The Return of the Pink Panther

Rating:
Summary: One of my favorites...
Review: The Pink Panther films are great... The "Return" is one of the best of the series, in my opinion. I highly recommend "Strikes Again" and "Revenge".
Although there are no special features on this DVD, this film doesn't need special features and the typical cheap DVD [stuff] that other titles have; plus it keeps the price down.

Rating:
Summary: The best Pink Panther for clueless-Clouseau fans
Review: I disagree with the Editorial and Maltin's reviews...this is the *best* Pink Panther movie. But then they are probably rating a whole movie, and not a slapstick performance. The plot meanders from schtick to schtick, but who cares? None of the Pink Panther movies rate for plot (except maybe the first) or character development. This movie has many of the great Clouseau scenes: the "minkey" and the bank robbery, the telephone repairman in his rickety French minitrucks, "Can I have a rheuuum?", posing as a hotel valet with an over-powerful vacuum cleaner, Gigue Gigoire, plus a couple of Cato encounters. If you like watching Sellers'/Clouseau's antics, you have *got* to get this Pink Panther.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing video quality
Review: A very good movie but the DVD quality is really disappointing compared to the rest of the Pink Panther series. It is just like watching a video copy.

Rating:
Summary: KATO I'M HUME
Review: this movie is the best of the panther series. I don't know why everyone likes strikes back so much... i thought they took it a little to far in that one. But in this one the laughs never stop. Even as the inspector gets out of the shower Kato has to attack! the scenes are funny in wich Drefus (Lam) gooes to therapy and ends up killing the shrink. And when he thinks the gun is a lighter and blows off his nose! i highly recommned this to you! ENJOY!

Rating:
Summary: The Return Of Peter Sellers As "Inspector Clouseau"
Review: The famous and invaluable diamond known as the Pink Panther is stolen once again from the museum in Lugash, and the authorities decide immediately that to effect the return of this National Treasure they must seek the help of the one man they know will bring the needed expertise to the case: Clouseau. And so it is that "The Return Of The Pink Panther" is entrusted to none other than the inimitable Inspector (Peter Sellers) from France, much to the chagrin of Chief Inspector Dreyfus (Herbert Lom), who, knowing what unbridled mayhem Clouseau is really capable of, would like nothing more than to be rid of him once and for all. But such a request from the sovereign authorities of a friendly nation cannot be denied, and Clouseau is therefore dispatched with all haste to Lugash, with orders to bring the criminals to justice, and insure that the case is indeed-- to quote Clouseau-- "solv-ed." Some ten years had passed since director Blake Edwards and Sellers had teamed up for the brilliant film "A Shot In The Dark," before coming together once again for this third installment chronicling the misadventures of the "belov-ed" Inspector Clouseau. But the wait was certainly worth it. Cleverly written and delivered, it affords Sellers ample opportunities to do what he does best: Make you laugh. Whether affecting an alias in disguise or forthrightly confronting the usual suspects, Clouseau deftly uncovers every "ploy" attempted by the unscrupulous thieves he seeks. There are moments so hilarious that even co-star Catherine Schell (Claudine) has trouble keeping a straight face at times; but rather than being a distraction (as you'd think it would be), it somehow makes it even funnier. And it's a great example of why this movie is so good, and why it works so well. Simply put, it's fun. Edwards has a formula for success that begins with having a good story at the core, an excellent supporting cast to flesh it all out, then mixing it all together with the main ingredient which is, of course, Sellers. It's one that works, and of which directors of some of the more recent fare being proffered as "comedy" could benefit. Christopher Plummer is well cast as debonair master thief Sir Charles Litton, bringing an air of sophistication to the film that contrasts so well with the antics of Sellers. Characters returning after debuting in "A Shot In The Dark" include the terrific Lom, whose Chief Inspector Dreyfus is the perfect foil for Clouseau; Andre Maranne (Francois); and of course Burt Kwouk as Clouseau's ever-attacking manservant, Cato. The scenes between Sellers and Kwouk, in which they spar at Clouseau's house, are a riot, as is the way Sellers and Lom play off of one another throughout the film (or the series, for that matter); Lom's "reactions" alone to what Sellers is doing are classic bits of comedy. Rounding out the supporting cast are Peter Arne (Colonel Sharky), Peter Jeffrey (General Wadafi), Gregoire Aslan (Chief of Lugash Police), Victor Spinetti (Hotel Concierge) and John Bluthal (Blind Beggar). A number of elements go into making a comedy work, and "The Return Of The Pink Panther" has them all, but most especially, Peter Sellers, who without a doubt is one of the funniest actors ever to grace the silver screen. His comedy works because he always plays it straight and allows the humor to flow naturally from the situation at hand; there's never a laugh that is forced or false. Consider one of the opening scenes in which Clouseau, walking a beat, questions a blind beggar with a monkey about having the proper permits to beg, all while the bank in front of which they are standing is being robbed. There's a purity about it that makes it a joy to watch; the kind of film you can see over and over again and never get tired of. One of the great things about video and DVD is that it affords us the opportunity of cuing up this film-- as well as the other "Panther" movies-- at will. For a lot of laughs, take advantage of the technology at hand and check out Peter Sellers and discover what "classic" comedy is all about. It never gets old, and somehow just keeps getting better with age.

