The Pink Panther

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The Pink Panther
Pinkpanther-logo.svg
Official franchise logo
Created by Blake Edwards
Maurice Richlin (original creators)
David H. DePatie
Isadore "Friz" Freleng (animation)
Original work The Pink Panther (1963)
Owner Amazon MGM Studios
Years1963–2011
Films and television
Film(s)
Original series
Reboot series
Second reboot series
Short film(s)See List of The Pink Panther cartoons and List of The Inspector cartoons
Animated series
Television special(s)
Games
Video game(s)
Audio
Original music"The Pink Panther Theme"
"Meglio stasera"
"A Woman Like Me
Check on It
Official website
Pink Panther on Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

The Pink Panther is an American media franchise primarily focusing on a series of comedy-mystery films featuring an inept French police detective, Inspector Jacques Clouseau. The franchise began with the release of the film The Pink Panther in 1963. The role of Clouseau was originated by and is most closely associated with Peter Sellers. Most of the films were written and directed by Blake Edwards, with theme music composed by Henry Mancini. Elements and characters inspired by the films were adapted into other media, including books, comic books, video games and animated series.

Contents

The first film in the series derives its name from a pink diamond that has enormous size and value. The diamond is called the "Pink Panther" because the flaw at its center, when viewed closely, is said to resemble a leaping pink panther. The phrase reappears in the title of the fourth film The Return of the Pink Panther , in which the theft of the diamond is again the center of the plot. The phrase was used for all the subsequent films in the series, even when the jewel did not figure in the plot. The jewel ultimately appeared in six of the eleven films.

The first film in the series had an animated opening sequence, created by DePatie–Freleng Enterprises, featuring "The Pink Panther Theme" by Mancini, as well as the Pink Panther character. Designed by Hawley Pratt and Friz Freleng, the animated Pink Panther character was subsequently featured in a series of theatrical cartoons, starting with The Pink Phink in 1964. [1] The cartoon series gained its highest profile on television, aired on Saturday mornings as The Pink Panther Show . The character returned to the film series opening sequences in 1975.

Films

FilmU.S. release dateDirector(s)Screenwriter(s)Story byProducer(s)
Original series
The Pink Panther December 18, 1963 Blake Edwards Maurice Richlin & Blake Edwards— Martin Jurow
A Shot in the Dark June 23, 1964Blake Edwards & William Peter Blatty —Blake Edwards
Inspector Clouseau May 28, 1968 Bud Yorkin Tom Waldman & Frank Waldman — Lewis J. Rachmil
The Return of the Pink Panther May 21, 1975Blake EdwardsFrank Waldman & Blake Edwards—Blake Edwards
The Pink Panther Strikes Again December 15, 1976—
Revenge of the Pink Panther July 20, 1978Frank Waldman, Ron Clark, & Blake EdwardsBlake Edwards
Trail of the Pink Panther December 17, 1982Frank Waldman, Tom Waldman, Blake Edwards, & Geoffrey EdwardsBlake Edwards & Tony Adams
Curse of the Pink Panther August 12, 1983Blake Edwards & Geoffrey Edwards—
Son of the Pink Panther August 27, 1993Blake Edwards, Madeline Sunshine, & Steve SunshineBlake EdwardsTony Adams
Reboot series
The Pink Panther February 10, 2006 Shawn Levy Len Blum & Steve Martin Len Blum & Michael Saltzman Robert Simonds
The Pink Panther 2 February 6, 2009 Harald Zwart Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber, & Steve MartinScott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber

Original series

The Pink Panther (1963)

The Pink Panther (1963), the original film of the series, centered on the Phantom/Sir Charles Lytton, portrayed by David Niven. It is set in the ski resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo. Peter Sellers's performance was so popular that the resulting series was built on the Clouseau character rather than the Phantom character. Niven and Sellers's co-stars included Capucine, Robert Wagner, and Claudia Cardinale.

A Shot in the Dark (1964)

A Shot in the Dark (1964) was released less than a year after The Pink Panther, and was the first to feature the Clouseau character as the protagonist of the film, investigating a murder set in a mansion in Paris. This film marked the first appearance of many of the tropes and supporting characters long associated with the series, including Commissioner Dreyfus (portrayed by Herbert Lom), his assistant François (portrayed by André Maranne), and Clouseau's manservant, Cato (portrayed by Burt Kwouk). Elke Sommer, George Sanders, Graham Stark, Tracy Reed and Douglas Wilmer also appeared in the film.

