Is this an official entry in the Pink Panther series? - Inspector Clouseau (1968) Discussion

[–] lionphish 21 years ago

I just recently heard that the had made this movie and for the life of me can't understand why it was made in the first place. I mean Peter sellers was still alive and stared in pink panther movies before and after 1968...so why did they make this movie with sellers???

"Take Your Time, Leave Mine Alone!"

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[–] RivenWinner 20 years ago

yeah, I don't understand how and why this film was made

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[–] 20 years ago

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[–] lennon21182 20 years ago

this film was made when both blake edwards and peter sellers were creatively exhausted of the pink panther series and each other. bud yorkin stepped into the duties of director and arkin of course was clouseau. while not the best film in the series, it does seem destined to fail simply because it does not have sellers. i would suggest watching it without looking at it as a pink panther film and more along the lines of casino royale: a madcap comedy of the mid to late 1960's. unfortunately, i think the same thing that has happened to arkin's clouseau, where he is much maligned, is going to happen to steve martin's upcoming turn in the role. while martin has his merits, it would have been far more appropriate to get someone like rowan atkinson, who can handle the voice, actions, and mannerisms quite well, instead of martin. hopefully i'm wrong about this regarding martin and the new film.

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[–] ebrott 20 years ago

Excellent points and I'm with you all the way. I know I'll have to see the new Pink Panther movie just to keep up with the series, but I also find myself wishing they'd have cast someone other than Steve Martin to play the role. Rowan Atkinson would have made a great Clouseau, I think. I totally hated Ted Wass's movie (probably both bad timing and just plain bad script), however, I thought Benini (sp?) and the Son of Pink Panther was a pretty good effort.

Just for the sake of compete disclosure: Never Say Never - Not so good Bond. Casino Royale - Better, but only when I'm in the mood for madcap 60's comedy. But in that case, I'll stick with classic Sellers and Edwards and watch The Party.

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[–] ungerreese 18 years ago

If Benini had ANY command of the english language, i thought his carisma was perfect for the role. Benini's chemistry with Herbert Lom was almost as good as Lom/Sellers.

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[–] emceeclung 20 years ago

Yes, "Inspector Clouseau" is officially the third entry in the Pink Panther series.

According to the production notes on the "Return of the Pink Panther" DVD, the Mirisch company, the mini-studio which produced the Pink Panther films, wanted to do another movie with Clouseau in 1968. However, during production of "A Shot in the Dark" in 1964, Blake Edwards and Peter Sellers got along so poorly that they both swore never to work together again.

So when Mirisch approached them about doing a third film in 1968, they both declined and Mirisch decided to proceed without them.

Obviously they later realized what a mistake they had made and eventually they convinced Edwards and Sellers to reunite in the early 70's for "Return of the Pink Panther", officially the fourth entry, but the third featuring Edwards and Sellers as director/star.

Here is the list of all Pink Panther films:

1964 -- The Pink Panther (#1)
The original, before Inspector Clouseau had his famous accent. Peter Sellers was cast the week before shooting began to replace Peter Ustinov, who pulled out. The bumbling Clouseau character was created through improvisation during filming. Clouseau went from a minor supporting character in the script to the main character to accomodate the ingenious improvisation of Sellers, assisted by Edwards. A good film, though in hindsight the Clouseau character is obviously a work in progress here.

1964 -- A Shot in the Dark (#2)
Sellers recruited Blake Edwards to direct at the last minute. Edwards agreed on the condition that the film be changed from a crime drama to a Pink Panther film. Sellers borrowed his accent for the inspector from a concierge he met during a last-second trip to Paris. Here the Clouseau character becomes more fully fleshed out. One of my two favorite Panther films, although Sellers hated it and thought it shouldn't be released.

1968 -- Inspector Clouseau (#3)
Made by the studio without Edwards & Sellers, who couldn't stand eachother after "A Shot in the Dark" and refused to work together again. Alan Arkin as Clouseau, directed by Bud Yorkin. A major disappointment.

1974 -- Return of the Pink Panther (#4, 3rd with Edwards/Sellers)
By this point Edwards and Sellers had cooled off enough to realize that it would be a waste not to do another Panther film together, so they reunited for the first of three Panther films in rapid succession. Sellers reportedly needed the money too. In my opinion the quintessential Pink Panther film.

1976 -- The Pink Panther Strikes Back (#5, 4th with Edwards/Sellers)
The last of the four great Panther films, although it was clearly a notch below "Return of the Pink Panther".

