The Pink Panther

Plot synopsis:
As a child in Lugash, Princess Dala receives a gift from her father, the Maharajah: the "Pink Panther," the largest diamond in the world. This huge pink gem has an unusual flaw: looking deeply into the stone, one perceives a tiny discoloration resembling a leaping panther. 20 years later, Dala has been forced into exile following her father's death and the subsequent military takeover of her country. The new government declares her precious diamond the property of the people and petitions the World Court to determine ownership. Dala, however, refuses to relinquish it.
Dala (Claudia Cardinale) goes on holiday at an exclusive ski resort in Cortina d'Ampezzo. Also staying there is English playboy Sir Charles Lytton (David Niven)—who leads a secret life as a jewel thief called "The Phantom"—and has his eyes on the Pink Panther. His charming American nephew George (Robert Wagner) arrives at the resort unexpectedly. George is really a playboy drowning in gambling debts, but poses as a recent college graduate about to enter the Peace Corps so his uncle continues to support his lavish lifestyle.
On the Phantom's trail is French police detective, Inspector Jacques Clouseau (Peter Sellers). The Inspector doesn't realize his wife Simone (Capucine) is the paramour of Sir Charles and acts as a fence for the Phantom. Meanwhile, Simone dodges her amorous husband while trying to avoid her lover's playboy nephew who has decided to make the seductive older woman his latest conquest. Sir Charles has grown enamored of Dala and is ambivalent about carrying out the heist. The night before their departure, George accidentally learns of his uncle's criminal activities.
During a costume party at Dala's villa in Rome, Sir Charles and his nephew separately attempt to steal the diamond, only to find the jewel already missing from the safe. The Inspector discovers both men at the crime scene. They escape during the confusion of the evening's climactic fireworks display. A frantic car chase through the streets of Rome ensues. Sir Charles and George are both arrested after all the vehicles collide with one another in the town square.
Later, Simone informs Dala that Sir Charles wished to call off the theft and asks her to help in his defense. Dala then reveals that it was she herself who stole the diamond to avoid turning it over to the new government of her homeland after the World Court ruled in their favor. However, the Princess is also smitten with Sir Charles and has a plan to save him from prison. At the trial, the defense calls as their sole witness a surprised Inspector Clouseau. The barrister (John Le Mesurier) asks a series of questions that suggest Clouseau himself could be The Phantom. An unnerved Clouseau pulls out his handkerchief to wipe the perspiration from his brow, and the jewel drops from it. Great commotion follows while the Inspector faints.
As Clouseau is taken away to prison, he is mobbed by a throng of enamored women. Watching from a distance, Simone expresses regret, but Sir Charles reassures her that when the Phantom strikes again, Clouseau will be exonerated. Sir Charles invites George to join them on the Phantom's next heist in South America. Meanwhile, on the way to prison, the Roman police express their envy that Clouseau is now desired by so many women. They ask him with obvious admiration how he committed all of those crimes, Clouseau considers his newfound fame and replies, "Well, you know . . . it wasn't easy." The film ends with the cartoon Pink Panther as a traffic warden run over by the police car escorting Clouseau to prison. He gets back up, holding a 'The End' title card.

Tags: cult, murder, flashback

Review:
I mean this was the kind of movie I would expect to see Steve martin in but not Jean Reno or Kevin Kline.
The trouble is, it's pretty BAD slapstick, rendering this "re-imagining" (with thanks to Tim Burton's problematic but slightly underrated "Planet of the Apes") somewhat pointless, and another misstep on the CV of inexplicably employable producer Robert Simonds and director Shaun Levy.I'd be lying if I said I didn't laugh at all; the gag with the MGM lion is better than all of Kurtz & Friends' animated titles, and Steve Martin and Jean Reno masquerading as Beyonce's backup dancers is genuinely funny.
(And why is his hair white when his moustache is black?) Though star and co-writer, the former comic genius can't take all the blame; Kevin Kline's ineffective as Dreyfus (as well as never explaining why this supposedly French Chief Inspector sounds almost as British as some of the cast members), and though an uncredited Clive Owen is much better as Bond-alike Nigel Boswell, 006 ("One away from the big time"), his scene seems from an entirely different movie.
(I could also wonder why a movie predominantly set in France was partly filmed in Rome and Prague, but that's just being really picky.)Jean Reno is terrific as Clouseau's far more intelligent and supernaturally patient partner, and Beyonce Knowles turns in her best screen performance to date (probably because she's cast as a drop dead gorgeous world-famous singer), but ultimately ANY instalment of ANY animated incarnation of "The Pink Panther" is more satisfying than this entire movie.
