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I enjoyed parts of both movies, but Steve Martin — whom I generally like — was my biggest stumbling block here. His parody of the French policeman felt outdated and unfunny, more childish than clever. Peter Sellers made it work without resorting to easy stereotypes about the French language. He played clumsiness without ever becoming a buffoon, and it felt natural. Martin, on the other hand, hits every note too hard — the accent, the wide-eyed expressions, the mannerisms — with overly choreographed clumsiness, too many exaggerated “ooooh!” moments, and way too much overacting.
That said, I’m not a huge fan of the series overall. The Pink Panther and A Shot in the Dark are the only two films I’d genuinely recommend. I also appreciate the awkward but interesting take on Inspector Clouseau by Alan Arkin, who I sorely miss. I know that films like Returns, Strikes Again, and Revenge have their fans, but I have serious reservations about them. Honestly, I don’t think the series is filled with classics. Despite my admiration for Peter Sellers’ comedic genius and Blake Edwards as a director, the Pink Panther films rank far lower for me than The Party — a little-known, experimental Edwards film that I find truly hilarious because of its chaotic energy and Sellers’ wonderfully imperfect, if somewhat culturally insensitive, performance. I find myself genuinely laughing out loud at The Party, something that rarely happens with any of the Pink Panther movies.
Here’s my top 5 Blake Edwards comedies:
1) The Party
2) Breakfast at Tiffany’s (starring my all-time favorite actress, the beautiful and iconic Audrey Hepburn)
3) A Shot in the Dark
4) The Pink Panther
5) Operation Petticoat
I grew up watching Marx Brothers films and listening to The Goons (I still have several of there radio comedy show CD's) and watching Monty Python on TV. One of my earliest VHS tapes I owned (Christmas Gift) was a compilation of Peter Sellers best scenes. I remember having an extremely cheap manufactured VHS of Return Of the Pink Panther also in the 80's, As a young kid it was Bond. Star trek, Sellers, John Barry...
I have watched the Sellers Pink Panther films hundreds of times so a bit biased.
I still like ridiculously stupid comedy even if it is childish. Casa de mi Padre is one of my favorite Will Ferrell films, it is utterly ridiculous though it cracks me up every time I watch it.
I own The Party on DVD may have it on digital also, been a long time since i watched it, Blake Edwards at his peak made some classics.
Still trying to picture Murphy doing the role but I wasn't sure about Neeson in Naked Gun and that turned out brilliantly.
No one will ever do what Sellers did, any new film good or bad potentially leads a new generation to watch the classics.
ROTPP has improved for me over the years, Sellers has good chemistry with Canon. The film does make me feel sad sometimes as it was Sellers last Pink Panther.
Sellers as Chauncey Gardiner on the other hand was deeply profound.
Clouseau, the absolute idiot: A wud lak to boi a damburger.
Teacher: I would like to buy a hamburger.
Clouseau, the absolute idiot: A wud lak to boi a damburger.
Teacher: No no no, let's break it down. I...
Clouseau, the absolute idiot: Ee.
Teacher: I...
Clouseau, the absolute idiot: Oi...
Teacher: Would...
Clouseau, the absolute idiot: Wud.
Teacher: Would...
Clouseau, the absolute idiot: Wooeuudah...
Teacher: Would...
Clouseau, the absolute idiot: Weeyod...
Teacher: Wouuuuld...
Clouseau, the absolute idiot: Wouuuuld...
Teacher: Like.
Clouseau, the absolute idiot: Lak. Lak.
Teacher: To...
Clouseau, the absolute idiot: Twah.
Teacher: To...
Clouseau, the absolute idiot: Twah.
Teacher: To.
Clouseau, the absolute idiot: Twoeeuh...
Teacher: Buy.
Clouseau, the absolute idiot: Bee. Bee.
Teacher: Buy.
Clouseau, the absolute idiot: Beaeye.
Teacher: A hamburger.
Clouseau, the absolute idiot: Dambergerrr...
Teacher: Hamburger.
Clouseau, the absolute idiot: Eemmbuarr.
Teacher: Hamburger!
Clouseau, the absolute idiot: Ebeberr!
Teacher: Ham!
Clouseau, the absolute idiot: Em!
Teacher: Bur!
Clouseau, the absolute idiot: Burr!
Teacher: Ger!
Clouseau, the absolute idiot: Guerrajjj!
Teacher: I would like to buy a hamburger.
Clouseau, the absolute idiot: Awood likee toobai a tambergehr.
That is a funny scene, the face contortions lol
He does not listen to a single thing she says lol
Graham Stark one of Peter Sellers great friends.
We don't quit, we do not quit, again, again!
Steve Martin is funny I have watched every season of Only Murders in the Building, Martin has still got it, he has a lot of hilarious anarchic moments in that show.
I like him best in Planes, Trains and Automobiles.
Although I think the 1963 original is still the best: co-stars David Niven, Capucine, Claudia Cardinale and the Cortina setting lift that one up considerably for me.
Very funny film I remember exactly where I was when I saw the swearing scene for the first time. Personally I enjoyed the Carl Reiner and Steve Martin collaborations, Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid is my favorite (I love film noir and its a great homage as well as very funny).
The Pink Panther 1963 does look like a lavish Hollywood production in comparison to the other films, the first two film's in the series have well thought out plots for sure. After the hiatus The Return of the Pink Panther I felt really doubled down on the set pieces and story was secondary.
The constant was Sellers and the physical humour and slapstick. Love when he lands in Switzerland and tells the cab driver to 'follow that car". The driver gets out and runs after the car in question. Later in the movie the same driver to seen still chasing the same car. LOL!
What I find remarkable is the relationship between Sellers and Edwards. Sellers petitioned to get Edwards involved in A Shot in the Dark but by the end the relationship soured. Then when they were both in need of a hit to revive their careers they reunited. By the end of that 70's trilogy they were again at loggerheads. Sellers was developing a story idea for the next PP and it would not be directed by Edwards.