Review of Curse of the Pink Panther (1983) by Stuart K — 05 Sep 2012

While making Trail of the Pink Panther (1982), Blake Edwards made another Pink Panther film, in the hope of continuing the series with another detective. Some of the gags have been seen before in previous Pink Panther films, but it does feel tired and lacking, and it ended in a $180 million lawsuit between Edwards and MGM/UA, so there was more excitement off the screen than on-screen.

With Clouseau missing, Interpol utilize the Huxley 600 computer to find a detective to find Clouseau, but Chief Inspector Dreyfus (Herbert Lom), doesn't want Clouseau back, so he rigs the computer to find the worst detective in the world, and he's found in New York City Police Sergeant Clifton Sleigh (Ted Wass).

Dreyfus believes Sleigh will never solve the case, but he ends up being more clumsier than Clouseau, and but his luck helps him move forwards with the case. Leading him to Sir Charles Lytton (David Niven) and his nephew George (Robert Wagner), but while Sleigh progresses with the case, mob boss Bruno Langlois (Robert Loggia) and Dreyfus try to kill him in an attempt to stop him finding Clouseau.

It's not as bad as what critics say, especially when compared to comedies made now. But, Sellers as Clouseau was still fresh in people's minds, and while Wass of Soap does well with the physical comedy, he lacks Sellers' wordplay.

Edwards originally wanted Rowan Atkinson to play Sleigh, who was originally written as an English constable. Oh, what could have been(!!) Plus, Roger Moore cameos.