MovieChat Forums > The Pink Panther 2 (2009) Discussion > Peter Sellers is NOT Clouseau

Peter Sellers is NOT Clouseau

posted 16 years ago by MerryMarvelManiac
23 replies | jump to latest

...but neither is Steve Martin. Neither of them OWN the character, they just had different takes on it.

Just because Sellers was first doesn't make his interpretation better. Any time a character is portrayed by an actor, they bring their own uniqueness to it.

This is not my opinion, but a fact. For instance, who is the definitive Batman?
Some will say Christian Bale, while others will say Adam West or Michael Keaton. What about the Phantom of the Opera? To me, Lon Chaney is the Phantom, but to others it is Claude Rains, Michael Crawford, or even Gerard Butler. James Bond? Same thing.

It's up to the individual watching to decide who their favorite is. I love the Peter Sellers films, but I also like Steve Martin's version, but for different reasons. I found the new Pink Panther films to be very enjoyable in a goofy, light-hearted, slapstick kind of way.

They're not like Peter Sellers' films...they're not supposed to be. Just enjoy them for what they are.

"The people must know that I am Grayskull. I depend upon you for these things...you know that."

[–] Scifi71 16 years ago

Christian Bale?

[–] MrZacMansfield 16 years ago

I completely agree. So, well put!

"Let me bring you up to speed....we know nothing....you are now up to speed!"

[–] HapHazzard 16 years ago

The OP has a point. Sellers didn't own the character, and being first to play Clouseau doesn't automatically make his performance the best.
No, the fact his performance was better in every single way than Martin's is what makes his Clouseau superior. Martin's is like a bad caricature - and considering the character was a comedy character to begin with, that's saying something. Martin's performance is an insult to everyone who loved the Panther movies all these years.

It's a tender love song, very beautiful. {Whats it called?} Lick my love pump.

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] jmgindiana 16 years ago

I disagree.

While it's true that Batman, Bond, etc., are not "owned" by the actor who happens to be playing the role, it's also true that the first actor sets a standard the others have to follow to some degree, to keep a sense of familiarity and continuity, unless you are starting over, as happened with Batman and Craig's Bond.

But in the PP, which supposedly is also a "reboot" Martin INTENTIONALLY tried to ape Sellers' character in looks and manerisms, like the exaggerate accent, the white raincoat, and even the moustache. It's not just "his" take, he also tried to ride the coattails of Peter Seller's take on the character, and that's why people is more pissed than usual, with good reason. Add to the equation that the movies are childish crap, and you have your answer.

[–] puggly-1 16 years ago

It must also be remembered that Sellers played 2 different Clouseau's, as the the first 2 films he wasn't as silly as he was in the later films. Alan Arkin's Clouseau was also excellent, and very amusing, shame he didn't get another opportunity to play the part.

[–] nutmegclaw 16 years ago

I agree with you Puggly. Alan Arkin did a wonderful job as Clouseau because although he was silly, he had some dignity.

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] rogerscorpion 11 years ago

If Martin (who I LOVE) was trying to ape Sellers' looks, he might've remembered to wear a BLACK toupee---like Sellers did.

Steve's been wearing toupees for decades. He even wore dark toupees, in 'Pennies from Heaven' & 'Leap of Faith'.

There was no logic to not wearing one here--especially if aping Sellers.

As is---he just looked like Steve Martin, with a ridiculous moustache.

Carpe Noctem!

[–] criztu 16 years ago

no.

inspector Clouseau is Peter Sellers. just like gendarme Cruchot is Louis de Funes. just like Cosmo Kramer is Michael Richards, just like Han Solo is Harrison Ford. just like Austin Powers is Mike Meyers. etc.

just like Steve Martin is Steve Martin. mkay ?

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] nisara 16 years ago

OP, DrDavidBanner has shown me it is still okay to read the boards at IMDB.
Thanks for the intelligence. I saw the original films when they were first released and got the same pleasure seeing this movie. The full house did too.

It's just silly fun and boy the world needs it now.

