink hero is searching for used cars in a lot when he discovers a James Bond-type Aston Martin vehicle with all the gadgets. This little sports car intrigues and impresses him, so he buys it.As in other Pink Panther cartoons, an inanimate object turns to be human-like, so when our guy brings his new car back home and begins to spray paint the front of it pink, the car balks! It wants no part of this spray-paint job!The car - not the Panther - winds up in a drag race against an old lady, who turns out to be "Granny Flash: senior citizens drag champion."This was hilarious, thanks to Granny, and I hated to see it end so abruptly. They could have continued this for another full cartoon with the just race between the two cars.

The Pink Panther is nosing around a used-car lot and is contemplating buying a small bug car that looks like it would fit him perfectly. Only it's the wrong color. So he happily pays good money for it and takes it home to spray-paint. Once out on the streets with his new pink bug the car starts to give him hassle and is finally pushed over the edge when Pinky drag races an old granny.I'm not that impressed with this cartoon. Nothing much really happens and it's not really that hilarious despite few funny moments. It's mostly a one joke affair and doesn't really get good mileage out of it. Pun intended.