Review of The Pink Panther (1963) by Eliel L — 18 Feb 2016

It should come as no surprise that Peter Sellers steals this movie with his bumbling and ridiculous Inspector Clouseau. However, director Blake Edwards probably didn't realize what a comic goldmine he had on his hands (yet) and he lets the movie drift into dullness in long scenes with David Niven and Claudia Cardinale (who play the jewel thief and the jewel owner, respectively).

Robert Wagner is along for the ride as Niven's nephew, also aiming to be a jewel thief. Somehow, the plot also involves Clouseau's wife (played by French actress, Capuchine) as one of the thieves - which is confusing since to my recollection, she isn't mentioned in any of the numerous sequels to this film, most of which feature Sellers in the lead role (some sadly released after his death made up of outtakes and found footage).

I suspect that there was originally no real plan to follow this up and the quirky Inspector was a small supporting character that Sellers took every license to expand. If only this movie were shorter and his presence more central - Clouseau doesn't even catch the thief, even accidentally!