Sure, there were a couple of funny bits, but they were certainly not enough to carry the movie - a lot like MIB II in this regard, where it felt like they had a couple of jokes left over from the first that they tried to use to carry the movie.The wonderful actors Kevin Kline and Jean Reno were wasted in their roles - though without them it would have been completely abysmal, and Beyonce does a good job as well.In short, it wasn't bad enough that I felt I wasted my time, but I'm sure glad that I went on a free pass and didn't pay $17 for the experience.
I had seen Sellers in the Return and Revenge movies as a youngster and thought Steve Martin could easily pull this roll off!
I left the theater feeling seriously ripped off and sick, sick of attempting to giggle at the same old joke of a man getting kicked in the family jewels.For many minutes following, I was afraid the movie was a big joke on us, as if these actors were attempting to get away with putting in as little as possible in return for our ticket monies.Get your money back or save your money for renting this flop from video store.
So, Sellers playing the inspector wasn't an instant classic, and took over a decade to catch on enough to make sequels.The plot in this outing is no more strained or outrageous than the others, and the slapstick comedy is just as forced at times as in the previous movies.
Steve Martin is horrible as Inspector Jacques Clouseau, and could quite possibly take away the title for worst accents from Kevin Costner!
First he tries dismally to revive the late great Phil Silvers character "Sergeant Bilko" and now he also has tried to revive equally dismally the late great Peter Sellers character "inspector Jacques Clouseau".Now don't get me wrong, I am a fan of Steve Martin but as I was checking out his movie history it dawned on me that he hasn't been funny in almost twenty years!
I hated it, it is insult not only to the original but also to Martin who seems to have taken to doing these god-awful remakes that in fact only serve to butcher the memory and heritage of the original film.Sellars turned a star performance in the Original and while it was extremely silly, it was not childish.I would suggest a better use of your time would be to drill a hole through your hand.
That will likely be the only movie that Johnny Depp, one of the world's best actors, shouldn't have made and that was almost embarrassing to watch.) And The Pink Panther should have been left the perfect jewel that was created by Peter Sellers..
It takes such gall to defile a classic like The Pink Panther.Who does Steve Martin think he is?
This movie unfolds slowly & tentatively, but picks up speed as it progresses...or maybe I was just too concerned with Steve Martin's interpretation of Inspector Clouseau, and I finally relaxed about halfway through the film.
I was mildly disappointed because I really enjoyed his french character & accent in French Kiss several years ago.The first few gags were very short-sided and fell flat, but once Clouseau starts looking for clues the slapstick works a little better & the film gets more enjoyable.
Many of the gags are predictable (as is the plot), but what really makes them work is Martin's reactions (which I really think was the key to Peter Seller's portrayal as well).This film was very tame, with only subtle innuendoes that most youngsters aren't likely to grasp.
So I ensured she watched the The Return of The Pink Panther (the best of the original series with Peter Sellers).
Watching Steve Martin try to fill the shoes of Peter Sellers is like comparing Vinilla Ice to Mozart.
Steve Martin takes everything Peter Sellers made hilarious and unforgettable: the bumbling ineptness,unintelligible french accent, and in the first 2 opening minutes had me wincing in pain.
If you have seen any of the original PINK PANTHER/Peter Sellers movies, I recommend not seeing the Steve Martin PINK PANTHER movie ever.
I can see NO REASON (except money) for making Pink Panther movies after the sad demise of Peter Sellers - and this isn't even a good attempt at one...
I think it is a sad attempt at making money and I do wish that they'd abandon their current filming of a sequel to this rubbish, seeing as it's only tarnishing the otherwise magnificent career of Steve Martin - a comedian not in any way in the league of Peter Sellers, but still, under more amicable circumstances, a highly enjoyable actor whom I would wish I could have a better opinion of, despite this film!.
Therefore we have to at least partly blame Steve Martin for the fact that each and every scene where he plays the clumsy inspector, no doubt with the intention to be funny, is an embarrassment to watch.
In the same way, Steve Martin's Inspector Jacques Clouseau is a totally new creation, as uniquely Martin's as the original was uniquely Sellers'.
By the end of the movie, I had totally accepted Steve Martin as the new Inspector Clouseau, never once trying to compare him to Peter Sellers.The film starts out with narration by Kevin Kline as Chief Inspector Dreyfus (Herbert Lom's character in the older films).
