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The Pink Panther
Directed by	Blake Edwards
Produced by	Martin Jurow
Written by	Blake Edwards Maurice Richlin
Starring	David Niven Peter Sellers Claudia Cardinale Robert Wagner
Music by	Henry Mancini
Cinematography	Philip H. Lathrop
Editing by	Ralph E. Winters
Distributed by	United Artists Corp. The Mirisch Company
Release date(s)	December 19, 1963 (Germany) March 20, 1964 (USA)
Running time	113 min.
Country	UK / USA
Language	English
Followed by	A Shot in the Dark
All Movie Guide profile
IMDb profile

The Pink Panther, directed by Blake Edwards and co-written by Edwards and Maurice Richlin, is a 1963 comedy film, starring David Niven, Peter Sellers, and Robert Wagner.

It is the first entry in what became a film franchise, concerning the adventures of bumbling Inspector Jacques Clouseau (played by Peter Sellers) and his attempts to locate the Pink Panther diamond. The film also introduced the cartoon character of the same name, in an opening credits sequence animated by DePatie-Freleng Enterprises. (In 2006 MGM did a reboot of the series, with Steve Martin starring as Clouseau.)

The Pink Panther was originally released theatrically by United Artists, and is now available on VHS and DVD from MGM Home Entertainment.

The Technirama film was shot in an aspect ratio of 2.20:1 in Technicolor. Promotional taglines for the initial release included "A Madcap Frolic Of Crime and Fun" and "You only live once, so see The Pink Panther twice!"

This film is number 62 on Bravo's list of "100 Funniest Movies".

Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Trivia 4 Soundtrack album 4.1 Side one 4.2 Side two 5 The Pink Panther film series 6 External links

As a child, Lugash princess Dala's father gives her as a gift the largest diamond in the world, the Pink Panther. The huge pink diamond has an unusual flaw: if one stares into the stone long enough, one can see what appears to be a leaping panther, hence the name. When Dala is a young woman, rebels in her home country have seized power and are demanding the return of the jewel.

Dala relaxes on holiday in an exclusive skiing resort in Cortina d'Ampezzo; but noted British capitalist, Sir Charles Lytton, who leads a secret life as a jewel thief called the Phantom, has his eyes on the Pink Panther. Charles's American playboy nephew George follows to the resort in an attempt to steal it and blame it on "The Phantom", not knowing (at first) that the Phantom is his uncle. George later becomes an accessory to the crime.

On the Phantom's trail is French police inspector Jacques Clouseau of the Sûreté, whose wife (unknown to him) is the paramour of Charles and helper in the Phantom's crimes. Clouseau tries to stop the theft attempts, but he is so clueless that when several attempts are made at a fancy dress party, he looks everywhere but the right place.

In spite of himself, the buffoonish inspector captures Sir Charles and his accomplices. Madame Clouseau arranges (most likely through bribes) for the barrister to ask a series of questions that will implicate the Inspector as an alternative suspect. At Madame's request, made on the grounds that Sir Charles had wanted to renege on his plan and so was worthy of pardon, Dala secretly attaches the Pink Panther to the Inspector's handkerchief. When Clouseau unwittingly produces the supposedly missing jewel from his pocket during the trial, he is convicted of the crime instead of the actual perpetrators. The said perpetrators escape, laughing.

Consequently, Clouseau is sent to prison, though he knows that testimony from his assistant will set him free soon. When told that, as "The Phantom", he is a sex idol for millions of young women and asked how he committed the earlier thefts of the Panther and similar jewels, he can say nothing but "Well... you know – it wasn't easy."

The cartoon character of the Pink Panther then closes the film. Because of Clouseau's popularity among viewers, the sequel A Shot in the Dark was rewritten to include him; whereas the film was originally intended to create a series of movies for David Niven's character, the Phantom. Later during the same year, the animated Pink Panther character got his own series of animated shorts.

• David Niven - Sir Charles Lytton
• Peter Sellers - Insp. Jacques Clouseau
• Robert Wagner - George Lytton
• Capucine - Simone Clouseau
• Brenda De Banzie - Angela Dunning
• Colin Gordon - Tucker
• John Le Mesurier - Defense attorney
• James Lanphier - Saloud
• Guy Thomajan - Artoff
• Michael Trubshawe - Felix Townes
• Riccardo Billi - Aristotle Sarajos
• Meri Welles - Monica Fawn
• Martin Miller - Pierre Luigi
• Fran Jeffries - Greek cousin
• Claudia Cardinale - Princess Dala

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

• Claudia Cardinale couldn't speak English, and all her lines were dubbed. She has since learned to speak English fluently.

• The role of Clouseau was originally offered to Peter Ustinov. Ustinov dropped out days before shooting commenced. Upset by this, Blake Edwards sued Ustinov, and won.

