The Return of the Pink Panther (1975)

Director:

Blake Edwards

Writers:

Frank Waldman (screenplay) and
Blake Edwards (screenplay)

Release Date:

21 May 1975 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

You may rest assured that there's trouble, because Inspector Clouseau is on the case...That's the trouble.

Plot:

Inspector Clouseau is put on the case when the Pink Panther diamond is stolen, with the Phantom's trademark glove the only clue.

Plot Keywords:

Clouseau | Diamond | Pink | Pink Panther | Panther

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Peter Sellers	...	Insp. Jacques Clouseau
Christopher Plummer	...	Sir Charles Litton
Catherine Schell	...	Lady Claudine Litton
Herbert Lom	...	Chief Insp. Charles Dreyfus
Peter Arne	...	Col. Sharky
Peter Jeffrey	...	Gen. Wadafi
Grégoire Aslan	...	Police Chief Lundallah (as Gregoire Aslan)
David Lodge	...	Mac
Graham Stark	...	Pepi
Eric Pohlmann	...	The Fat Man
André Maranne	...	Sgt. François Chevalier
Burt Kwouk	...	Cato Fong
Victor Spinetti	...	Hotel Concierge
John Bluthal	...	Blind Beggar
Mike Grady	...	Bellboy
Peter Jones	...	Psychiatrist
Herb Tanney	...	Nice Police Chief (as Serge Tanney)
Mollie Maureen	...	Mrs. Vando (as Molly Maureen)
Nadim Sawalha	...	Museum Guide
Andre Charisse	...	TV Newscaster
Michael Nightingale	...	Museum Tourist
Pamela Abbott	...	Museum Tourist
Francis Mortimer	...	Museum Tourist
Yashaw Adem	...	Museum Guide
Milton Reid	...	Japanese Restaurant Owner
Hugo De Vernier	...	Doctor
Claire Davenport	...	Masseuse
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Carol Cleveland	...	Swimming Pool Diver
Jeremy Hawk	...	Jealous escort (scenes deleted)
Tony Adams	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Peter Samuelson	...	Clothing thief (uncredited)

Directed by
Blake Edwards

Writing credits
Frank Waldman		(screenplay) and
Blake Edwards		(screenplay)

Produced by
Tony Adams	....	associate producer
Blake Edwards	....	producer

Original Music by
Henry Mancini

Cinematography by
Geoffrey Unsworth

Film Editing by
Tom Priestley

Casting by
Weston Drury Jr.

Production Design by
Peter Mullins

Makeup Department
Harry Frampton	....	makeup artist
Jeanette Freeman	....	hair stylist (as Jeannette Freeman)

Production Management
Derek Kavanagh	....	production supervisor
Peter Samuelson	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bert Batt	....	assistant director
Guy Sauteret	....	assistant director

Art Department
John Siddall	....	set dresser
Jack Stephens	....	assistant art director
Gari Bacon	....	props (uncredited)
Bill Beavis	....	scenic artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gerry Humphreys	....	dubbing mixer
Jim Roddan	....	dubbing editor
Peter Sutton	....	sound recordist
Doug E. Turner	....	dubbing mixer (as Doug Turner)

Special Effects by
John Gant	....	special effects

Stunts
Dick Crockett	....	stunt supervisor
Joe Dunne	....	stunt supervisor
Jack Cooper	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Frank Batt	....	grip
Peter MacDonald	....	camera operator (as Peter Macdonald)
Cedric James	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Animation Department
Ken Harris	....	animator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Bridget Sellers	....	wardrobe supervisor

Music Department
Henry Mancini	....	conductor
Douglas Gamley	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Billy G. Arter	....	transportation coordinator (uncredited)

Other crew
Kevin O'Driscoll	....	accountant
Beti Parry	....	production assistant
Constance Willis	....	continuity (as Connie Willis)
Ken Harris	....	title designer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Incorporated Television Company (ITC)
• Jewel Productions (present)
• Pimlico Films
• United Artists