1978 -- Revenge of the Pink Panther (#6, 5th with Edwards/Sellers)
A subpar effort, and the last Panther film to truly "star" Peter Sellers, who would die of a heart attack in 1980.

1982 -- Trail of the Pink Panther (#7, 6th with Edwards)
Released after Sellers' death, this weak entry in the series uses clips and deleted scenes from the earlier Panther films to incorporate Sellers, hence his listing in the credits. But he didn't actually film any original material for this one. The first of a two-part story.

1983 -- Curse of the Pink Panther (#8, 7th with Edwards)
Concludes the story begun in "Trail of the Pink Panther". Just like "Trail" it too failed to reach the standards of earlier Panther films.

1993 -- Son of the Pink Panther (#9, 8th with Edwards)
Stars Roberto Benigni as Clouseau's son.

2005 -- Birth of the Pink Panther (#10)
Edwards is supposedly a consultant on this prequel to the Pink Panther films, which is now in post-production. Steve Martin stars as Inspector Clouseau. Slated for release in '05.

All of the above information was gleaned from IMDb and production notes on Pink Panther DVDs.

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[–] thft 19 years ago

How does "The Party" fit into all of this? It starred Sellers and was directed by Edwards in the same year as "Inspector Clouseau" came out (1968). How much at each other's throats were Sellers and Edwards at this time if they made that movie? Or, was it really the fact that they were busy making "The Party" that they had no time to make another "Panther", or didn't want to make another "Panther" and decided instead to try something new?

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[–] dudufrias 19 years ago

I agree with the above. It really makes no sense since they made The Party together in the same year. Also, it is well known that Sellers and Edwards had a love/hate relationship, but nothing that could get on the way of potentially successful productions, not to mention that the "love" side between them was usually predominant and kinda tamed their differences. And NO, Inspector Clouseau is NOT an official Panther movie. Not only it does not have the supporting characters from the official franchise, but also Arkin's Clouseau deviates a lot from Sellers' rendition, plus most Panther fans regard this film as nothing but some sort of a twisted up, vaguely related spin-off. I mean let's face it, a Clouseau who admits his own incompetence (I remember a scene in the movie where Arkin says he "ruins everything he touches" or something like that) is just not a Clouseau!!!

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] dudufrias 19 years ago

Fine. I´ll give you that. But still this flick is sort of an aberration to me. And Arkin playing a Frenchman comes out so phony (a great actor, but I can only see him as the Jewish man from the Lower East Side, which is what he really is, I guess). Ironically, I didn't get that feeling with OHMSS, and I thought it was very much substantial to the Bond series, despite all the different aspects it explored (well, mostly those are George Lazenby and the tragic ending). However, Inspector Clouseau could easily be forgotten and disconnected from the rest of the PP franchise, and the same does not happen with the Sellers entries, no matter how loose continuity in the PP movies is.

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] dudufrias 19 years ago

Lol. I was gonna get there. Well, I, on the other hand, would leave out Inspector Clouseau, Curse and Son, but keep Trail. The reason why I forgive Trail is because I don't see it as a sequel ; instead I see it as an eulogy to Peter Sellers. Sure it seems incredibly weak and uninspired if you watch it as a follow-up, but try to think of it as only a homage to its deceased lead actor. You just might not find it all that bad.

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[–] filmbuff-63 19 years ago

And lest we forget, the Waldman's that wrote this film later worked on the next few PP movies. Obviously Blake Edwards had some use for them after this film.

I haven't seen it since I was in high school (at least 20 years ago) and remember being entertained. I just bought it today on dvd and will see if my recollections are accurate.

Either way, I do consider it an official entry into the series, all of which I own and admire to SOME degree.

I shall owe thee an answer for that...

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] dudufrias 19 years ago

Thank you, Dave1967 !!!

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[–] filmbuff-63 19 years ago

That's irrelevant. The box set was the Peter Sellers films. It didn't include CURSE OF or SON OF either, but those are part of the series. If MGM released a set of all the "Clouseau" films it would surely be there.

You can't WISH a movie away, just because you didn't like it.

And it is mentioned in the featurette on the dvd.

I shall owe thee an answer for that...

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[–] dudufrias 19 years ago

"You can't WISH a movie away, just because you didn't like it."

