The Pink Panther (1963)
September 8, 2024 3:00 AM - Subscribe
The bumbling Inspector Clouseau travels to Rome to catch a notorious jewel thief known as "The Phantom" before he conducts his most daring heist yet: a princess' priceless diamond with one slight imperfection, known as "The Pink P...
In this first film of the beloved comic series, dashing European thief Sir Charles Lytton (David Niven) plans to steal a diamond, but he's not the only one with his eyes on the famous jewel known as the "Pink Panther." His nephew George (Robert Wagner) also aims to make off with the gem, and to frame Charles for the crime. Blundering French police inspector Jacques Clouseau (Peter Sellers) intercedes, but finds his career -- and his freedom -- jeopardized.
Penelope Gilliatt: Sellers's part is played with a flawless sense of mistiming. Every move the poor man makes seems doomed to end fatuously, like the time when he spins a globe to show the scope of his dragnet and then rashly leans on the whirling surface. He speaks English fluently but wrong.
. . .
I don't know why Capucine should invite such malice in reviews. In this film she shows a lot of elegant and grown-up humour. It was funny idea physically to cast her opposite Peter Sellers; she looks worlds too sophisticated for him, quite apart from the fact that he only reaches up to her kneecaps. The long bedroom scene they have together, with two lovers hiding under the bed or under the bubbles in a bubble bath, is as funy as "Rookery Nook".
Amy Lynn Miller: One of my favorite scenes is in the hotel lounge. The hotel guests are all around a fire pit that is covered with a metal hood. Deep in conversation, Inspector Clouseau places his hand on the hood to lean against it. Of course, he is burning his hand and quickly shoves it into the closest liquid: a stein full of beer that his conversation partner is holding. The response? “It is my beer, old man.” “My hand!” Inspector Clouseau exclaims. Naturally, his hand proceeds to get stuck in the stein—classic physical humor.
The Inspector is never quite aware of his surroundings. In speaking with someone in his office, he raises his hand, pointing his index finger for emphasis. It just so happens that the person he was speaking to was standing right next to him…and his index finger went up the guy’s nose. Without skipping a beat, the Inspector wipes his finger on his pants and keeps talking. Subtle humor like that peppers the movie.
Sometimes it is so subtle you might miss it. The Inspector plays the violin to help his wife sleep. (I use the word “play” loosely here.) Once he accidentally stepped on the violin in the dark, completely destroying it. In a later scene, a hotel worker brings his violin back from being repaired. His response? “Oh my Stradivari? I hope they know how to fix plastic.” That elicted a snort from me. And then a replay. (Did I really hear what I thought I heard?)
Michaela Owens: Jeffries's unnamed entertainer is just one of many delicious characters in The Pink Panther. Niven is his reliably charming self as clever gentleman thief Sir Charles Lytton. Playing Niven's cheeky nephew is a young (and great) Robert Wagner. Of course, the man who many people believe steals the show is Peter Sellers. Sellers is indeed hilarious in his portrayal of the bumbling Clouseau. Surprisingly, his antics don't overshadow the rest of the cast, thanks to the script. Every main character has at least one comedic moment to revel in and they all step up to the challenge.
While the men in the cast are wonderful, I find myself appreciating the women more and more. Claudia Cardinale and Capucine play such fascinating characters. They're highly intelligent, exceptionally fashionable, and they can be quite funny. Cardinale is the princess whose Pink Panther jewel makes her the target of Niven. Her warmth and quiet vivacity makes him begin to regret his plans. Keeping him in check is his partner in crime -- and Clouseau's wife! -- Capucine. I'm kind of sad that we didn't get a follow-up heist film starring Wagner, Capucine, and Niven. How fantastic would that have been? Anyway, when Wagner and Niven wind up in jail at the end, it's the two women who figure out how to save them (and how to frame a clueless Clouseau). They're just extraordinary.
In terms of The Pink Panther series, I must say that I think the first entry is the best. The characters are strong, the action is fast-paced, the gags are short and plentiful -- all of it aligns to create one of the finest comedies you'll ever see.
Trailer
In this first film of the beloved comic series, dashing European thief Sir Charles Lytton (David Niven) plans to steal a diamond, but he's not the only one with his eyes on the famous jewel known as the "Pink Panther." His nephew George (Robert Wagner) also aims to make off with the gem, and to frame Charles for the crime. Blundering French police inspector Jacques Clouseau (Peter Sellers) intercedes, but finds his career -- and his freedom -- jeopardized.
Penelope Gilliatt: Sellers's part is played with a flawless sense of mistiming. Every move the poor man makes seems doomed to end fatuously, like the time when he spins a globe to show the scope of his dragnet and then rashly leans on the whirling surface. He speaks English fluently but wrong.
