The Pink Panther (1963)

The Pink Panther
Directed by Blake Edwards
Written by Maurice Richlin and Blake Edwards
1963/USA
Mirisch-GE Productions
First viewing/Amazon Instant

[box] Inspector Jacques Clouseau: Simone! Where is my Surété-Scotland-Yard-type mackintosh?[/box]

Beautiful people, beautiful dresses, beautiful scenery … and Inspector Clouseau.

The story is set in various locations in France and Italy.  The bumbling Inspector Clouseau (Peter Sellers) has devoted his life to finding the international jewel thief known as the Phantom.  We learn early on that this is Sir Charles Litton Lytton (David Niven) and that Clouseau’s beautiful duplicitous wife Simone (Cappucine) is in league with him.  Sir Charles, Clouseau and company are drawn to an Italian ski resort by the presence of The Pink Panther, a rare diamond owned by a Princess (Claudia Cardinale).

Clouseau’s inability to stay standing upright for many minutes at a time and the various amorous maneuverings of Lytton, Simone and Lytton’s nephew (Robert Wagner) keep things interesting.

My favorite parts of this movie are actually the sixties clothes, color and production values. The comedy fell kind of flat for me but that may have just been my mood.

Henry Mancini was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Music, Substantially Original Score.