The Pink Panther (1963)

"At times like this, I wish I was but a simple peasant." Inspector Jacques Clouseau

☆☆☆☆☆ Iconic 


The Pink Panther (1963) launched an iconic film character, actor and director.


Directed By Blake Edwards.


Starring Peter Sellers, David Niven, Robert Wagner, Claudia Cardinale and Capucine.

The ending of this film did not make sense to me, because David Niven drives off with Peter's wife and freedom while Seller's goes to jail. Then I read that Blake created the film and sequels as a vehicle for David Niven. During production and theatrical release everyone focused their attention on little known Peter. Blake wisely during filming let Seller's create his iconic character Inspector Clouseau. The incoherent French dialect that Inspector Clouseau uses came from Peter's run-in with a Hotel desk clerk whose English was unintelligible. Seller's asked Blake if he could use it in his first scene and the rest is history. It's not often an unknown character actor takes control of a film and series from an international movie icon and creates an equally iconic character.

In the scene below watch how Blake masterfully creates comedic mayhem by having three men in a hotel room with one women. It's the kind of screwball comedy that Frank Capra started with It Happened One Night (1934). Apparently the industrial grade soap used in the bath burned both Capucine and Robert Wagner, so badly that Robert was blind for several days and Capucine had to be hospitalized for burns all over her body.

Film Scene

Trivia - The film was intended to have David Niven's character Sir Charles Lytton as the main character. Peter Sellers portrayal changed the direction of the focus of the film and sequels.

Film Trailer

Film Photos - Posters

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Film Transcript