MGM The Pink Panther

We enjoyed this movie it was a laugh out loud kind of movie

The Pink Panther was by far one of the best comedies that nowadays is completely underrated. It was a clever look at some of the best acting of comedy legend, Peter Sellers, and one of the first films to establish the dry, goofy comedy that uses the best of it's artistic limitations. First, a little background...Blake Edwards was pretty well known as a film director due to his work on Breakfast at Tiffany's, so Edwards and Maurice Richlin got together to create an improvised, sharp wit comedy about a stolen diamond, and the hilarity that ensues. Together, they created The Pink Panther, which reminds one that the title seems to be a parody of The Maltese Falcon. The film's story takes place in the mountains, where a thief, known as The Phantom, is lurking on the Princess Dala, who possesses the diamond. This thief is no more than a clean, slick, and charismatic man who's name is Sir Charles Lytton. However, a bumbling inspector is on the case to snatch the thief, and maybe solve one of the greatest mysteries of all his life. Yes, you guessed correctly, it's the lovable Inspector Clouseau . Others who are Included in the mystery are Charles Lytton's nephew and Simone, the wife of Clouseau.Most people who think of The Pink Panther, think of the animated show. Which actually, is quite incredible by itself. One of the things with The Pink Panther franchise, is that people seem to love the sequels to this series, than the original that started it all. Pink Panther was never originally going to spawn sequels, it was just an original idea. The film, however became a cult hit somehow at the end of the sixties. Strange enough as it is, Peter Sellers would not star in another Panther film until 1975! Ten years after Pink Panther and A Shot in the Dark came out! To be honest, I love the work Sellers does on the sequels, but I feel the first two films of this series were his signature work. Without the 1963 Panther, there wouldn't be any cartoon character of the kind, nor would there be any Clouseau at all. Maybe people should be grateful for this film because it inspired other comedians, including those of Monty Python.There is a reason for all this disliking of the film. People have a tendency to have particular tastes for comedy. Most people prefer goofiness and lewdness. Then there is the group of people who appreciate dry, witty comedy. This type of comedy is appreciated by few. So, that's basically the reason why people don't care much for this film. It truly is a comedic masterpiece. All the scenes are timed rightly, and just the art direction, acting, music, and cartoon character really is what brings out this movie's full potential. I highly recommend this movie to dry comedy lovers. I know it's one of the best out there than what they have now.

Those reviewers who claim that the original movie is not as funny as the later Cleauseau movies from the 70's are both right and wrong at the same time. It really depends upon what type of sense of humor the viewer has. The original movie does not involve all the non-stop slapstick that the later films did. In fact, the first movie is not really an Inspector Cleauseau movie. The inspector has limited screen time, which is good, because although Seller's depiction of the inspector is at all times magnificient, like all good things he is best in small doses. The later movies strained to make him constantly funny for 100 minutes, whereas he is given short, but very funny scenes in the original movie.The Pink Panther was actually meant to be, and is, a sophisticated sexual farce, European style. The humor is more verbal and situational, less physical. And it is true the movie is liesurely paced, but that makes it all the more enjoyable. The later movies are frantic in comparison, assualting the viewer instead of seducing him.Don't get me wrong, I like the later Pink Panther movies, and Sellers is aways fun to watch even when the writing for his character is not up to par. But I think the first move is more of a thinking man's comedy, with classic lines like "I'll have your stripes!" (said to a policeman at a masqerade ball who is in a zebra costume), or the lengthy scene in which David Niven and Robert Wagner are both in gorilla costumes driving their getaway convertible sports cars through the Italian countryside. My own opinion is that this is much more humorous than "I am an officer of the loo".But each to their own tastes.Taking this movie on its own, and not comparing it to later Pink Panther films, I like it for it's sophistication, it's 60's style class, for Mancini's incomperabe music and for the beautiful Claudia Cardinale.

I Bought this Blu-Ray from Amazon a while back. What a thrill it is to see this great film effort, with these actors, many of them long-gone, with such clarity! The picture is better than movie theater quality.The audio is another matter. I can't fathom how some movies of this era were released with such poor audio. "Patton" would be another film that would fit in this category. Some studios must have had some really sub-standard mix studio monitoring systems. No wonder George Lucas got on his high horse about poor film audio in the mid seventies and started THX! Thank you George!I have purchased several old movies from the 50's and 60's on DVD that were mastered and released on 35mm optical that sound great! Most Paramount and MGM pics from the 50 and 60s sound incredibly clean and smooth for mono optical, as do the Warner Bros films from the same era, though they do sizzle a bit from Warners' over-the-top e.q. to boost the highs. Disney's heavy boost in the 2khz-6khz range? We won't even go there! (Loved you anyway, Dis!)If whoever mastered the "Pink Panther" Blu-Ray had paid as much attention to the audio quality as they did the video, the dialog intelligibility would be greatly improved and Mancini's score would really sing!

entertaiment

This one was ok..old school film have not seen in decades, but not nearly as funny as 3rd,4th, and 5th installments in series...enjoy!

Loved seeing Peter Sellers and David Nivien (who are no longer with us) and a very young Robert Wagner. Long ago slapstick was king but doesn't mean it wasn't funny.

Bon vendeur++++

Nice Comedy

Was falling off my seat when viewing this on its original release in cinemas (seen coupled with 'Shot in the Dark'. Remember those days when you saw two films ?). While perhaps comedy has changed, I still think this is one of the best of the series even allowing for the development of the Clouseau character by Sellers. Sit back comfortably and enjoy an opulence of film production that is increasingly rare.

Voilà une série qui a marquée d'une pierre blanche la comédie américaine. Cette comédie qui prend ses racines dans le vaudeville mais aussi le comique de situation s'il ne nous fait pas écrouler de rire nous épate par sa mise en scène à la fois stylée et rythmée. Les situations nous amusent et les personnages sont légers et cocasses. On passe un agréable moment et la musique d'Henry Mancini est véritablement l'un des atouts forts de ce long métrage. La distribution, brillante nous vaut d'avoir la compagnie d'acteurs et d'actrices attachants par leur jeu mais aussi leur magnétisme, de David Niven à Peter Sellers en passant par Capucine, Claudia Cardinale et Robert Wagner, on a le sourire au lèvres. Ce film est bon comme une friandise et une fois qu'il est finit, on n'a qu'une envie c'est de poursuivre les aventures de ce policier incompétent qu'est Clouseau mais qui reste ô combien sympathique !Une édition spéciale aux petits oignons : deux disques sous fourreau cartonné ciré (L'un pour le film au format cinémascope 2.35:1 panoramique 16/9 en français et anglais 5.1 Dolby Digital avec sous-titres français, anglais et néerlandais et l'autre pour les bonus très nombreux (5 documentaires sur le film mais aussi Peter Sellers ; des commentaires audio, des pistes musicales, une galerie photo et 6 dessins animés de la série La Panthère Rose)). Un premier opus réussi qui, même s'il n'est pas le meilleur de la série, est intéressant à voir pour l'esquisse du personnage créé par Edwards et Sellers qui prendra véritablement son essor dans le second film avec l'apparition du commissaire Dreyfus et Kato.

Classic