Review of Trail of the Pink Panther (1982) by Scott N — 07 Mar 2009

Trail of the Pink Panther.

directed by Blake Edwards.

written by Frank Waldman, Tom Waldman, Blake Edwards, Geoffrey Edwards.

starring Peter Sellers, Herbert Lom, David Niven, Capucine, Joanna Lumley, Robert Loggia, Burt Kwouk, Harvey Korman, Graham Stark, Richard Mulligan.

Filmed two years after Peter Sellers?s death, this film relies on previously filmed footage in what amounts to a warm, throbbing tribute to the late actor. It also features the final performance of an ailing David Niven who was too frail to recite his lines which were provided by impressionist Rich Little.

Sellers?s death put an end to any original story involving his bumbling sleuth Clouseau. This film packs scenes from earlier films into his narrative which appropriately involves Clouseau disappearing in a plane headed for the island of Lugash to help track down the thief who stole the Pink Panther diamond.

Crack reporter Marie Jouvet (Lumley) is attempting to get to the bottom of Clouseau?s disappearance. Through interviews she compiles data that she hopes will provide her with a well rounded portrait of the former Chief Inspector. Naturally Chief Inspector Dreyfus (Lom) is ecstatic over the possibility that Clouseau is dead. After Scotland Yard determines that a hit is possibly out on Clouseau they instruct Dreyfus to tell him not to go to Lugash. Dreyfus defies these orders and gleefully sends Clouseau into what he certainly hopes is harm?s way.

Dreyfus is yet again tormented by the mere existence of Clouseau and attends therapy sessions ostensibly to uncover some deep seated motivation for his intense loathing. It?s clear however that he is getting no closer to effectively gaining a stranglehold on his negative feelings for Clouseau. At every turn he provides glimpses of the same homicidal tendencies that led him to make so many attempts on Clouseau?s life. The simple mention of the man?s name is just about enough to send him into a tizzy. It?s a continuation of a long, funny chapter in this film series that has created so many heated, dramatic moments between the two characters.

Gangster Bruno Langlois (Loggia) wants Jouvet to lay off of her Clouseau story because his disappearance has improved his financial prospects considerably. He threatens her with bodily harm but she refuses to be cowed and broadcasts the full extent of her encounter with Langlois on an evening news broadcast. Jouvet interviews Clouseau?s manservant and sparring partner Cato (Kwouk), Clouseau?s father (Mulligan), and Charles (Niven) and Lady Simone Litton (Capucine).

The film turns out to not possess any narrative thrust. It really serves no other purpose other than to showcase the myriad talents of Mr. Sellers. The actual story is negligible and the whole production plays like a tawdry and cheap exercise in exploitation. Still, the intentions were most likely pure and the purpose of the film is to honor the memory of the man whose work in the series was undeniably seminal.

It is clear through all of the clips the level of determined lunacy that Sellers brought to this role over the nearly twenty years that he played Clouseau. The end of the film features a homage over the credits showing a mad array of scenes in which Sellers?s peculiar talents are best on display. The film proper shows various scenes where Clouseau?s difficulties with objects are demonstrated with clarity and tremendous charm. All in all, despite deserving its great amount of criticism, this film does allow the viewer a fairly comprehensive view of the different styles of the Pink Panther films. One is afforded a glimpse into the many disguises of Clouseau as he attempts to solve whatever case is put before him.

The performances in this film are well fit to the film as a whole. Joanna Lumley has the most screen time save all the flashback footage of Sellers and her character comes off as tough, viable, and uncompromising. Lumley possesses a great deal of charisma in this film and her character seems appropriately driven. Robert Loggia is gracefully intimidating in his role as a mob heavy. He is believable laying on the screws and his performance here is consumed with a considerable amount of malice, however charmingly it is conveyed. Herbert Lom allows Dreyfus?s lunacy to bubble just underneath the surface. His sessions with his shrink are some of his more overtly humorous of the entire series. David Niven certainly looks old and weak but he possesses more charm and style than most actors half his age. Capucine doesn?t have much of a role here but she maintains her graceful demeanor and elegance.

Overall, the film doesn?t amount to much more than a lighthearted showcase of the genius Peter Sellers. As thrilling as it is to watch various scenes from the earlier films it proves not to be ample material for a full-length feature. Much could have been done to create a side project focusing on Sellers?s work instead of attempting to wrap a thin narrative around previous footage. Still, the man is infinitely entertaining so it?s not exactly a chore to watch him in any scene whatsoever. There?s just nothing else of interest in this film which reduces it in stature and renders it into nothing more than a curiosity.