Inspector Clouseau (1968)

The 1968 film Inspector Clouseau stars Alan Arkin as Clouseau, and does not feature any other recurring characters from the rest of the series. Although it was produced by the Mirisch Corporation (who owned the rights to the Pink Panther and Clouseau characters), key people associated with the earlier films, such as Peter Sellers, Blake Edwards, and Henry Mancini, were not involved in the making of this film.

The Return of the Pink Panther (1975)

More than a decade after his previous portrayal, Peter Sellers returned as Clouseau in 1975's The Return of the Pink Panther. The film marked the return of the famous "Pink Panther" diamond as well as most of the creative team associated with the prior films, including director Blake Edwards, composer Henry Mancini, Herbert Lom as Dreyfus, Burt Kwouk as Cato and André Maranne as François. David Niven did not reprise the role of Sir Charles Lytton, who is portrayed in the film by Christopher Plummer instead. The film also co-starred Catherine Schell, Peter Arne, and Graham Stark.

The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976)

In The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976), Dreyfus' insanity reached its zenith, as he tried to blackmail the rest of the world into killing Clouseau. It co-starred Leonard Rossiter, Lesley-Anne Down, Michael Robbins, Colin Blakely, and featured an uncredited cameo by Omar Sharif.

Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978)

Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978) pitted Clouseau against the French Connection. It is the last in which Sellers played Clouseau. It co-starred Dyan Cannon, Robert Webber, Robert Loggia and Graham Stark.

Trail of the Pink Panther (1982)

Trail of the Pink Panther (1982) was the first Pink Panther film made after Peter Sellers' death in 1980. Sellers' role is created by using scenes cut from Strikes Again, as well as flashbacks from the previous Pink Panther films. This movie was intended as a tribute to Sellers, but after its release, Sellers' widow Lynne Frederick successfully sued Edwards and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for tarnishing her late husband's memory. David Niven and Capucine reprise their original roles from the first Pink Panther film. Trail was a critical and commercial failure.

Curse of the Pink Panther (1983)

1983's Curse of the Pink Panther is the first to feature a different lead character, blundering American detective Sgt. Clifton Sleigh, portrayed by Ted Wass. Inspector Clouseau and the Pink Panther diamond, both of which had disappeared in Trail, are pursued by Sleigh. Clouseau returns, after having plastic surgery to disguise his identity, in a cameo appearance by Roger Moore (who is credited as "Turk Thrust II"). Although intended to spawn a new series of misadventures for the inept Sergeant Sleigh, the film's dismal box-office performance and critical drubbing, along with a complicated series of lawsuits between Edwards and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, led to a decade-long hiatus of the series. The lawsuit was eventually settled out of court in 1988, around the time Edwards came up with one final film idea that would ultimately become the unofficial series finale.

Son of the Pink Panther (1993)

In Son of the Pink Panther (1993), Blake Edwards made one final attempt to revive the Pink Panther series, this time by casting Italian actor Roberto Benigni as Gendarme Jacques Gambrelli, Inspector Clouseau's illegitimate son by Maria Gambrelli, the murder suspect from A Shot in the Dark (1964). Once again, regular Panther co-stars return – Herbert Lom, Burt Kwouk, and Graham Stark, and a star of the original 1963 film, Claudia Cardinale. Although intended to relaunch the series with the blundering Jacques as a lead, Son failed both critically and commercially and became the final installment in the original Pink Panther series. It was also the final film for both retiring director Blake Edwards and composer Henry Mancini, who died in 1994.

Reboot series

The Pink Panther (2006)

This reboot launches a new Pink Panther film series starring Steve Martin as Inspector Clouseau and Kevin Kline as Chief Inspector Dreyfus. Not a remake of the original film, it forms a new starting point for a contemporary series, introducing the Clouseau and Dreyfus characters along with the famous diamond to a new generation. The film was panned by most critics, and grossed $164.1 million against an $80 million budget.