• The film is the only Pink Panther movie made by Blake Edwards which does not star Herbert Lom, Burt Kwouk, or Graham Stark.

• The sequel was shot and released only 3 months after The Pink Panther was finished.

• Ava Gardner was originally offered the role of Madame Clouseau, but her salary demands were considered unacceptable and the role was offered to Capucine instead.

• Capucine was offered the role of Madame Clouseau after her friend, Audrey Hepburn, suggested her to Blake Edwards. Audrey Hepburn had worked with Edwards on Breakfast at Tiffany's and had been friends with Capucine for many years.

• Later the same year, the animated Pink Panther character got his own series of animated shorts.

• At the beginning of the film, as Madame Clouseau runs through a hotel lobby while fleeing the police, a monk can briefly be seen in the background, signing the ledger. Judging by the distinctive color of his robe, it is likely that he was (or was supposed to be) a Capuchin monk, a play on the actress' name, Capucine.

The soundtrack album was released on RCA Victor, and consisted of music written by Henry Mancini, performed by his orchestra, and featured in the film.

• All songs written by Henry Mancini, except where noted.

1. "The Pink Panther Theme" - 2:35
2. "It Had Better Be Tonight (Meglio Stasera)" (Instrumental) - 1:44
3. "Royal Blue" - 3:09
4. "Champagne and Quail" - 2:45
5. "The Village Inn" - 2:34
6. "The Tiber Twist" - 2:47

1. "It Had Better Be Tonight (Meglio Stasera)" (Vocal) (Henry Mancini - Johnny Mercer) - 1:56
2. "Cortina" - 1:52
3. "The Lonely Princess" - 2:25
4. "Something for Sellers" - 2:45
5. "Piano and Strings" - 2:34
6. "Shades of Sennett" - 1:22

• The Pink Panther (1963)
• A Shot in the Dark (1964)
• Inspector Clouseau (1968) (stars Alan Arkin as Clouseau, and not directed by Edwards)
• The Return of the Pink Panther (1975) (with Sellers and Edwards back)
• The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976)
• Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978)
• Trail of the Pink Panther (1982) (features the now deceased Peter Sellers by using clips from previous films)
• Curse of the Pink Panther (1983) (in which Clouseau has conveniently gone missing and returns in the form of an uncredited Roger Moore)
• Son of the Pink Panther (1993) (starring Roberto Benigni as Inspector Clouseau, Jr.)
• The Pink Panther (2006) (starring Steve Martin as Inspector Clouseau.)
• The Pink Panther 2 (2009)

• The Pink Panther at the Internet Movie Database

Blake Edwards
The Pink Panther	The Pink Panther (1963) | A Shot in the Dark (1964) | The Return of the Pink Panther (1975) | The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976) | Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978) | Trail of the Pink Panther (1982) | Curse of the Pink Panther (1983) | Son of the Pink Panther (1993) |
1950s	Bring Your Smile Along | He Laughed Last | Mister Cory | This Happy Feeling | The Perfect Furlough | Operation Petticoat
1960s	High Time | Breakfast at Tiffany's | Experiment in Terror | Days of Wine and Roses | The Great Race | What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? | Gunn | The Party
1970s	Darling Lili | Wild Rovers | The Carey Treatment | The Tamarind Seed | 10
1980s	S.O.B. | Victor/Victoria | The Man Who Loved Women | Micki + Maude | A Fine Mess | That's Life! | Blind Date | Sunset | Skin Deep
1990s	Switch
Productions	Panhandle (1948) | Soldier in the Rain (1963)
Television	Four Star Playhouse (1952–1956) | Peter Gunn (1958–1961) | Mr. Lucky (1959–1960) | The Dick Powell Show (1961–1963) | Justin Case (1988) | Peter Gunn (1989) | Julie (1992) | Victor/Victoria (1995)

v • d • e The Pink Panther and Inspector Clouseau
Theatrical films	The Pink Panther (1963) A Shot in the Dark (1964) Inspector Clouseau (1968) Return of the Pink Panther (1975) The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976) Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978) Trail of the Pink Panther (1982) Curse of the Pink Panther (1983) Son of the Pink Panther (1993) The Pink Panther (2006) The Pink Panther Deux (2008) (tentative)
Theatrical shorts	The original Pink Panther shorts (1964-1980)
Television shows	The Pink Panther Show (NBC, 1969-1970 and various spinoffs) Pink Panther and Sons (1984-1985) The Pink Panther (1993) (Syndication, 1993-1995)
Television specials	The Pink Panther in: A Pink Christmas (ABC, 1978) The Pink Panther in: Olym-Pinks (ABC, 1980) The Pink Panther in: Pink at First Sight (ABC, 1981)
Characters	The Pink Panther • The Little Man • The Inspector