Oh yes you can. I mean c'mon, Clouseau admitting that he failed is pretty much the same as James Bond saying "hey, I think that creepy bald guy with the white cat is really gonna destroy the world this time. I quit".

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[–] filmbuff-63 19 years ago

Being able to referrence the movie is proof that it still exists, so your argumnet falls flat again. It's not going anywhere, except into my dvd player where I'll watch it and laugh.

I shall owe thee an answer for that...

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[–] dudufrias 19 years ago

I'm not saying it doesn't exist, just trying to show how it's treated differently from the others, despite having the same writers and studio.

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[–] filmbuff-63 19 years ago

"You can't WISH a movie away, just because you didn't like it."

Oh yes you can.

Huh? I mean, come on now. That's to say.... jeez!

I shall owe thee an answer for that...

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] glenda_anne123 18 years ago

Great thank you! I was also wondering if I C was part of the series and your answer is better than perfect showing EXACTLTY what is in the series. GOOD ONE!

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[–] reyjamiei 19 years ago

From imdb trivia: "Alan Arkin got the role of Clouseau after Peter Sellers declined to play the part a third time. This was the last Clouseau film until Sellers returned to the role in 1975."

I would say that this is an official entry in The Pink Panther series as Peter Sellers was asked to reprise his role as Clouseau for the film but he declined so they replaced him.

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[–] dudufrias 19 years ago

Ok, I have my internet sources too...

From http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057413/trivia :

"Between 1964 and 1993, eight Inspector Clouseau (or related) films would be released. All but two would carry the "Pink Panther" title, but only four films as of 2003 actually deal with the Pink Panther diamond itself: this one, The Return of the Pink Panther (1975), Trail of the Pink Panther (1982) and Curse of the Pink Panther (1983)."

I think the (or related) part refers to Curse, Son, and Inspector Clouseau.

From http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0383216/trivia :

"Christophe Beck is the first composer other than the late Henry Mancini to write the music for the Pink Panther movies (unless one counts Ken Thorne, but Inspector Clouseau (1968) generally isn't considered an official Pink Panther film)."

From Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pink_Panther :

"Although official, the 1968 film Inspector Clouseau is generally not considered part of the Pink Panther "canon" since it did not involve Sellers or Edwards."

I know it says "official", but still, it treats the movie as something improper.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inspector_Clouseau :

"Sellers said in several interviews that the secret of Clouseau's character was his tremendous ego. His favorite example of Clouseau's ego was whenever someone said, "Phone call for Inspector Clouseau", Clouseau would reply, "Ah yes, that would be for ME." Sellers maintained that Clouseau's ego is what made the character's klutziness funnier because of his quest to remain elegant and refined while causing chaos everywhere he turned."

This is why Arkin's Clouseau is so wrong.

From http://www.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll :

"Due to the absence of both Sellers and director Blake Edwards, Inspector Clouseau has largely been forgotten in comparison to the other Pink Panther films, though it maintains some interest as a curious aberration in the popular comic series."

and

"A truly weird entry in the world of baffling sequels, Inspector Clouseau is an embarrassing stab at the signature humor pioneered by Peter Sellers and Blake Edwards in the first two Pink Panther films. Alan Arkin is admirable for stepping up when Sellers would not, but it's evident in every frame that he just can't pull off the oddball character. The gifted actor's timing just isn't right, with most of the gags falling desperately flat with little help from the direction of Norman Lear's pal, Bud Yorkin. The supporting cast is also sorely lacking, populated by stuffy Brits that come nowhere near to matching Herbert Lom's lunacy as the foil for Clouseau's antics."

and

"Cinephiles might want to take note of the entry, but others best stay away and watch A Shot in the Dark again or any numerous '70s entries that brought the coupling of Sellers and Edwards back to the franchise they created."

Again, I'm not saying it's not an official entry (well, at least, not anymore), just pointing out how this movie stands apart from the true panthers.
I guess my work here is done.

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[–] reyjamiei 19 years ago

I try to stay away from anything with Peter Sellers in it but he was in a couple of good movies, Lolita (1962) and Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) but they would have been good without him. Blake Edwards has only made two good movies, Operation Petticoat (1959) and Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961).

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[–] 19 years ago

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[–] darmandom 18 years ago

Edwards "The Days Of Wine & Roses" with Jack Lemmon is a very good film

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[–] skyde 19 years ago

Thank you for the knowledge contained here within these messages. I myself had not ever heard of this movie before I started figuring out why most places state Trail as the 7th pink panther movie in the series when according to my calculation it was only the 6th. Creative googling brought me to this place.