The Pink Panther 2 (2009)

The sequel to Steve Martin's 2006 film. Martin reprises his role, but John Cleese replaces Kevin Kline as Chief Inspector Dreyfus. This film received negative reviews and meager box office, grossing a worldwide total of $76 million against a budget of $70 million. [2]

Future

In March 2014, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer announced plans to develop a new live-action/CGI hybrid feature film starring the Pink Panther, which was set to be directed by David Silverman, with Walter Mirisch and Julie Andrews serving as producers. Andrews, who is the widow of Blake Edwards, would be creatively involved in the process of developing the new project, which unlike previous installments would focus on the titular character instead of the franchise's main character, Inspector Jacques Clouseau. [3] By November 2020, Jeff Fowler had joined the production replacing Silverman as director. Chris Bremner was hired to write the script, while Lawrence Mirisch will serve as an additional producer. The plot will center around the Pink Panther character and Inspector Clouseau. [4] [5]

By April 2023, it was announced that after acquiring MGM, Amazon is developing new additions to the franchise in the form of a movie and television series through their subsidiary Amazon Studios (now called Amazon MGM Studios). [6] It was later reported that Eddie Murphy was in talks to star in the film as Clouseau. [7]

Main cast and characters

List indicators

This section includes characters who will appear or have appeared in multiple installments in the franchise.

CharacterOriginal seriesReboot series
The Pink Panther A Shot in the Dark Inspector Clouseau The Return of the Pink Panther The Pink Panther Strikes Again Revenge of the Pink Panther Trail of the Pink Panther Curse of the Pink Panther Son of the Pink Panther The Pink Panther The Pink Panther 2
Inspector Jacques Clouseau Peter Sellers Alan Arkin Peter SellersPeter Sellers A
Daniel Peacock Y
Lucca Mezzofanti Y 		Roger Moore C Peter Sellers P Steve Martin
Sir Charles Lytton/The Phantom David Niven Christopher Plummer David Niven
Rich Little V U
Simone Clouseau/Lady Simone Lytton Capucine Capucine
George Lytton Robert Wagner Robert Wagner
Chief Inspector Charles Dreyfus Herbert Lom Herbert Lom Kevin Kline John Cleese
Cato Fong Burt Kwouk Burt Kwouk
Sergeant François Chevalier/François Duval André Maranne André Maranne Dermot Crowley
Hercule LaJoy Graham Stark Graham Stark
Maria Gambrelli Elke Sommer Claudia Cardinale
Professor Auguste Balls Harvey Korman E Graham StarkHarvey Korman A Harvey KormanGraham Stark
Gendarme Gilbert Ponton Jean Reno
Nicole Durant Emily Mortimer
RenardPhilip Goodwin

Recurring cast members

ActorFilm
The Pink Panther A Shot in the Dark Inspector Clouseau The Return of the Pink Panther The Pink Panther Strikes Again Revenge of the Pink Panther Trail of the Pink Panther Curse of the Pink Panther Son of the Pink Panther The Pink Panther The Pink Panther 2
Graham Stark Hercule LaJoyPepiBavarian InnkeeperProf. Auguste BallsHercule LaJoyWaiterProf. Auguste Balls
David Lodge Georges DuvalMac
Douglas Wilmer Henri LaFargePolice Commissioner
Claudia Cardinale Princess DalaMaria Gambrelli
Joanna Lumley Marie JouvetCountess Chandra
Robert Loggia Al MarchioneBruno Langois
Peter Arne Colonel SharkiColonel Bufoni
Julie Andrews Maid (deleted scene)Ainsley Jarvis (singing voice)Charwoman
Eric Pohlmann BergeschThe Fat Man
Geoffrey Bayldon GutchDr. Claude Duval
Tutte Lemkow Kazak dancerFrenchie LeBec
John Bluthal Blind BeggarGuard at Cemetery
Herb TanneyNice police chiefNorwegian assassinHong Kong police chiefLugash secret policemanJean Claude

Additional crew and production details

FilmProducerDirectorScreenwriterProduction DesignerCinematographerEditorComposer
The Pink Panther Martin Jurow Blake Edwards Maurice Richlin & Blake Edwards Fernando Carrere Philip H. Lathrop Ralph E. Winters Henry Mancini
A Shot in the Dark Blake EdwardsBlake Edwards & William Peter Blatty Michael Stringer Christopher Challis
Inspector Clouseau Lewis J. Rachmil Bud Yorkin Tom Waldman & Frank Waldman Arthur Ibbetson John Victor-Smith Ken Thorne
The Return of the Pink Panther Blake Edwards & Tony Adams Blake EdwardsFrank Waldman & Blake EdwardsPeter Mullins Geoffrey Unsworth Alan JonesHenry Mancini
The Pink Panther Strikes Again Harry Waxman
Revenge of the Pink Panther Frank Waldman & Ron Clark & Blake Edwards Ernest Day
Trail of the Pink Panther Frank Waldman & Tom Waldman & Blake Edwards & Geoffrey Edwards Dick Bush
Curse of the Pink Panther Blake Edwards & Geoffrey EdwardsRalph E. Winters
Son of the Pink Panther Blake Edwards & Madeline Sunshine & Steve SunshineRobert Pergament
The Pink Panther Robert Simonds Shawn Levy Len Blum & Steve Martin & Michael Saltzman Lilly Kilvert Jonathan Brown George Folsey, Jr. Christophe Beck
The Pink Panther 2 Harald Zwart Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber & Steve MartinRusty Smith Denis Crossan Julia Wong

