Disc One: The Pink Panther
Even before the film starts,
this disc makes me happy, with that wonderful theme by Henry Mancini playing
over the menu. In fact, two of this series’ most important and memorable elements
have little to do with the films’ plots: the music and the opening animated
sequences. In this first film, the delightful animated sequence takes place all
within the diamond after which the movie is named. The film is about a diamond
thief nicknamed the Phantom who authorities are certain will attempt to steal
the Pink Panther. The authorities, however, are represented by one Jack
Clouseau (Peter Sellers), who might be able to piece things together if only he
could figure out how his wife could afford a mink coat from her housekeeping
savings. But Clouseau is only one of several interesting characters we’re
introduced to in the lengthy, playful early sequences. The film also stars
David Niven, Robert Wagner, Capucine and Claudia Cardinale. Yes, some scenes go
on way too long (particularly the seduction scene with Charles and the
Princess), but the movie holds up and features some incredibly funny sequences.
“Take your filthy hands off my asp.”
Disc One Special Features
The Pink Panther Story is a half-hour featurette from 2003, and it
includes an interview with Blake Edwards. Edwards talks about growing up in the
business, about the cast (including some big changes, with two leads leaving
during production), about the way he likes to frame a shot, and about the
score. And of course there is plenty
about Peter Sellers, and about his talent for voices. There are also interviews
with Walter Mirisch, editor Ralph E. Winters, stunt coordinator Joe Dunne (who
often doubled Sellers) and script supervisor Betty Abbott Griffin.
Behind The Feline: The Cartoon Phenomenon is about the animated
opening sequence, as well as the series of theatrical animated shorts that came
about as a result of its popularity. This is also from 2003, and is
approximately eleven minutes. A
Conversation With Robert Wagner: Coolest Cat In Cortina is an interview
with Robert Wagner, in which he talks about getting cast in the film, about his
fellow cast members, and about getting hurt on the film, blinded by detergent
used in the bathtub scene. This is approximately eleven minutes. An Italian Indian: The Pink Panther Princess,
a new feature, is an interview with Claudia Cardinale, in which she talks about
Blake Edwards and about the film. She provides some interesting anecdotes,
particularly the one about the magic cigarette. This, too, is approximately
eleven minutes.
Diamonds: Beyond The Sparkle is a short featurette about diamonds,
about the ways they are evaluated, and includes a bit on the history of
diamonds. It’s approximately seven minutes. The
Tip Toe Life Of A Cat Burglar is a conversation with former jewel thief
Bill Mason, in which he tells anecdotes about specific jobs. The special
features also include the film’s trailer, a still gallery and a poster gallery.
There is also a commentary track by director Blake Edwards. When Peter Sellers
first appears on screen, Blake Edwards calls him “the enigma of my life.”
Disc Two: A Shot In The Dark
Not originally envisioned as a
Pink Panther movie, A Shot In The Dark
nevertheless introduces some of the important recurring characters of the
series, including Chief Inspector Charles Dreyfus (Herbert Lom) and Kato (Burt
Kwouk) (the name would be spelled as Cato in the later films). It also stars Elke Sommer as Maria Gambrelli, George Sanders as
Benjamin Ballon, and Tracy Reed as Dominique Ballon. The entire opening
sequence is wonderful, with different characters moving up and down various
staircases, ending with gunshots. That leads to the animated title
sequence (this time without the Pink Panther, of course). While this movie
might not be as fun a ride as the first one (partly because it lacks the great
cast of the original film), it features some of the best lines of the series. “I believe everything, and I believe nothing.
I suspect everyone and I suspect no one. I gather the facts, examine the clues,
and before you know it, the case is solved.” And of course this is the
first of the films to include the phrase “a
bump upon the head.” It’s also the first of the movies in which Clouseau
assumes disguises.