Rating:
Summary: Good, but otherwise am rather unsure about it
Review: After a ten year absense, Sellers returns as France's most celebrated and incompetent detecive, Jaques Clouseau. Clouseau returns to the Surete because once again, the Pink Panther diamond has been stolen and the finger points to one of Clouseau's arch enemies, the Phantom, aka Sir Charles Lytton. Or does it, for once Lytton may be innocent. I enjoyed the film and found it a welcome balance between the silliness of the succeding films in the series and the light comedy of the first film. Just two things bother me and if someone can explain this to me I welcome it. One why is Sir Charles played for once by Christopher Plummer instead of David Niven, I assume Niven was unavailable, and two I thought Lytton's wife, as seen in Trail... and Curse... and who was introduced in the first Panther movie, was Clouseau's ex wife Simone. Not a young attractive woman by the name of Claudine.

Rating:
Summary: How could this film not be included in the Panther set?
Review: Am I the only one wondering why "Trail of the Pink Panther" was included in the set and this film was not? This film set the standard for a funnier, ditzier Clouseau, not entirely seen in the original or in "A Shot in the Dark". It definitely has a few slow spots, but in my opinion, only "Revenge" and "Strikes Again" are funnier. Although every film in the series, besides "A Shot in the Dark", uses the panther name in the title, this is only one of two films that even mention the Pink Panther. I found out that "Strikes Again" was originally scripted as another theft of the diamond, but was rewritten so the film would focus on Dreyfuss' insanity.........

Rating:
Summary: The Return of Inspector Clouseau
Review: Peter Sellers returns after a ten year plus hiatus. Very interesting plot, well cast roles. I have to believe the actors had a hard time not laughing during this film, especially Catherine Schell. How could anyone not laugh at those ridiculous disguises and names - Msr. Guy Gadbois! Its interesting to see some of the earlier characters return in different roles. Like the Lyttons' chauffer (George the gardener "A shot in the Dark") and Hercule, returning as the Fat Man's accomplice. Good fun for the whole family.

Rating:
Summary: The master of inanity back in action!
Review: Jacques Clouseau has to be one of the greatest comic inventions in cinema history. Peter Sellers' urbane, courageous and idiotic detective is truly the ultimate parody on the James Bond/super hero. Although I love them all, THE RETURN is my favorite Clouseau outing. It has been 10 years since this suave, invincible agent of the Surete has been turned loose on the criminal world (Alan Arkin's feeble attempt only demonstrated how much Clouseau IS Peter Sellers' unique creation). Heaven help them and his long-suffering boss, Chief Inspector Dreyfus! Dreyfus is played with awesome aplomb by Herbert Lom. The two "colleagues"-yet-arch-foes certainly deserve to be ranked premier among very few comparable comedy teams (The 3 Stooges, for example). What elevates THE RETURN, in my estimate, is not only the great humor but the "class" of the production. Christopher Plummer is a genuinely Bond-like foil to Clouseau essaying the role of Sir Charles Phantom the notorious Pink Litton (or something like that). The fight with Cato...emerging ruthlesslessly from the refrigerator...has to be one of the greatest slap-stick sequences ever filmed. The locales are exotic. Clouseau's attempted seduction of Lady Litton... he is cleverly disguised as Gide Gaduois, international man of mystery...has to be seen to be believed (and heard: his "accent" is hilarious). Peter Sellers was one of the great comic talents of the cinema. DR. STANGELOVE allowed him to display this talent with the ironic detachment the black comedy masterpiece required. In the Clouseau series, he was able to let it rip "full metal jacket" and reveal himself as a matchless, comedic artist. Sellers played Clouseau as...literally...an oxymoron: a suave idiot; a "cool" dud(e) who is the embodiment of inanity and comic relief. "EVERYTHING I DO IS CAREFULLY PLANNED!" asserted Clouseau in the climatic showdown scene in "A Shot in the Dark." Then all heck breaks loose and Dreyfus, his boss...now revealed a THE ASSASSIN...who will vigorously abet Clouseau's death at every opportunity for three more movies...is carted-off to the booby hatch. The fact that Blake Edward's was able to get away with producing two PINK PANTHER sequels (THE TRAIL and THE CURSE...)after Sellers' death using out- takes and trailers is testimony to the fact that this series is one of the funniest epics ever put on film. Yes: we're talking about THE SAGA of JACQUES CLOUSEAU (and even a bogus effort about his SON with Herbert Lom wrecking ultimate vengeance by marrying Clouseau's old flame, Maria Gambrelli can't mar it). Peter Sellers is dead,but if you want to enjoy a comic master in action watch THE PINK PANTHER series. THE RETURN is my favorite because it's a class act to the max. (I'll bet they show reruns in Heaven, because this man knew how to do a geat thing: he had the Talent to make people laugh and he used it...)

Rating:
Summary: Comic Genius
Review: The Return of the ink ant, I mean, Pink Panther, is a work of comic genius. Peter Sellers as the idiot inspector, Herbert Lom as his boss and Chief of Police deliver two of the most inspired comic performances ever captured on screen. The rapport between the two of them is worth ten thousand Shagging Spies, and eight thousand twenty Lying Liars! This might sound harsh, but I'm sure Jim Carrey as well as Mike Myers would agree. They are, after all, admitted Sellers fans.

The film begins with the theft of the famous Pink Panther diamond. The famous inspector who rescued it last time it was stolen, Inspector Clousseau (Peter Sellers), is assigned the case. Completely incompetent, yet unwaveringly persistent, the inspector manages -with the help of a phone call from his boss- to solve the crime and apprehend the infamous thief. This sounds easy enough; however, things get complicated when Inspector Clousseau's own superior sets out to murder him!