Production

Development

20th-century film series

Most of the films in the series starred Peter Sellers as Inspector Clouseau and were directed and co-written by Blake Edwards. As detailed in the director's commentary for the first film, the Inspector Clouseau character was originally conceived as a vehicle for David Niven, but once written it was decided he should play the raconteur/thief. Then the role was offered to Peter Ustinov, with Ava Gardner to play his wife. When Gardner dropped out, so did Ustinov, so the role of Clouseau went to Sellers. Apparently, the tone of the film changed after Edwards picked up Sellers from the airport, and during the ride to the hotel, they bonded over their mutual love of old film comedians like Harold Lloyd, Buster Keaton and Laurel & Hardy. The role was then modified to include elements of slapstick. The jazz-based Pink Panther Theme was composed by Henry Mancini. In addition to the credits sequences, the theme often accompanies any suspenseful sequence in the first film and in most of the subsequent films featuring the character of Clouseau.

The "Pink Panther" of the title is a diamond supposedly containing a flaw that forms the image of a "leaping panther" which can be seen if held up to the light in a certain way. This is explained at the beginning of the first film, and the camera zooms in on the diamond to reveal the blurry flaw, which focuses on the cartoon Panther (though not actually leaping) to begin the opening credits sequence. (This is also done in The Return of the Pink Panther [1975].) The plot of the first film is based on the theft of this diamond. The diamond reappears in several later films in the series, The Return of the Pink Panther (1975), Trail of the Pink Panther (1982) and Curse of the Pink Panther (1983). It also appears in the revival of the Inspector Clouseau character in the Steve Martin reboot films The Pink Panther (2006), and its sequel The Pink Panther 2 (2009). The name "the Pink Panther" became attached to Inspector Clouseau in much the same way that Frankenstein has been used in film titles to refer to Dr. Frankenstein's creation, or The Thin Man was used in a series of detective films.

A Shot in the Dark , the second film in the series, was not originally intended to feature Clouseau and is the first of two films in the series (the other being Inspector Clouseau) that features neither the diamond nor the distinctive animated Pink Panther character in the opening credits and ending. Many critics, including Leonard Maltin, regard A Shot in the Dark as the best film in the series.

In the original film, released in 1963, the main focus was on David Niven's role as Sir Charles Litton, the infamous jewel thief nicknamed "the Phantom", and his plan to steal the Pink Panther diamond. Inspector Clouseau was only a secondary character as Litton's incompetent antagonist and provided slapstick to an otherwise subtle, lighthearted caper film, a somewhat jarring contrast of styles which is typical of Edwards's films. The popularity of Clouseau caused him to become the main character in subsequent Pink Panther films, which were more straightforward slapstick comedies.

Mancini's theme, with variations in arrangement, is used at the start of all but the first two of the subsequent films. Mancini's other themes for the first film include an Italian-language set-piece called " Meglio stasera ", whose purpose seems primarily to introduce young actress Fran Jeffries. Portions of an instrumental version also appear in the film's musical score several times. Other segments include "Shades of Sennett", a "honky-tonk" piano number introducing the film's climactic chase scene through the streets of Rome. Most of the remaining tracks on the soundtrack album are the early 1960s orchestral jazz pieces, matching the style of the era. Although variations of the main theme would reprise for many of the Pink Panther series entries, as well as the cartoon series, Mancini composed different theme music for A Shot in the Dark; this theme was later adopted by the animated spin-off series The Inspector .

Although official, the live-action film Inspector Clouseau (1968) starring Alan Arkin as Clouseau, is generally not considered by fans to be part of the series canon, since it involved neither Sellers nor Edwards. However, some elements of Arkin's performance and costuming of Clouseau were retained when Peter Sellers resumed the role of Return in 1975. Despite speculation, Alan Arkin does not appear in Trail of the Pink Panther .

2000s film series

The film that launched the second Pink Panther series, The Pink Panther , starring Steve Martin as Clouseau, directed by Shawn Levy and produced by Robert Simonds, was released in February 2006 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and was co-produced with Columbia Pictures. It is set in the present day and introduces different main characters, therefore belonging to a different continuity. Martin also stars in the sequel, The Pink Panther 2 , released in 2009.