An animated version of Steve Martin's Clouseau chases after the famous Pink Panther to a traditional rendition of Henry Mancini's theme.
Yes, Peter Sellers' Clouseau was one of my favorite characters in my childhood, but I liked Steve Martin as Clouseau as well, and the good thing is: He didn't do anything to the image of original Clouseau in my mind.
He had the original Clouseau spirit, but he was a different "stupid detective with a French accent", reflecting the difference in his time and his style.Unfortunately, being a fan of Kevin Kline's humorous acting style, particularly that in the unforgettable "A Fish Called Wanda", I am not able to say I appreciated Kevin Kline's part in this movie.
for anyone who have seen the real inspector Clouseau in action, played so well by Peter Sellers, this movie is not only a HUGE disappointment, but more of a personal insult.
Jean Reno's good, Kevin Kline's quite good and of course Steve Martin remains what he is known for, a genius in the world of comedy..
Being an enormous fan of the original Pink Panther series, I expected as soon as I saw the preview that this film would be another unimaginative Hollywood rehash of a timeless classic, but I decided to give it a chance, and paid the price of the admission ticket.From the outset, I immediately saw the kind of uninspired performance I expected from Steve Martin for that role.
Granted, filling the shoes of Sellers, an enormously versatile and larger-than-life comedic actor, was an impossible feat, casting Martin was probably the second biggest blunder in the film just shy of the inclusion of Beyonce Knowles (If I never see her in another movie again, it will be too soon!).
In the context of the original film, the role of Clouseau, a decorated French inspector who somehow solved crime after crime, yet was unable to draw a bath or carry home a bag of groceries without suffering some calamity, could be no more aptly and humorously portrayed than by Peter Sellers.
To Martin's credit, probably no actor today could have come close to filling the shoes of Inspector Clouseau, and the added offenses from supporting cast members at least made Martin slightly less to blame for a truly abysmal tribute to a once exceptional classic.It is worth mentioning the one redeeming quality, the film's soundtrack, which did lend some vitality to an otherwise vacuous production, and finally, it goes to show that some things should not be tampered with.
The attempt to improve on or interpret what is very clearly out of their league to do so only denigrates the achievement of the original work, and can only spawn the kind of abomination we have seen with the new Pink Panther film..
Steve Martin's portrayal of Inspector Clouseau was amateurish and way too much of a caricature of the original Seller's version.
This is one of the reasons the Police Squad movies were so popular, Sgt. Drevin had the same likable viewer sympathy, "Gee, I'd do something stupid like that too." Martin, no matter what bad accent or rewarmed role he attempts, is just plain too darn smart a comedian and person to elicit sympathy in the audience.
I have always loved to see Steve Martin in films of all types, but never in my wildest dreams did I anticipate him being able pull off even a rudimentary Peter Sellers imitation.
Since I am a long time fan of the original Pink Panther movies, I knew it was a tall order to even come close.
Even though I love Peter Seller's portrayal of Clouseau, it didn't stop me from enjoying Steve Martin's take on the role.
I keep hearing people cry and complain that Steve Martin isn't funny and doesn't live up to Peter Sellers.
If you realize it's a new movie with a fresh twist, you'll like it.Steve Martin is hilarious as the bumbling Inspector Clouseau.
Everybody involved (except Beyonce) does a really good job, and believe me, if you don't think about Peter Sellers, this movie isn't nearly as bad as everyone says.
Steve Martin is GREAT as Inspector Jacques Clouseau, everyone will find a cast member they will enjoy Beyonce does a great job as the girlfriend of the victim with a heart and shows more depth and craft with each film, Jean Remo (loved him in The Professional and Ronin) does a great job and deserves to return.
Without trying to be Peter Sellers, Steve Martin is Clouseau.
He has made a very, very funny movie in the tradition of the original Pink Panther without replicating every scene and plot development.
The movie trailers for this film suck, and the critics have apparently been giving it a bad reputation...but this film is the funniest thing I have seen in years.Granted I am a huge Steve Martin fan, and I have loved the Pink Panther series since I was a kid....but my friends will back me up on this.
We laughed so hard at this movie that our eyes looked like we had been sobbing all night.There was no way to replace Peter Sellers, but Steve Martin made the character his own.
But Steve Martin pulls off a good and believable Clouseau with a mix of classic Pink Panther and his own brand of slapstick.
I know that Steve Martin is not as Peter Sellers but he wants to make fun like him.
The great Kevin Kline do a perfect role of Chief Inspector Dreyfuss as Steve Martin as Clouseau.
