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The Pink Panther Overview:

The Pink Panther (1963) was a Comedy - Crime Film directed by Blake Edwards and produced by Martin Jurow and Dick Crockett.

SYNOPSIS

Sellers introduces Inspector Clouseau in this first of the Pink Panther series, which had five sequels. Sellers became inextricably associated with the bungling French policeman who dogs the steps of a suave jewel thief called The Phantom (Niven). Edwards and Sellers seemed to bring out the best in each other, and this madcap cop comedy set the tone for their frequent collaborations.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

The Pink Panther was inducted into the National Film Registry in 2010.

Academy Awards 1964 --- Ceremony Number 37 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best Music - ScoringHenry ManciniNominated
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The Pink Panther BlogHub Articles:

The Pink Panther (1963)

By Beatrice on Nov 27, 2017 From Flickers in Time

The Pink Panther Directed by Blake Edwards Written by Maurice Richlin and Blake Edwards 1963/USA Mirisch-GE Productions First viewing/Amazon Instant Beautiful people, beautiful dresses, beautiful scenery … and Inspector Clouseau. The story is set in various locations in France and Italy. ... Read full article

The Pink Panther (1963)

By 4 Star Film Fan on Jul 31, 2015 From 4 Star Films

I came into the Pink Panther with a bit of prior knowledge about the franchise and Henry Mancini’s legendary theme music. In all honesty, the first film I ever saw in the series was A Shot in the Dark (1964). Peter Sellers’ Inspector Clouseau is the undisputed star of that film which cam... Read full article

The Pink Panther (1963)

By 4 Star Film Fan on Jul 31, 2015 From 4 Star Films

I came into the Pink Panther with a bit of prior knowledge about the franchise and Henry Mancini’s legendary theme music. In all honesty, the first film I ever saw in the series was A Shot in the Dark (1964). Peter Sellers‘ Inspector Clouseau is the undisputed star of that film which cam... Read full article

The Pink Panther, Silent Films, and Me

By Angela on Jan 8, 2014 From Hollywood Revue

Like so very many people, I spent a good amount of my childhood watching cartoons.  I remember being fond of Bugs Bunny and Woody Woodpecker, but my favorite was definitely the Pink Panther.  Oh, did I ever love the Pink Panther!  In my book, he was the funniest of the cartoon characters I watche... Read full article

The Pink Panther

By RBuccicone on Mar 6, 2013 From MacGuffin Movies

The Pink Panther (1964) It is not my favorite of the franchise, but The Pink Panther is a treasure all on it’s own. This first in the series brought to everyone’s attention Peter Sellers‘ brilliant character Inspector Jacques Clouseau. But the part of the bumbling French detective ... Read full article

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The Pink Panther Quotes:

Sir Charles Lytton: [dressed in gorilla suit] Come back. It's me.
Inspector Jacques Clouseau: I am willing to bet you ten thousand francs, that the phantom is in Cortina at this very moment. Even, perhaps, in this very room.
Simone Clouseau: How exciting. What do you think, Mr. Tucker?
Tucker: Oh, I agree with the inspector. You see, Ten of his last fifteen victims have been guests at Angela Dunning's parties.
Sir Charles Lytton: What are we all talking about?
Simone Clouseau: The notorious Phantom.
Princess Dala: I'm afraid I never heard of him.
Sir Charles Lytton: From the little I've read about him, he seems to be quite a fellow.
Inspector Jacques Clouseau: Believe me. There are few thieves who are as clever as the Phantom. Each theft is completely different and unique, classic in its conception.
George Lytton: I thought you were working on the theory that he does repeat himself.
Inspector Jacques Clouseau: Well, only as far as Angela Dunning's parties are concerned. However, there is one other duplication, but that is his ah... trademark, his calling card, so to speak. He always leaves a white monogrammed glove.
Princess Dala: Sounds terribly theatrical.
Princess Dala: [tipsy from champagne] When I went on my first zsrafari... frazari... wild animal hunt.
Woman: I've never really known another man like him. He can keep ten girls in the air at once and make each one happy.
Princess Dala: Amazing, sort of a contemporary Don Juan?
Simone Clouseau: If I'm not being too nosy your highness, I read somewhere there was some dispute over the ownership of the Pink Panther.
Princess Dala: It belongs to me. It was a gift from my late father. I shall never surrender it.
Sir Charles Lytton: Why should you?
Princess Dala: When the present government seized power, they claimed the diamond was the property of the people. There's even some talk of the international court deciding the issue.
Sir Charles Lytton: I'll tell you what, why don't I steal the diamond, leave that old glove or whatever it is behind, and you and I can split the insurance.
Princess Dala: All right.
George Lytton: I feel like dancing.
[to Princess Dala]
George Lytton: Your Highness?
Princess Dala: I'd love to.
Sir Charles Lytton: [to Simone] How about you, Madame?
Simone Clouseau: Yes, of course.
Inspector Jacques Clouseau: Your leg is better, Sir. Charles?
Sir Charles Lytton: What?
Inspector Jacques Clouseau: I say your leg is better.
Sir Charles Lytton: Oh, yes. Much better. Thank you.
Inspector Jacques Clouseau: You know, Mr. Tucker...
[scalds his hand]
Inspector Jacques Clouseau: Argh!
[put his burnt hand into Mr. Tucker's beer]
Tucker: That's my beer, old man.
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The Pink Panther Facts
The role of Simone Clouseau was offered to Ava Gardner and Janet Leigh before Capucine got the part. In her autobiography, Leigh states she turned it down because she had recently gotten married to her fourth husband Robert Brandt and didn't want to go off on location and away from her new husband for the duration of filming. Ava Gardner accepted the role but both her salary and personal demands were deemed unacceptable to the producers.
Claudia Cardinale could not speak English, so Princess Dala's dialog was dubbed by twenty-year-old Gale Garnett.
Peter Ustinov was originally selected for the role of Inspector Clouseau, but when Ustinov didn't show up on the first day of filming, Peter Sellers showed up and he got the part instead.
The role of Inspector Clouseau was originally offered to Peter Ustinov. Despite being relatively unknown internationally, Peter Sellers was offered the part, and was paid 90,000 pounds.
David Niven was hoping the Pink Panther would help launch a series of films for him akin to the Thin Man Series. Due to the focus of future films being placed on Peter Sellers' Inspector Clouseau, this never came to fruition. Niven would go onto play a parody of Thin Man Nick Charles, named Dick Charleston, in Neil Simon's Murder by Death.
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