Reception

Box office performance

FilmRelease dateBox office grossBudgetRef.
North AmericaOther territoriesWorldwide
Original series
The Pink Panther 18 December 1963$10,878,107—$10,878,107 [8]
A Shot in the Dark 23 June 1964$12,368,234—$12,368,234 [9]
Inspector Clouseau 28 May 1968$1,900,000—$1,900,000
The Return of the Pink Panther 21 May 1975$41,833,347—$41,833,347$5 million [10]
The Pink Panther Strikes Again 15 December 1976$33,833,201—$33,833,201$6 million [11]
Revenge of the Pink Panther 19 June 1978$49,579,269—$49,579,269$12 million [12]
Trail of the Pink Panther 17 December 1982$9,056,073—$9,056,073$6 million [13]
Curse of the Pink Panther 12 August 1983$4,491,986—$4,491,986$11 million [14]
Son of the Pink Panther 27 August 1993$2,438,031—$2,438,031$28 million [15]
Reboot series
The Pink Panther 9 February 2006$82,226,474$81,889,423$164,115,897$80 million [16]
The Pink Panther 2 5 February 2009$35,922,978$40,102,156$76,025,134$70 million [17]
Total$284,527,700$121,991,579$406,519,279$218,000,000

Critical and public response

TitleClouseau actorRelease dateRotten TomatoesBudgetUS/Canada grossWorldwide grossref
Original series
The Pink Panther Peter SellersDecember 18, 1963 90% N/A$10,878,107N/A [18]
A Shot in the Dark Peter SellersJune 23, 1964 93% N/A$12,368,234N/A [19]
Inspector Clouseau Alan ArkinFebruary 14, 1968N/AN/A$1,900,000N/A
The Return of the Pink Panther Peter SellersMay 21, 1975 89% $5 million$41,833,347$75,000,000 [20] [21]
The Pink Panther Strikes Again Peter SellersDecember 15, 1976 83% $6 million$33,833,201$75,000,000 [22] [23] [24]
Revenge of the Pink Panther Peter SellersJuly 19, 1978 78% $12 million$49,579,269N/A [25]
Trail of the Pink Panther Peter Sellers (outtake footage)December 17, 1982 25% $6 million$9,056,073N/A [26]
Curse of the Pink Panther Ted Wass (as Sergeant Sleigh, an American bumbling detective)August 12, 1983 29% $11 million$4,491,986N/A [27]
Son of the Pink Panther Roberto Benigni (as Officer Gambrelli, Clouseau's illegitimate son)August 27, 1993 6% $28 million$2,438,031$20,000,000 [28] [29]
Reboot series
The Pink Panther Steve MartinFebruary 10, 2006 21% $80 million$82,226,474$164,115,897 [30]
The Pink Panther 2 Steve MartinFebruary 6, 2009 12% $70 million$35,922,978$76,025,134 [31]

Cartoons

The opening title sequence in the original 1963 The Pink Panther film was such a success with the United Artists executives that they decided to adapt the title sequence into a series of theatrical animated shorts. DePatie–Freleng Enterprises, run by former Warner Bros. Cartoons personnel David H. DePatie and Isadore "Friz" Freleng, produced the opening sequences, with Freleng as director. United Artists commissioned a long series of The Pink Panther shorts, the first of which, 1964's The Pink Phink, won the 1964 Academy Award for Animated Short Film. This was the first (and to date only) time a studio's first work won an Oscar. [32]

By the autumn of 1969, the shorts were being broadcast on NBC [33] during Saturday mornings on The Pink Panther Show; after 1969, new shorts were produced for both television broadcast and theatrical release. A number of sister series also joined the Pink Panther character on movie screens and on the airwaves, including The Inspector, featuring a comical French police officer based on the Jacques Clouseau character. Traditionally mute, the Pink Panther was given the voice of actor Matt Frewer for a 1993-1995 animated TV series.

The animated Pink Panther character has also appeared in computer and console video games, as well as advertising campaigns for several companies, most notably for Owens Corning Fiberglass insulation. There was also a short-lived animated series called Pink Panther and Pals (2010) which is aimed at younger children. In 2014, MGM announced (see above) that it was planning an animation / live-action hybrid film reboot of the franchise, [34] to be directed by David Silverman and produced by Walter Mirisch and Julie Andrews. [35] But in November 2020, it was later announced that Jeff Fowler will direct the movie instead with Mirisch and Andrews still producing. The animated Pink Panther character also appeared in a short animated segment on the educational TV series Sesame Street , demonstrating his karate skills to carve the letter K out of a block of stone, only for it to crumble quickly afterward.

