THE PINK PANTHER is the first in the long-running series of comedies starring the hapless Inspector Clouseau, as played by Peter Sellers in his most famous role. The surprise here is that Clouseau is merely a supporting character while the typically suave David Niven plays the lead character. The hunt is on for a jewel thief, but along the way the emphasis is very much on flirtation, Bond-style romancing of the ladies, and some slapstick humour. I actually found this film far less funny than I was expecting, despite the strong production values and Niven's winning performance. Sellers is, as ever, something of an acquired taste, best taken in small doses.

I hadn't seen any of the other Pink Panther movies before this one. My understanding was that they were goofy slapstick comedies staring Peter Sellers, who I knew from Dr Strangelove, which is one of my all time favorite movies. However, this movie was more of a romantic comedy with some slapstick and situational gags thrown in. Most of the jokes didn't really land well for me. I felt like I had seen these jokes done much better many times before in movies that have come out since The Pink Panther. Probably the only two gags I got a kick out of were the men hiding in the room and the gorilla mirror. However, like I said before, I've seen these jokes done more effectively in other movies. Apart from the comedic aspects of the movie, I didn't really find the story, characters or dialogue all that compelling or interesting. Combine that with a lack of many laugh out loud moments and I would have to say I found this movie disappointing. On the other hand, the biggest positive to come from this movie would have to be the iconic theme song. Anyway, I wouldn't say that this is a bad movie, it just isn't that good, in my opinion. 5/10Recommended for those that enjoy cartoon intros, clumsy french policemen, suave womanizing cat burglars, manipulative female seductresses, breaking things, spilling things, tripping over things, falling off of things, unreliable door handles, high speed costumed pursuits......but that's just like, my opinion, man# Of Times Watched: Once

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.

As a child, Princess Dala was given the Pink Panther diamond (named for a flaw in the stone) from her father, the Shah of Lugash. In Rome, jewel thief The Phantom makes a big score. In Paris, Simone (Capucine) tries to fence the jewels and is almost caught. Bumbling French police inspector Jacques Clouseau (Peter Sellers) is desperate to catch The Phantom but he doesn't know his wife Simone is involved. In Cortina D'Ampezzo, Princess Dala (Claudia Cardinale) is vacationing. Sir Charles Lytton (David Niven) is also there who is secretly The Phantom. His American playboy nephew George Lytton (Robert Wagner) is in debt to thugs, coning his way through life, and also plans to steal the jewel. Clouseau arrives with his wife.Clouseau is the break out character. Sellers steals the movie from Niven. The comedy works when Sellers is on the screen but the movie is flat without him. Simone is also not a particularly good comedic partner for him. She's more of a wet blanket. The audience has to wait for the second movie 'A Shot in the Dark' before Clouseau becomes the lead, and we get Dreyfus and Kato. At least, this first one introduces Clouseau to the world.