I have yet to see this movie, but I do want to see it.

Best regards,

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[–] Dallas_Cowboys_Fan 18 years ago

this is an offical entry

I thought this movie was very good. if you just forget about sellers you would enjoy it.

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[–] malachiX2000 18 years ago

"I look at Inspector Clouseau as the On Her Majesty's Secret Service of the series, an entry that is overlooked because it features someone different in the role."

I'm not an expert on the series but I don't think this is a very fair anology. OHMSS had the same supporting characters as previous ones, was made by people who had worked on previous Bond films, and was certainly cannon since it's made reference to in other films. Inspector Clouseau lacks the director of all other ones (save for the REmake), the supporting cast, and has nothing to link it to other chapters.

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[–] dudufrias 18 years ago

I look at it as the Casino Royale of the series.

you arrived home, found Miguel with Maria Gambrelli, and killed him in a rit of fealous jage!

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] dudufrias 18 years ago

Forget it, Alan Arkin as a French blunderer is just a no-go.

You arrived home, found Miguel with M. Gambrelli, and killed him in a rit of fealous jage!

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[–] christopher_greenleaf 16 years ago

The screenplay was written by Frank and Tom Waldman though, and the animated titles were done by DePatie-Freleng Enterprises. Aside from those things, there's nothing to connect the movies together.

Actually the Arkin film is the first appearance of the animated opening titles with the Inspector's character based on Arkin's features NOT Seller's.

The writers also debuted with this film, and Seller's subsequent appearances as Clouseau use the Arkin wardrobe here and retains aspects of Arkin's characterization.

Arkin is nowhere near as funny as Seller's in the role, but is a more than adequate performer (unlike Steve Martin).

A big problem is that the script, while a bit clever, is not really very funny and it shows. Seller's later films were poorly written, and badly directed, but had very funny, even hilarious, bits (Lom delivering Clouseau's eulogy, Seller's fights with Kato..ect..ect..)

It's a tepid script that hurts here. I don't think Sellers could have done too much better with it!

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[–] angrybeavers13 16 years ago

Actually the Arkin film is the first appearance of the animated opening titles with the Inspector's character based on Arkin's features NOT Seller's.

That design of the cartoon Inspector had been around even before this movie, because Depatie-Freleng made its own Inspector shorts with the look as early as 1965. This movie was made in 1968.

"Andy! You goonie!"

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[–] WallyB 16 years ago

Well first off, Casino Royale ( the first one) wasn't a "rip off" as the producers and studio had the legal right to make it. In and of itself it actually can be quite funny, just look at who is in it ! But it had 4 directors and it's been edited and hacked to death.

"Never Say Never Again" was a specific remake of "Thunderball" due to a court case won by co-author Kevin McClory.

Perhaps "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" is the best comparison, a new actor replacing the actor that originated the role for one movie only.

Yes, it's an "official" Pink Panther movie, though, like "A Shot In The Dark" they weren't using that name in the title yet.

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[–] vandyvch 16 years ago

At this point, Sellers hadn't been established as the "official" Inspector Clouseau yet, as was Edwards as the "official" screenwriter/producer.

So when they were drawing plans for the new Pink Panther movie, Hollywood apparently felt they could get along just fine without them.

So yes, in the grand scheme of things, this is an "official" Pink Panther film.

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[–] puggly-1 16 years ago

I always treat it as the third film in the series simply because it has Inspector Clouseau in it and that it is made by the same production company.
Plus also in the Pink Panther Cartoon Collection, the opening sequence is included along with all of the others!

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[–] LeisSuit 16 years ago

After reading all the posts in this topic, I'm curious to see this now, lol. At the very least, to see if Arkin's portrayal as Clouseau is anywhere near as bad as Roger Moore's brief, embarassing scene in Curse. THAT was a travesty!! Never seen the Steve Martin ones, as I just can't stand his newer films(I think the last comedy of his that I liked was...Parenthood, maybe?), so even the curiousity factor doesn't exist.

Deeeeeeep hurting!!!!!!!

OH MY GOD! YOU CAN'T KILL BECCA

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[–] wallacesawyer 16 years ago

I'm fine with it being official.

For DEMONIC TOYS and updates on Full Moon Films:
www.freewebs.com/demonictoys/

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[–] 16 years ago

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[–] 16 years ago

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