Cancelled projects

Romance of the Pink Panther

Romance of the Pink Panther would have been the seventh film in the franchise, and written by Peter Sellers and Jim Moloney. [36] Due to a rift between Blake Edwards and Sellers, Edwards would not have directed the film. The basic plot was to involve Inspector Clouseau becoming smitten with a cat burglar called "the Frog", played by Pamela Stephenson. [37] Shortly after Sellers' death in July 1980, it was reported that Dudley Moore might play Clouseau, but Blake Edwards instead chose to introduce a new character in the series, rather than recast the role of Clouseau. Both Clive Donner and Sidney Poitier were reported at various times to be directing the movie, with Donner's name in that role on the cover sheet of the July 1980 'final draft' script.

Pink Panther television series

In the late 1980s, MGM/UA had been developing a live action/animation hybrid Pink Panther TV series, focusing on a young reporter to be portrayed by Charlie Schlatter who is helped in his investigations by the Pink Panther. The series was encouraged by the success of Who Framed Roger Rabbit , but for unknown reasons, it was not greenlit. [38]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inspector Clouseau</span> Fictional character created by Blake Edwards

Inspector Jacques Clouseau, later granted the rank of Chief Inspector, is a fictional character in Blake Edwards' farcical The Pink Panther series. Clouseau's immense ego, eccentricity, exaggerated French accent, and prominent mustache are all a parody of Hercule Poirot, the fictional Belgian detective created by Agatha Christie. He is portrayed by Peter Sellers in the original series, and also by Alan Arkin in the 1968 film Inspector Clouseau and, in a cameo, by Roger Moore in the 1983 film Curse of the Pink Panther. In the 2006 reboot and its 2009 sequel, Clouseau is portrayed by Steve Martin. Clouseau's likeness also appears in the Pink Panther animated cartoon shorts and segments, where he is known as simply "the Inspector".

DePatie–Freleng Enterprises, Inc. was an American animation studio founded in May 1963 by former Warner Bros. Cartoons employees Friz Freleng and David H. DePatie. It was acquired by Marvel in 1981 and renamed Marvel Productions. Based in Burbank, California, DFE produced animation for film and television.

<i>The Pink Phink</i> 1964 animated short film directed by Friz Freleng

The Pink Phink is a 1964 American animated short comedy film directed by Friz Freleng. It is the first animated short starring the Pink Panther, based on the character created for the opening credits of Blake Edwards' film released a year earlier. The short won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short at the 37th Academy Awards.

<i>The Inspector</i> American animated film series

The Inspector is an American series of 34 theatrical cartoon shorts produced between 1965 and 1969 by DePatie–Freleng Enterprises and released through United Artists. The cartoons are dedicated to an animated version of Inspector Clouseau comically battling against a rogues' gallery of internationally styled villains.

<i>A Shot in the Dark</i> (1964 film) 1964 film by Blake Edwards

A Shot in the Dark is a 1964 comedy film directed by Blake Edwards in Panavision. Produced as a standalone sequel to The Pink Panther, it is the second installment in the eponymous film series, with Peter Sellers reprising his role as Inspector Jacques Clouseau of the French Sûreté.

<i>Trail of the Pink Panther</i> 1982 comedy film by Blake Edwards

Trail of the Pink Panther is a 1982 comedy film directed by Blake Edwards and starring Peter Sellers. It is the seventh film in The Pink Panther series, the first film in the series following Sellers's death and also the last in which he appeared as Inspector Clouseau. Sellers died 18 months before production began; his performance consists entirely of his deleted scenes and outtakes from previous films. Although the Sellers estate sued United Artists and the unauthorized use of the footage was ruled illegal, the film was allowed to be released. The newly shot material in the film stars Joanna Lumley as journalist Marie Jouvet searching for the missing Clouseau – and running afoul of the inspector's enemies who do not wish to see him return.

<i>The Pink Panther Strikes Again</i> 1976 American British comedy film by Blake Edwards

The Pink Panther Strikes Again is a 1976 comedy film. The fifth film in The Pink Panther series, its plot begins three years after the conclusion of The Return of the Pink Panther. Unused footage from the film was later included in Trail of the Pink Panther (1982), released after Peter Sellers's death.