I think the bad comments of the movie they have been written by people who don't know nothing about the Pink Panther and they don't look at the good side of comedy.
Steve Martin's Clouseau was comic genius, his accent very well done - Jean Reno was very good as his "straightman", very different from other roles I've seen him do.
I actually saw the 1964 Pink Panther movie last night on TV and it's interesting to compare this with Steve Martin's "prequel." The original movie of course actually starred David Niven and a leading lady whose name I can't recall at the moment; Inspector Clouseau was not by any means the centerpiece.
I admit that I had mixed feelings about seeing this movie on its opening weekend; very few remakes even come close to matching the original, so I rarely spend 1st run prices to see them in theaters.But Steve Martin captures completely and re-creates to perfection the charm of Inspector Jacques Clouseau, the wonderful character Peter Sellers made famous.
He doesn't try to be Peter Sellers; he gives Clouseau his own style, and does an outstanding job.Kevin Kline is good as Chief Inspector Dreyfus, but I doubt anyone could play that role with as much flair as Herbert Lom.It's been a long time since I've laughed out loud at a comedy in a movie theater; this movie had me repeatedly laughing.
The "Pink Panther" movies, are without a doubt classics of slapstick comedy taken to perfection thanks to the talents of Blake Edwards, Heny Mancini and the legendary Peter Sellers.
The classic slapstick that Sellers made famous is present, although Martin gives the role his own touch.Steve Martin does a good job as Clouseau, although at times his acting goes over the top, as if he was trying too hard to fit Seller's shoes.
It will never be the same without Sellers, but Martin makes a good Inspector Clouseau that works for this times.
I'll just say that Steve Martin was a pretty good Clouseau, not imitating the late Peter Sellers, but giving his own spin to the role.
Sure, they could've smartened it up for the more modern, vastly more educated and superior 2006 audience, but then it wouldn't be a Pink Panther film, would it?I admit that there are many aspects of the original series that can't be touched with a 10-foot minicar here: For example, the lack of a real Cato (Martin can't quite bring himself to let go with Ponton in the way Sellers went crazy with Cato, with complete disregard to personal injury).
Yes, I grew up watching Peter Sellers and he was a great comedian but so is Steve and while the names and characters come from the early Panther movies, this one can stand on it's own merits.
Steve Martin brings Inspector Clouseau back to life in the amusing and usually funny "Pink Panther" remake..
You see when editing is used right it can be successful and to me this movie is a good example of that.Steve Martin plays the role of Clouseau very well.
If you're a fan of Steve Martin like I am, you will really enjoy this film.
A Steve Martin movie that's actually FUNNY!.
Finally, after a long wait, I had a good chance to join in with the rest of a packed theater watching a funny Steve Martin movie!
This is, far and away, the funniest Steve Martin flick I've seen since "All Of Me." And, it was certainly funnier than "Son of the Pink Panther," where Roberto Benigni played Peter Sellers' half-Italian love-child!
I've seen all the original peter Sellers films and thought they were fun, but i loved Steve Martin's take On Inspector Jacque Clousea, i didn't expect much from, this movie and the trailer did nothing for me, but when i sat in the theatre, it was just laugh out loud Hilarious, especially the scene where clousea was trying to annunciate the word Hamburger,and ends up saying DamBurguer, i want a Damburgeur!lol Classic, Beyonce was fun and Great in it Jean reno and Kevin Kleind were awesome to, this Movie Brings Pink panther Back to True form for a new generation!
Having watched most of the original Pink Panther movies I was truly disappointed with this production.
I consider myself a fan of both Steve Martin's previous work and the original Pink Panther pictures.
Peter Sellers is perhaps my favorite Clouseau out of all of them.Here's one thing I can say about the Steve Martin version: funny.
My brother hates Peter Sellers' Clouseau in the originals but he likes Steve Martin's version.
Instead of the classic humour of the Sellers original, we get flatulence, non-actors like Beyonce Knowles and a dumb script by Steve Martin and Len Blum.
This film is a disgrace to the reputation and the respect that the world has for Peter Sellers, Blake Edwards, and the original Pink Panther set of movies.
Knowing that this will never be a Sellers movie still I might have hoped that Steve Martin could give life to the story.
But I tried, I gave it a chance, but no one can do Jacques Clouseau as good as Peter Sellers could, it would be like casting Steve Martin as Hopalong Cassidy, no one but William Boyd could do it.
But if you do, Steve Martin, as always, delivers the best performance anyone (almost as much as Peter Sellers himself) can give you.All and all, i feel it only adorns the Pink Panther movies.