Disc Two Special Features
Back To The Start: Origin Of The Pink Panther is an interview with
executive producer Walter Mirisch. He talks about working with Blake Edwards,
and tells the stories behind both the first film and this one, as well as about
meeting Peter Sellers, and about the way Sellers worked. This is a new feature,
and is approximately twenty-three minutes. There is also a segment of Blake
Edwards appearing on The Dick Cavett Show,
where he shows outtakes from A Shot In
The Dark.
The special features also
include five trailers, including two that are for a double feature of The Pink Panther and A Shot In The Dark. There are also three
photo galleries, as well as an audio commentary track by Jason Simos of the
Peter Sellers Appreciation Society.
Disc Three: The Return Of The Pink Panther
The Return Of The Pink Panther came out more than a decade after
the first two, and wastes no time in getting back to the Pink Panther diamond.
In the opening scene, tourists are shown the famous diamond, and one woman asks
if the museum worries that someone might steal it. She also asks why it’s
called the Pink Panther, for those who might have forgotten the first film
during the intervening years, and that leads to the delightful opening credit
sequence, with the animated pink panther and that great theme. And then of
course someone does steal the diamond, and a monogrammed glove is left in its
place, leading Clouseau to assume that it’s the work of Sir Charles, the
Phantom (in this film played by Christopher Plummer rather than David Niven).
Clouseau has been demoted and then suspended, but is re-instated for this case.
He employs a number of disguises, and looks especially funny at the club. There
are some wonderful details. For example, when Clouseau tosses the bomb toward
his neighbor’s apartment, watch the guy on the television. He actually reacts
to the explosion too, which is hilarious. And there is a seriously funny
improvement on the “follow that car” gag. There is also some total silliness,
like the bit with the light bulb. And Chief Inspector Dreyfus goes even more
mad. The cartoon panther makes another appearance at the end.
Disc Three Special Features
A Bit Of Passion And A Lot Of Laughs is an interview with actor
Catherine Schell, in which she talks about getting the job and offers a
humorous anecdote about her contract. She also talks about her friendship with
Peter Sellers. This new feature is approximately twenty-two minutes. There is
also an interview with production designer Peter Mullins. This movie was the
first Pink Panther he worked on, and
his favorite, though he talks about moments from the productions of other Pink Panther films as well. This new
feature is approximately twenty-eight minutes.
The Return Of Laughter is a promotional featurette. Interestingly,
the narrator says, “Inspector Clouseau is
on the trail of the Pink Panther,” inadvertently mentioning the title of a
future film in the series. This includes some behind-the-scenes footage, and is
approximately eight and a half minutes. In addition, the special features
include three trailers (one of which shows outtakes from the film), television
spots, radio spots, and three photo galleries. There is also an audio
commentary track by Jason Simos of the Peter Sellers Appreciation Society.
Disc 4: The Pink Panther Strikes Again
The Pink Panther Strikes Again is the one I remember watching the
most while growing up. It begins with former chief inspector Dreyfus doing
better at the mental hospital where he has been staying. That is, until
Clouseau shows up to speak on his behalf, at which point Dreyfus goes further
into madness. But somehow he manages to escape, and his goal – now more than
ever – is to kill Clouseau, who is now Chief Inspector. To that end, he becomes
a criminal mastermind, kidnaping a professor and his daughter and forcing the
professor to help him build a doomsday device to conquer the world (“Have a sweet”). Yes, this is all in
order to get Clouseau. Ah, Peter Sellers and doomsday devices! What does any of
this have to do with the Pink Panther diamond? Absolutely nothing. But no
matter. It’s fun. This is an incredibly goofy and delightful film, featuring
some of my favorite lines “This is Chief
Inspector Clouseau’s residence. This is Chief Inspector Clouseau speaking on
the phone.” And there is a reference to the so-called “Heidi Bowl,” when
President Ford says, “Call the FBI, the
CIA and the Pentagon; find out who won the game.” Herbert Lom is wonderful
in this film. And Lesley-Anne Down is stunning in her full-length fur coat. “There is a beautiful woman in my bed and a
dead man in my bath.” Omar Sharif appears as an assassin (though is
uncredited), and Julie Andrews can be heard singing. This is also the movie in
which Clouseau puts on his hunchback disguise, complete with inflatable hump.