<i>The Return of the Pink Panther</i> 1975 detective comedy film by Blake Edwards

The Return of the Pink Panther is a 1975 comedy film and the fourth film in The Pink Panther series. The film stars Peter Sellers returning to the role of Inspector Clouseau for the first time since A Shot in the Dark (1964), after having declined to reprise the role in Inspector Clouseau (1968).

The Pink Panther is a series of films featuring the fictional Inspector Clouseau, played by Peter Sellers, that began in 1963.

<i>Curse of the Pink Panther</i> 1983 American film

Curse of the Pink Panther is a 1983 comedy film and a continuation of The Pink Panther series of films created by Blake Edwards in the early 1960s. The film was one of two produced concurrently following the death of the series' star Peter Sellers. Whereas the previous film Trail of the Pink Panther made use of unused footage of Sellers as Inspector Clouseau and starred Joanna Lumley as journalist Marie Jouvet, Curse attempted to relaunch the series with a new lead, Ted Wass, as inept American detective Clifton Sleigh, assigned to find the missing Inspector Clouseau.

<i>Son of the Pink Panther</i> 1993 film by Blake Edwards

Son of the Pink Panther is a 1993 comedy film. It is the ninth and final installment of the original The Pink Panther film series starting from the 1963 film. Directed by Blake Edwards, it stars Roberto Benigni as Inspector Clouseau's illegitimate son. Also in this film are Panther regulars Herbert Lom, Burt Kwouk and Graham Stark and a star of the original 1963 film, Claudia Cardinale. It was the final film for both director Blake Edwards and composer Henry Mancini; Mancini died on June 14, 1994, and Edwards retired from film-making in 1995.

<i>The Pink Panther</i> (2006 film) 2006 comedy film directed by Shawn Levy

The Pink Panther is a 2006 American comedy-mystery film and a reboot of The Pink Panther franchise, marking the tenth installment in the series. It is also the first Pink Panther film to be released since Son of the Pink Panther in 1993. In this film, Inspector Jacques Clouseau is assigned to solve the murder of a famous soccer coach and the theft of the famous Pink Panther diamond. The film was directed by Shawn Levy, stars Steve Martin as Clouseau and also co-stars Kevin Kline, Jean Reno, Emily Mortimer, and Beyoncé Knowles.

<i>The Pink Panther</i> (1963 film) 1963 detective comedy film by Blake Edwards

The Pink Panther is a 1963 American comedy film directed by Blake Edwards and distributed by United Artists. It was written by Maurice Richlin and Blake Edwards. It is the first installment in The Pink Panther franchise. Its story follows Inspector Jacques Clouseau as he travels from Rome to Cortina d'Ampezzo to catch a notorious jewel thief known as "The Phantom" before he is able to steal a priceless diamond known as "The Pink Panther". The film stars David Niven, Peter Sellers, Robert Wagner, Capucine and Claudia Cardinale.

<i>Inspector Clouseau</i> (film) 1968 detective comedy film by Bud Yorkin

Inspector Clouseau is a 1968 British comedy film, and the third installment in The Pink Panther film series. It was directed by Bud Yorkin, written by brothers Frank Waldman and Tom Waldman and stars Alan Arkin as the title character. It was filmed by Mirisch Films at the MGM-British Studios, Borehamwood and in Europe.

The Mirisch Company was an American film production company owned by Walter Mirisch and his brothers, Marvin and Harold Mirisch. The company also had sister firms known at various times as Mirisch Production Company, Mirisch Pictures Inc., Mirisch Films, and The Mirisch Corporation.

<i>Revenge of the Pink Panther</i> 1978 comedy film directed by Blake Edwards

Revenge of the Pink Panther is a 1978 comedy film. It is the sixth film in The Pink Panther comedy film series. Released in 1978, it is the final on-set performance of Peter Sellers in the role of Inspector Jacques Clouseau. It was also the last installment in the series that was distributed solely by United Artists; the company was absorbed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer three years after the film's release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pink Panther (character)</span> Fictional animated character

The Pink Panther is a fictional animated character who appears in the opening or closing credit sequences of every film in The Pink Panther series except for A Shot in the Dark and Inspector Clouseau. In the storyline of the original film, the "Pink Panther" is the name of a valuable pink diamond named for a flaw that shows a "figure of a springing panther" when held up to the light in a certain way; in the credits this was translated to an animated pink panther. Only the first Pink Panther film and its third sequel, The Return of the Pink Panther, featured the diamond.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Pink Panther Theme</span> 1963 jazz piece by Henry Mancini

"The Pink Panther Theme" is a jazz composition by Henry Mancini written as the theme for the 1963 film The Pink Panther and subsequently nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Score at the 37th Academy Awards but lost to the Sherman Brothers for Mary Poppins. The eponymous cartoon character created for the film's opening credits by David DePatie and Friz Freleng was animated in time to the tune. The tenor saxophone solo was played by Plas Johnson.

