Who else enjoys the Pink Panther film series?

[Aldo]

Ever since I was a child I've enjoyed these films, my parents introduced me to them and over the years I saw most of the ones starring Peter Sellers. The only one with him (kind of) I didn't see was "Trail of the Pink Panther." The idea of watching a film comprised of outtakes and deleted scenes that had a story crafted around it didn't really appeal to me. Even now I'm still not sold on the idea, even though I've always been a completest when it comes to these kind of things.

The other film I've never seen, was 'Inspector Clouseau' starring Alan Arkin, when Peter Sellers was unavailable. Actually up until recently I didn't even realized it was produced by the same guy who did the others, even though it's a whole new team doing the movie, I'm kind of interested in it, especially since the trailer looks interesting.

I haven't seen them in a while, but I suppose if I would have to peg down a favorite, I really enjoyed 'The Pink Panther Strikes Again.' It was the first one I saw on my own after being introduced to the films and I think it has some great site gags, even if the wordplay is toned down.

I never saw the Steve Martin films, in the previews I just never got the impression he was Clouseau, more that he was doing a Peter Sellers impression.

 

[scotpens]

I like the first three Inspector Clouseau films -- the original Pink Panther (1963), A Shot in the Dark (1964), and Return of the Pink Panther (1975). After that, they just got sillier and more dependent on broad slapstick comedy.

(It's gotten to the point where some people think the Clouseau character is the Pink Panther! Call it the Frankenstein Syndrome.)

 

[Aldo]

I saw most of the later Panther films before the first, so I was a bit surprised to see it was actually a vehicle for David Niven. With Sellers playing a costarring role. I should watch it again, but when I first saw it I had a hard time getting through it, except for the end where it got pretty funny. You're right that the later ones were really silly and were more slapstick than the earlier ones, I suppose that's what audiences were responding to at the time so Edward's played that aspect up in the later entries.

 

[Tim Walker]

A very enjoyable series!

 

[Admiral2]

A very enjoyable series!

Quite so!

 

[CorporalCaptain]

The first four Edwards films with Sellers are nothing short of brilliant. Even on rewatch there's a danger of me laughing uncontrollably to the point of self-injury, and that's no joke. I laughed for 20 minutes straight the last time I sat down to watch Return, and I had to just shut it off. That was well over 20 years ago. Edwards and Sellers were both deadpan geniuses.

I didn't like the fifth Edwards film, and stopped watching his series at that point. Maybe I'd think it's a good film now, I don't know, but given the stature of its predecessors, I just didn't think it measured up, back when I watched it. I haven't seen the films with Martin or the one-off with Alan Arkin.

 

[Haggis and tatties]

It should be against the leu not to like these movies.

 

[StarCruiser]

I'd have to agree that the first four were the best, the fifth was a bit...forced.
Peter Sellers was just crazy funny in the original films so, all of the following efforts created after his passing have fallen very flat by comparison.

Herbert Lom was also so much fun in the original films, his slow descent into madness made you feel for him. First "Commissioner Dreyfus", then "Chief Inspector Dreyfus" and so on down he goes...

 

[Aldo]

I read a piece of trivia about the first film: David Niven believed that this would lead him to a series of films based on his character (since he is the start of the first film) ala 'The Thin Man' series. Of course history had other plans.

Had Clouseau not become a break out character, I wonder if that would have happened?

 

[Owain Taggart]

I think that's a testament to how great Peter Sellers was in the role. It was lunacy for Steve Martin to even try to replicate the character. Not to mention, it was terrible casting.

 

[lurok]

Saw the Martin (as a fan of The Jerk/Dead Men.../Man With Two Brains, etc) and...oh boy.

Never seen Sellers' versions - shocking as film buff/lecturer - but just never appealed. Though love Chaplin and Keaton. Go figure.

I do know popular character though, so do any fans think can be re-invented still?

 

[BJ Wagner]

Who could ever forget the pirate disguise with the malfunctioning fake parrot!

 

[Kai "the spy"]

Don't you guys forget about Cato.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Don't you guys forget about Cato.

Couldn't possibly!

 

[Kai "the spy"]

Couldn't possibly!

And always be ready for an attack.

 

[Aldo]

I found a collection that purports to be the "Mega Collection." I might pick it up, it's still missing "Return of the Pink Panther" but that's only because the rights are held by Universal and they are stingy about letting it show up in any sets. 100 dollars isn't too bad I suppose, it doesn't include the two Martin films, but I don't think I'd ever have any interest in seeing those, and picking up Return for a few bucks isn't a bad deal I think.

I just looked at that page and Amazon is offering to Return bundled with the set at only a few dollars extra. I'm really tempted to go after this set.

 

[Owain Taggart]

I do know popular character though, so do any fans can be re-invented still?

Possibly, if the casting were right. I don't mean to say that it never should be reinvented, but that Steve Martin's approach wasn't the right one. Sellers embodied the role, whereas Steve Martin only managed a pale imitation. And that accent, what a travesty that was!

 

[publiusr]

Herbert Lom was also so much fun in the original films, his slow descent into madness made you feel for him...

Shut up you fool--and help me find my nose!

 

[The Laughing Vulcan]

Shut up you fool--and help me find my nose!

Compared to Clouseau, Atilla the Hun was a Red Cross worker.