Disc Four Special Features
Panther Musings: A Life in Films is a new interview with
Lesley-Anne Down, in which she talks about getting her start as a child, and
about her career goals, and how she doesn’t work anymore. Of course she also
talks about her work on The Pink Panther
Strikes Again, including a funny anecdote about getting the role. This is
approximately twenty-two minutes. A Cut
Above: Editing The Pink Panther Films is a new interview with editor Alan
Jones. He gives us his personal feelings about the series, and talks about how
Blake Edwards was a big fan of Enter The
Dragon, and how that led to the fights between Clouseau and Cato. There is
also a bit of behind-the-scenes footage in this featurette. This is
approximately twenty-five minutes.
Clouseau: The Greatest Fumbler In The World is a promotional
featurette including interviews with Blake Edwards and Peter Sellers, as well
as behind-the-scenes footage. It is approximately seven minutes. The special
features also include four trailers, five television spots, four radio spots,
and three photo galleries. There is also an audio commentary track by Jason
Simos of the Peter Sellers Appreciation Society.
Disc Five: Revenge Of The Pink Panther
In Revenge Of The Pink Panther, a criminal organization calling itself
the French Connection plans to show its strength by eliminating Clouseau. The theme during the opening credits sequence has an
updated, late 1970s sound, which is kind of weird, but fun. Then, while
Clouseau is purchasing new disguises, he is handed a bomb. “Special delivery: a bomb. Were you expecting
one?” He must avoid getting killed by hired assassins, as well as avoid
attacks by his faithful servant Cato. When it seems that Clouseau has been
killed, Dreyfus makes a sudden and complete recovery (though wasn’t he killed
in the previous film?), and is reinstated in his previous position (even though
he destroyed a building and threatened the entire world in the previous movie).
Clouseau lets the world think he’s dead, so that he can investigate his own
murder. That leads to plenty of disguises and wonderful lines like, “I’m working under the covers, you know.”
I love what Cato does with the place in Clouseau’s absence, and I am
particularly fond of Tanya the Lotus-Eater and her furry bed. (But what
happened to the Russian chick from the last movie?) There are some goofy gags,
like his special car which lasts half a block. And there is a brief appearance
by Andrew Sachs as a hospital inmate (you probably know him as Manuel from Fawlty Towers). As with the previous
film, this one has nothing to do with the Pink Panther diamond.
Disc Five Special Features
This disc includes two
trailers, five television spots and five radio spots. There are also three
separate photo galleries, including photos from Alan Jones’ personal
collection. And there is an audio commentary track by film historian William
Patrick Maynard.
Disc Six: Trail Of The Pink Panther
Trail Of The Pink Panther was made after Peter Sellers’ death, but
features footage of him cut from some of the earlier films (and some footage
straight from those films). It’s the only Pink
Panther movie I saw in the theatre upon its initial release (I was ten
years old), so it does have some nostalgia value. But it’s a largely pointless and
unnecessary film. It opens with another theft of the Pink Panther diamond, this
robbery happening much more quickly and easily than that at the beginning of Return Of The Pink Panther. The opening
titles sequence has a Pac-Man theme for a while, clearly a product of its time.
The film stars David Niven, Herbert Lom, Richard Mulligan (as Clouseau’s
father), Burt Kwouk and Capucine. It also stars Joanna Lumley as a television
reporter who is doing a story on Clouseau after his plane goes missing and he
is presumed dead (a decade later, we’d all fall in love with Joanna Lumley as
Patsy Stone in Absolutely Fabulous). Star Trek fans will recognize Denise
Crosby, and Star Wars fans will enjoy
a performance by William Hootkins as a taxi driver. The Pink Panther diamond is
not recovered, or even mentioned much. By the way, the film is dedicated “To Peter… The one and only Inspector
Clouseau.”
Disc Six Special Features
This disc includes two trailers
and three photo galleries. There is also a commentary track by film historian
William Patrick Maynard.
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