<i>The Pink Panther 2</i> 2009 American film

The Pink Panther 2 is a 2009 American comedy-mystery film directed by Harald Zwart. It is the eleventh installment in The Pink Panther film series and the sequel to the 2006 film The Pink Panther, a reboot of the popular comedy series. The film was released on February 6, 2009 in North America. In the film, Inspector Clouseau must team up with detectives from other countries to rout a daring burglar, The Tornado, who has returned after a decade's inactivity.

References

  1. ↑ Lenburg, Jeff (1999). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons. Checkmark Books. pp. 118–119. ISBN   0-8160-3831-7 . Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  2. ↑ "The Pink Panther 2 (2009)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  3. ↑ "MGM To Make New Live-Action/CG 'Pink Panther' Movie". Deadline Hollywood .
  4. ↑ Kroll, Justin (November 19, 2020). "'Pink Panther': MGM Developing Live-Action/CGI Hybrid Movie With 'Sonic The Hedgehog's Jeff Fowler Directing". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Jeff Fowler to Direct Live-Action CGI-Hybrid 'Pink Panther' for MGM". November 19, 2020.
  6. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie; White, Peter (April 14, 2023). "'Robocop,' 'Stargate', 'Legally Blonde' & 'Barbershop' Among Titles In Works For Film & TV As Amazon Looks To Supercharge MGM IP". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Eddie Murphy in Talks to Star in 'Pink Panther' Movie (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter . 17 May 2023.
  8. ↑ "The Pink Panther (1963 film)".
  9. ↑ "A Shot in the Dark (1964 film) - Financial Information".
  10. ↑ "The Return of the Pink Panther - Financial Information".
  11. ↑ "The Pink Panther Strikes Again - Financial Information".
  12. ↑ "Revenge of the Pink Panther - Financial Information".
  13. ↑ "Trail of the Pink Panther".
  14. ↑ "Curse of the Pink Panther".
  15. ↑ "Son of the Pink Panther".
  16. ↑ "The Pink Panther(2006 film)".
  17. ↑ "The Pink Panther 2".
  18. ↑ The Pink Panther (1963) at Box Office Mojo
  19. ↑ A Shot in the Dark at Box Office Mojo
  20. ↑ The Return of the Pink Panther at Box Office Mojo
  21. ↑ "The Pink Panther Strikes Again (advertisement)". Variety . December 22, 1976. p. 9.
  22. ↑ The Pink Panther Strikes Again at Box Office Mojo
  23. ↑ "UA Film Rental Highlights of 1977". Variety . January 11, 1978. p. 3.
  24. ↑ "New 'Pink Panther,' Set For July Bow, Tops $7-Mil in Blind Bids". Variety . March 22, 1978. p. 39.
  25. ↑ Revenge of the Pink Panther at Box Office Mojo
  26. ↑ Trail of the Pink Panther at Box Office Mojo
  27. ↑ Curse of the Pink Panther at Box Office Mojo
  28. ↑ Son of the Pink Panther at Box Office Mojo
  29. ↑ Groves, Don (November 14, 1994). "'Lion King' conquers French B.O.". Variety . p. 14. made $18 million [in Italy]
  30. ↑ The Pink Panther (2006) at Box Office Mojo
  31. ↑ The Pink Panther 2 at Box Office Mojo
  32. ↑ "The Pink Phink." www.bcdb.com, April 13, 2013.
  33. ↑ "The Pink Panther Show." www.bcdb.com, April 14, 2014.
  34. ↑ George Wales (2 April 2014). "Pink Panther getting animated reboot". Total Film. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  35. ↑ Koch, Dave (April 14, 2014). "Pink Turns 50! Let's Celebrate!". Big Cartoon News. Archived from the original on April 15, 2014. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  36. ↑ "Romance of the Pink Panther – the Never Released Pink Panther Movie – Pink Panther Mania". 12 November 2018.
  37. ↑ Bach, Steven (1985). Final Cut: Dreams and Disaster in the Making of Heaven's Gate . New York: New American Library. p.  262. ISBN   0451400364.
  38. ↑ "'PANTHER' ANIMATION WON'T RIVAL 'ROGER'". Orlando Sentinel. 3 August 1989. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
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