[–] SylvesterFox007 16 years ago

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
"But in the PP, which supposedly is also a "reboot" Martin INTENTIONALLY tried to ape Sellers' character in looks and manerisms, like the exaggerate accent, the white raincoat, and even the moustache. It's not just "his" take, he also tried to ride the coattails of Peter Seller's take on the character, and that's why people is more pissed than usual, with good reason."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I've either heard detractors complain because Steve Martin is imitating Peter Sellers or because he's not imitating him enough. Obviously, some of the character traits have to be kept the same in order for the character to still be Inspector Clouseau. Complaining that Martin keeps the exaggerated accent, the white raincoat, and the mustache is like complaining that all of the actors who wear the deerstalker and cloak while playing Sherlock Holmes are aping Basil Rathbone, or complaing all of the actors who have worn a tux and had a martini shaken, not stirred while playing James Bond were aping Sean Connery.

Steve Martin's portrayal is as different from Sellers' as can be while still being recognizably the same character Peter Sellers brought to life so magnificientally forty years ago, the character we all know and love. Steve Martin, IMO, is the only actor other than Sellers who has succeeded in making the part his own.

In God We Trust

[–] vandyvch 16 years ago

Batman is different - he's always been a malleable character. Inspector Clouseau? It's always been obvious that (so far) no one else has come even close to his interpretation as the "definitative" one". I won't say there won't ever be a Clouseau as funny as Seller's, I'm just saying that FOR NOW, Seller's IS Inspector Clouseau, and Martin is just a (VERY) cheap imitation.

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] SenderBex 16 years ago

Mr Banner, 'Dave', or in Internet parlance the 'OP':

For your information and future reference, Roger Moore is the definitive James Bond. He gave the most rounded character interpretation and also more closely resembles a British Intelligence Field Officer than any other actor who played the part.

Mr Moore, just like his real-life counterparts, remains aloof to maniac Sikh gangsters crushing dice to a powder before his eyes and merely arches an eyebrow at the prospect of a confrontation with a despotic Eugenecist in the airlock of a rogue space shuttle. I speak in the present tense, as I am confident he has not yet played his last Bond lead-role.

thank you

[–] MerryMarvelManiac 16 years ago

Says you.

"Mr. McGee...don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry."

[–] ddblundell 16 years ago

"Neither of them OWN the character, they just had different takes on it."

But Mr. Seller's take is one of the most beloved takes in all of cinema history, whereas Mr. Martin's take is pretty universally regarded as annoying and unfunny.

I think the difference is that Steve Martin is typically at his best when he plays characters who are just like Steve Martin. Whereas Peter Sellers made a career out out of playing true characters, people who were nothing at all like himself. He gave Clouseau a real life, which included some depth and pathos. All Steve Martin gives the character is a mustache and an accent. It's just not enough. The role should only be played by those who can act outside the box and Steve Martin just isn't one of those people. All he can do is play "annoying french man," in the most stereotypically stupid way. Sellers did so much more than that, which is why audiences fell in love with his take on the character. He became the character, whereas Steve Martin just showed up and put on the fake mustache.

[–] assmatronix 16 years ago

you can't compare Closeau with any other movie character. Sellers simply OWNS Closeau. Tainting the Pink Panter name with Steve Martin or any others is like comparing a five course meal at a 3 Michelin star restaurant with a cheeseburger.

- - -
Biggest idiot on the IMDb:
the_gage

[–] ReelReviews14 13 years ago

You can't compare Clouseau to Batman or James Bond. The latter two were already well established and most popular characters long BEFORE movies about them came out. Inspector Clouseau would be NOTHING without Peter Sellers. Peter Ustinov was originally intended to play the part, but if he had done it, the first Pink Panther movie would have been the solo entry in the series and remembered as a quirky little dated 60s comedy today. Sellers MADE Inspector Clouseau into a legendary character, and took what was meant to be small supporting role into the most memorable thing in the movie. Thus, we owe the entire Inspector Clouseau franchise to Sellers.

I'm not saying its impossible to do a good portrayal of the character without Seller's... I thought Arkin did a decent tribute. But Steve Martin's "re-imagining" was completely off and reminded us why Sellers was so good in the role. The Martin remake was an insult to the classic Blake Edwards/Peter Sellers magic.