. . .
I don't know why Capucine should invite such malice in reviews. In this film she shows a lot of elegant and grown-up humour. It was funny idea physically to cast her opposite Peter Sellers; she looks worlds too sophisticated for him, quite apart from the fact that he only reaches up to her kneecaps. The long bedroom scene they have together, with two lovers hiding under the bed or under the bubbles in a bubble bath, is as funy as "Rookery Nook".
Amy Lynn Miller: One of my favorite scenes is in the hotel lounge. The hotel guests are all around a fire pit that is covered with a metal hood. Deep in conversation, Inspector Clouseau places his hand on the hood to lean against it. Of course, he is burning his hand and quickly shoves it into the closest liquid: a stein full of beer that his conversation partner is holding. The response? “It is my beer, old man.” “My hand!” Inspector Clouseau exclaims. Naturally, his hand proceeds to get stuck in the stein—classic physical humor.
The Inspector is never quite aware of his surroundings. In speaking with someone in his office, he raises his hand, pointing his index finger for emphasis. It just so happens that the person he was speaking to was standing right next to him…and his index finger went up the guy’s nose. Without skipping a beat, the Inspector wipes his finger on his pants and keeps talking. Subtle humor like that peppers the movie.
Sometimes it is so subtle you might miss it. The Inspector plays the violin to help his wife sleep. (I use the word “play” loosely here.) Once he accidentally stepped on the violin in the dark, completely destroying it. In a later scene, a hotel worker brings his violin back from being repaired. His response? “Oh my Stradivari? I hope they know how to fix plastic.” That elicted a snort from me. And then a replay. (Did I really hear what I thought I heard?)
Michaela Owens: Jeffries's unnamed entertainer is just one of many delicious characters in The Pink Panther. Niven is his reliably charming self as clever gentleman thief Sir Charles Lytton. Playing Niven's cheeky nephew is a young (and great) Robert Wagner. Of course, the man who many people believe steals the show is Peter Sellers. Sellers is indeed hilarious in his portrayal of the bumbling Clouseau. Surprisingly, his antics don't overshadow the rest of the cast, thanks to the script. Every main character has at least one comedic moment to revel in and they all step up to the challenge.
While the men in the cast are wonderful, I find myself appreciating the women more and more. Claudia Cardinale and Capucine play such fascinating characters. They're highly intelligent, exceptionally fashionable, and they can be quite funny. Cardinale is the princess whose Pink Panther jewel makes her the target of Niven. Her warmth and quiet vivacity makes him begin to regret his plans. Keeping him in check is his partner in crime -- and Clouseau's wife! -- Capucine. I'm kind of sad that we didn't get a follow-up heist film starring Wagner, Capucine, and Niven. How fantastic would that have been? Anyway, when Wagner and Niven wind up in jail at the end, it's the two women who figure out how to save them (and how to frame a clueless Clouseau). They're just extraordinary.
In terms of The Pink Panther series, I must say that I think the first entry is the best. The characters are strong, the action is fast-paced, the gags are short and plentiful -- all of it aligns to create one of the finest comedies you'll ever see.
Trailer
After making my wife watch Dr. Strangelove we went down a Pink Panther rabbit hole and it was absolutely 100% not what I was expecting. I mean, I'm a kid of the 80's, the Pink Panther is, like, an insulation advertising character, right?
posted by Kyol at 7:00 PM on September 8 [1 favorite]
posted by Kyol at 7:00 PM on September 8 [1 favorite]
You're right. My parents tried to have us watch Pink Panther in the 80s when they rented it from the video store. The fact that the Pink Panther cartoon character showed up in the opening credits only heightened the disappointment and eventual quick departure from the family room when we kids discovered that it was not, despite our commercialized belief, an animated movie about the Pink Panther.
I legit have not watched this movie beyond those opening moments because I keep remembering how irritated I was as a kid. It's actually on my eventual watch list someday!
posted by Atreides at 12:30 PM on September 9 [1 favorite]
I legit have not watched this movie beyond those opening moments because I keep remembering how irritated I was as a kid. It's actually on my eventual watch list someday!
posted by Atreides at 12:30 PM on September 9 [1 favorite]
There's a lady heistress in this? Didn't know that, makes me want to give it a shot, even if "sophisticated" 60s humor has not aged very well.
posted by praemunire at 1:31 PM on September 9
posted by praemunire at 1:31 PM on September 9
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David Niven is amazing in this too, he's so fun and suave. I enjoy the chase scene with the old man trying to cross the street. Just so fun all around.
posted by Carillon at 12:31 PM on September 8