Blake Edward’s The Pink Panther (1963) is perhaps the most delightfully obtuse sleuth/comedy ever conceived for the movies. Certainly, it is one of the most visually elegant. The film not only provides comedian Peter Sellers with one of his most enduring and iconic performances – that of French Inspector Jacques Clouseau – it also launched a cartoon phenomenon franchise for the effeminate feline featured in the film’s main title sequence.True, the screenplay by Maurice Richlin and Edwards is a bit episodic, but its juxtaposition of three separate narratives gradually melds into one seamless and very hilarious caper. It is pointless to wallow in a critique of specific errors in narrative construction. For example, there really is no reason why Simone Clouseau (Capucine) ought to have married a police inspector when her heart is obviously drawn to the devices and seductions of Sir Charles Lytton (David Niven). The point is that the narrative is more than adequate to sustain all of the claptrap and calamity brought on by a frantic race to possess the most fabulous diamond in the world.
The film opens in an undisclosed province in the Far East where the reigning monarch bestows the fabulous ‘pink panther’ gem to his daughter, Princess Dala (Claudia Cardinale). After a cartoon main title sequence that introduces the panther, as well as Henry Mancini’s instantly recognizable theme music, the narrative fast tracks some twenty years into the future.
A mysterious phantom cat burglar makes off with some priceless jewels in Rome. In Hollywood, con artist George Lytton (Robert Wagner)fakes his own college graduation photo to present to the uncle who has paid for his formal education – such as it is or, in fact, isn’t.
The plot thickens as the action migrates to Cortina, where George’s uncle, Sir Charles is keeping tabs on Princess Dala. Next, we’re off to France, where a mysterious woman is seen fleeing the police after exchanging a package with her contact on the banks of the Seine. The woman, who manages a stunning escape by performing a quick change in an elevator, is none other than Simone Clouseau – Jacques’ wife!
Jacques bumbling ineptitude in practically all things makes him a figure of fun, though his slightly savvier cohort, Tucker (Colin Gordon) is particularly faithful as a sidekick. Unable to recognize that his wife is an accomplice in the latest series of jewel robberies, Jacques focuses his attentions on Sir Charles – never realizing how close to the truth he is. Meanwhile, Princess Dala attends several fashionable parties given in her honor by nattering socialite Angela Dunning (Brenda De Banzie), while all the while playing a cagy romantic game of cat and mouse with the very flirtatious Sir Charles.
What is perhaps most intriguing about the narrative is how many loose ends and secondary characters there are that don’t amount to much or seem to matter. Angela Dunning is a dead end character, as is her nameless Greek cousin played by Fran Jeffries – who is given a plum musical highlight; Mancini’s Meglior Stasera to sultrily slink through as all the principles look on.
In suspending the plot for this musical interlude director Edwards respects his audience just enough to forget them; a directorial move that requires fortitude, self-confidence and plain old guts to masterfully pull off. A resounding success upon its initial release, The Pink Panther spawned a film franchise that arguably, was not quite up to snuff. Nowhere else in the series, except perhaps A Shot In The Dark (1964), do all of these elements - zany characters, cornball sleuthing, clever innuendo and unabashedly screwball comedy - unify to produce such an inspired featherweight, feel good entertainment.
MGM/Fox's The Pink Panther on Blu-Ray easily bests its SE DVD incarnation. The image is undoubtedly crisper and tighter – given Blu-Ray’s superior bit rate. But colour fidelity doesn't quite take that quantum leap into the future. Yes, colours are brighter and more refined on the Blu-ray than on the DVD. But flesh tones seems just as pale. Fine details improve as does contrast and grain looks more film like than before. Age related artefacts aren't an issue either. Overall, the image is smooth and satisfying.
The DTS remix of original mono exhibits obvious shortcomings. Although Henry Mancini’s Pink Panther theme gets the full stereo treatment, much of the rest of the music, effects and dialogue are bound by rather limited source material – the biggest regret being Meglior Stasera sung by Fran Jeffries; a track that apparently does not survive in any sort of pristine recording - either stereo or mono. It is interesting to note that Jeffries unique rendering of the song also does not appear on the 2002 CD release of The Ultimate Pink Panther compilation that features the rest of Henry Mancini’s musical cues from the entire series remastered in true stereo.
Extras are all direct imports from the SE DVD and include an audio commentary from Blake Edwards and three featurettes: The Pink Panther Story, The Coolest Cat In Cortina, and The Tip-Toe Life Of A Cat Burglar.
FILM RATING (out of 5 - 5 being the best)
4.5
VIDEO/AUDIO
3.5
EXTRAS
3
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