Distributors

• United Artists (1975) (USA) (theatrical)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
• United Artists Corporation (1975) (UK) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Film de Mexico
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1977) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Artisan Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• CBS/Fox Video (1985) (Belgium) (video)
• Channel 5 Video Distribution (1986) (UK) (VHS)
• Focus Features (2006) (USA) (all media)
• J2 Communications (USA) (laserdisc)
• Lions Gate Films (2003) (North America) (DVD)
• Live Video (USA) (laserdisc)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1997) (USA) (DVD)
• Top Tape (Brazil) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures (2006) (UK) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Video (2006) (USA) (video)

Other Companies

• Richard Williams Studio  animation and titles

Also Known As:

Blake Edwards' The Return of the Pink Panther (UK) (complete title)
The Trail of the Pink Panther (Australia) (video title)

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:G (Manitoba/Quebec) | Canada:G (Nova Scotia) (original rating) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Canada:PG (Nova Scotia) (re-rating) (2005) | UK:PG (video rating) | UK:U (original rating) | Hungary:14 | Australia:G (DVD rating) | Brazil:10 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Finland:K-12 | Netherlands:AL | Norway:11 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | USA:G

Filming Locations:

Gstaad, Kanton Bern, Switzerland

Company:

Incorporated Television Company (ITC)

Trivia:

This is the first film in which Peter Sellers plays Clouseau with an exaggerated French accent, including running gags involving his mispronunciation of words. In his previous performances, he used a straightforward accent. Clouseau is also portrayed as considerably more inept than he was in his previous appearances.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Clouseau gets the bomb, he tries to get rid of it and we cut to the old woman next door. Her chair lifts into the air before the bomb goes off and breaks down the wall.

Quotes:

Clouseau: [annoyed] Are you blind?
Blind beggar: Yes!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Pink Panther Story (2003) (V)

Soundtrack:

The Greatest Gift

Guaranteed to Tickle You Pink

Although it's already Peter Sellers' third outing in the series, "The Return of the Pink Panther" sets the tone for all of the Pink Panther movies still to come. Fast, furious, wacky, and hilarious.

In fact, this movie is, in many respects, the movie the first should have been. The plot once again revolves around the Pink Panther diamond. The chief suspect is once again Sir Charles "The Phantom" Lytton. And, of course, Peter Sellers is once again on the case as the one-of-a-kind Jacques Clouseau.

Class act David Niven has been replaced by the equally classy Christopher Plummer ("Murder by Decree", "The Sound of Music", "Dragnet"). His portrayal of Sir Charles is more dashing and youthful than Niven's. In this film, his character is also more likable, simply because he's working alongside Clouseau rather than against him.

And Inspector Clouseau, the underdog, is now, finally, the hero. He's been demoted to bumbling Parisian street cop by his slightly crooked boss, Chief Inspector Dreyfus (played hilariously for the second time by Herbert Lom.) Then the president of Lugash specifically requests Clouseau be restated in order to find the Pink Panther diamond, which has been stolen from a museum. The return of the Pink Panther diamond is Clouseau's responsibility.

The film is divided between Clouseau's quest to find Sir Charles, whom he blames for the Panther's disappearance, and Sir Charles' quest to find the Panther and by doing so clear his name. Clouseau's adventure is filled with more slapstick than in either of the previous two films, and good slapstick, at that. Peter Sellers plays Clouseau in the way that only he could, with results that are guaranteed to make any comedy fan laugh. Meanwhile, Sir Charles' side of the story is filled with action and international intrigue, in a plot that's absurd and confusing, but to be expected from a Pink Panther film. Graham Stark, who played Clouseau's partner in "A Shot in the Dark", now appears as Sir Charles' put-upon underworld informant.

All is finally right with the Pink Panther universe. Sir Charles is finally likable. It's okay to empathize towards Clouseau. And there's humor in the romantic cat-and-mouse game between Sir Charles' new bride and Clouseau. Lady Lytton is played by Catherine Schell ("On Her Majesty's Secret Service"), and is, interestingly enough, not the ex-Mrs. Clouseau, one of the earliest cracks in the series' fragile continuity. However, it's amusing to see Lady Lytton take advantage of Clouseau and those around her, whereas in the first movie it just seemed unfair when Clouseau's wife treated him the same way.