The plot: Princess Dala has the largest diamond in the world, called the "Pink Panther". Now rebels in her home country have taken control and are demanding the return of the diamond. While Dala is on holiday in an skiing resort in Switzerland. Sir Charles Lytton, an english playboy is also in town. He is secretly "The Phantom" - a jewel thief who has eyes on the Pink Panther. Charles's playboy nephew George follows to the resort in an attempt to steal it and blame it on "The Phantom", not knowing that it's his uncle. On the Phantom's trail is Inspector Jacques Clouseau, from France, and his wife who, is the lover of Charles and helper in the Phantom's crime. Jacques tries to stop the attempts but he is so clueless that when several attempts are made at a fantasy-dress party, Closeau looks everywhere but the right place.
My opinion: The first pink panther movie isn't very funny. What happens is, Seller's character isnt the movie focus as it is on other movies, and Closeau doesnt has the funny qualities he'll present on the other films. But if you are one of these people who like to do all sort of things in order, and you cant see. But to make the movie worth there's a very funny sequence near the end (with cars, zebras, and an italian old man)...
The Plot: When rich M. Ballon's spanish driver is found shot dead, Inspector Jacques Clouseau is the first official on the scene. All evidence suggests Maria Gambrelli, the maid, to be the murderer. But Clouseau, being attracted to the beautiful girl, is convinced that she is hiding something. So, he has her released from jail and tries to follow her secretly. Things do not work out the way the inspector wanted and people keep being murdered, and each time innocent Maria seems to be the killer. But with someone important wanting Clouseau and nobody else to cover this case, his tolerance-challenged boss Charles Dreyfuss is close to losing his mind when casualties keep turning up. And Clouseau keeps on causing trouble without knowing it...
My opinion: This is a very funny movie, and it's almost always considered the best one of all pink panther's movies. I'm not sure if I agree with it, but it's certainly one of the bests, where Seller's character starts picking the mannerisms he would later exagerate on the other movies. rent it, for sure. it's worth it.
The Plot: The "Pink Panther" Diamond is stolen once again from Lugash and a white glove is left making everybody think that the famous jewel thief "The Phantom" has stolen it. This surprises everybody as it was thought that The Phantom was retired. It also surprises The Phantom himself AKA Sir Charles Lytton as he didn't do it and he sets out from the South of France to Lugash find the diamond and to clear his name as pressure is made from the Lugash authorities to give back the diamond. Meanwhile, infamous French detective Inspector Jacques Clouseau is called in to find the diamond and he immediately goes to the South Of France to check up on Sir Charles. Claudine - Charles wife discovers this and leads Clouseau on a false trail and as normal Clouseau, with his clueless methods and Cato, his oriental manservant causes mayhem as he tries to find the diamond. Meanwhile, Clouseau pushes his boss, Chief Inspector Dreyfus too far and as the story proceeds, Dreyfus makes attempts to murder Clouseau and get him out of his life forever.
My opinion: This is perhaps my favorite PP movie, there are some sequences i find hilarious in this movie, and Closeau it's at it's best, I love the fights with Cato, the disguises he uses (one of my favorites is as Guy Gadbois), and the accents. This movie has also the biggest action part of the PP movies, in the sequences that focus on Sir Charles in Lugash. Its nothing compared to any Bond movies, but then again you're not watching these movies to see fights but to laugh.
The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976)
The Plot: Now seriously mentally ill after working with Clouseau for such a long time, Inspector Dreyfus escapes from the mental asylum he was being held in and vows to destroy Clouseau forever. He kidnaps an eminent scientist and forces him to build a machine capable of destroying the world, with the intention of doing so unless Clouseau is delivered to him. Meanwhile oblivious to the danger he faces, Jacques Clouseau is currently only worried about not letting his manservant, Cato, get the better of him...
My opinion: this is the weekest plot of all the PP movies. But maybe this is why this movie is so funny....it doesn't make much sense, and this movie proves that Seller's was the reason to watch the movies, he can make it all so funny. There are some great sequences, I particularly love the part where he is disguised as a dentist.
Revenge Of The Pink Panther (1978)
The plot: French mobster, Phillip Douvier has got a problem - hardly any of the other crime families give his family any respect. To try and fix this problem, he gives orders to murder Chief Inspector Clouseau who everybody think is a genius and only a few like Chief Inspector Dreyfus know of his true stupidity. Thanks due to a mixup an escaping criminal dies in Clouseau's car, and it crashes and explodes. Everybody thinks he is dead, including Chief Inspector Dreyfus who is delighted with the news, but Clouseau, wondering who's out to kill him gets the help of his oriental servant Cato and Douvier's secretary and ex-lover Simone Legree to help solve the mystery.
My opinion: In this movie we can see that some of the jokes start to loose the fun. But it still has some great moments who make the movie worth it. as always there are the fantastic disguises, and I love the part where he is dressed as an old mariner and has a fake parrot in his shoulder.
The plot: The Pink Panther diamond is stolen once again from Lugash and the authorities call in Chief Inspector Clouseau from France. His plane disappears en-route. This time, famous French TV reporter Marie Jouvet sets out to solve the mystery and starts to interview everybody connected to Clouseau. Each interviewee Dreyfus, Sir Charles & Lady Lytton (and ex-wife of Clouseau) & George Lytton, Hercule Lajoie (assistant in "A Shot In The Dark") and Cato tells of their run-ins with Clouseau. She is also kidnapped by mobster Bruno Langlois who doesn't want Clouseau found but she continues and finds Clouseau Sr, Clouseau's father. Is Clouseau alive or is he dead? Each interview has unshown or famous clips from the previous movies (since Peter Sellers has sadly passed away) as Marie continues to get a honest view or impression of the great French detective...
My opinion: this movie was made into some sort of tribute to the Clouseau character and Peter Sellers, but its at least disappointing to the fans, sounds more like they were trying to make more money with the name of the series, because there's nothing really new, and it just seems like a collage of best moments and unused bits. I would only recommend it to die hard fans.
