The Pink Panther (1964)

This is the first time I've watched the original "Pink Panther" and I'm sad to say that I feel letdown. The film is simply not that funny. I'd say it's mildly amusing a best. I have nothing against the performances because they are alright. The real issue is that the whole thing ends up being dull and uninteresting. We spend so much time with weird seduction scenes, song numbers and people talking about convoluted plots. We get no real wit or fun slapstick. It could in the very least have been interesting or engaging when it comes to the criminal's plan. But, it's not. It's so dull I could barely follow it. The film picks up and begins to get better as it nears the third act. That's when Inspector Clouseau finally starts investigating. It's OK, because you want him to succeed figuring out the case. He's completely clueless and that's the joke. But his character is also very like-able because he has good intentions. The third act is sadly not enough to make up for the drawn out unfunny sequences you have to get through in the first two acts.I enjoy the musical score and the set pieces. But, why do we have to spend so much time in the bedroom sets? None of it was funny or clever. I'll be honest. I didn't laugh once during the entire movie. And the only thing I wanted was a humorous crime caper, but instead I got David Niven socializing on vacation. It's only worth checking out if you are curious about how this series began and evolved over time. They definitely struggled when deciding what type of movie they wanted to make. From what I hear, the series really found itself in the second film. I am looking forward to seeing that one. I can just never see myself watching the original ever again. And if I had to, I'd only watch Peter Sellers' scenes. It's OK at best, but not funny. I wanted to like it.

THE PINK PANTHER is a crime comedy, which is very entertaining, despite an average story and unconvincing plots.As a child in Lugash, Princess Dala receives a gift from her father, the Maharajah: 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 panther. 20 years later, Dala lives in exile in the circles of high society. A precious diamond is still in her ownership. She goes on holiday at an exclusive ski resort in Cortina d'Ampezzo. A charming and distrustful English playboy tries to get close to the princess. There is also his nephew. Both men lead secret lives. Soon, French police detective, Inspector Jacques Clouseau with his unfaithful wife comes to a snowy trail. That „Pink Panther" has a strange power ...This film promises great entertainment at its beginning, but later, almost everything becomes part of a forced humor. Some scenes are really funny, but that humor is mostly annoying. Some sequences are too predictable. The methods of individual protagonists are absurd. However, this should be a hilarious attack of an inadequate humor. Even the scenery could be better.Peter Sellers as Inspector Jacques Clouseau is a tragically clumsy. He is aware of his inability at times, but still trying to be cunning and diligent detective. He is infatuated with a mysterious jewel thief, though, his weakest point is his wife. Mr. Sellers was offered a good performance.David Niven as Sir Charles Lytton is a mysterious thief and romantic clumsy at the same time. It seems that Mr. Niven is a bit tired for this role. Capucine (Simone Clouseau) and Claudia Cardinale (Princess Dala) are beautiful, but they are not focused enough. Their roles have become meaningless in the end. Yet, Mr. and Mrs. Clouseau have a few good sequences together. Robert Wagner (George Lytton) as a hot blood that will agitate passions is a redundant character.This is an arrogant farce, which is very watchable, despite so many obvious flaws.

Blake Edwards' THE PINK PANTHER, which launches Peter Sellers' beloved character Inspector Jacques Clouseau onto the celluloid, is originally deemed a star vehicle for David Niven's Sir Charles Lytton, whose secret identity is a roué jewelry thief, aka, "The Phantom". Mr. Niven oozes an innate luster of urbanity tinged with bashfulness and innocuousness which is disarming and photogenic, women shall be enamored with him, and men would love to be him because his philandering mischief will hurt no one. Indeed, the script insouciantly glosses over its criminal technicalities in favoring of a goofy comedy upstaged by Mr. Sellers' comic tics, Inspector Clouseau is a bungling caricature, unwittingly two-timed by his wife Simone (Capucine), and conscientious to catch The Phantom before he lay claims to the titular diamond in possession of an Indian princess Dala (Cardinale, whisked to Hollywood in a race-insensitive role trading on her gorgeousness and she is quite a delight in capturing a whiff of tipsy feline bewitchment). Dawdling from a picturesque ski resort in Cortina d'Ampezzo to Princess Dala's imperial villa in Rome, where a masquerade is followed by a pyrotechnic commotion, the film is conspicuously light in its action (the only set piece is a midnight four-vehicle caper witnessed by an aloof old man in the square), but predominantly elicits laughter from its cartoony context, the most delectable one actually takes place in a bedroom which involves Simone painstakingly trying to hide two men from her husband, who feels frisky to assume their nightly amusement. Peter Sellers makes great play of Jacques' flat-footedness and unassuming persona to a sparking extent, its drollness would be further and maximally exploited in another Edward-Sellers comedy THE PARTY (1968), the mismatch of his unyielding physicality and dead-pan expression is a winning combo. A silk-stocking Capucine also relishes in her duplicitous flip-flopping with mild exasperation mingled with simmering gaiety, but Robert Wagner's George, the prodigal nephew of Charles, comes across as a drag vaunting his shallow good-looking and brazen chivalry. Also, singer Fran Jeffries contributes a swooning MEGLIO STASERA (IT HAD BETTER BE TONIGHT) which is forever inscribed in one's cortex along with its ear-worm theme ditty, both penned by Henry Mancini.In toto, it is a comforting experience to see Blake Edawrds' THE PINK PATHER still holds its allure amazingly with its exquisite patina of sophistication and humor, unadulterated by vulgarity and snobbery - the pathology prevalent in modern-day studio comedy wheeled out from Hollywood, a blessing from the past.

This movie is a lot of fun and I enjoy it every time I watch it.The bumbling character of Jacques Clouseau is played so well by Peter Sellers (I cannot image anyone else pulling this off so well!?!?).David Niven is as refined and classy as he always is. Capucine and Claudia Cardinale are as beautiful as ever. Fran Jeffries is beautiful and sexy and sings and dances in an unforgettable scene.Then, of course, there's the master writer, producer, director, and, everything else...the late-great Blake Edwards.To me, these "Pink Panther" movies are 'comedy' versions of the "James Bond" films...exciting, fun, very enjoyable, suspenseful, beautiful locations, etc., but, they're hilarious!Peter Sellers is a comedic icon ("Dr. Strangelove;" "What's New, Pussycat;" etc.). "A Shot In The Dark" is classic, too, and, co-written by, of all people, William Peter Blatty ("The Exorcist").I really love these "Pink Panther" movies, and, if you enjoy crazy, clumsy comedy, you will, too. :)