Customer Reviews

The Pink Panther Strikes Again [Region 2]

5 star:		(51)
4 star:		(26)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

You read it here first! I've been anxiously awaiting a release of the Return of the Pink Panther for years to replace the original Artisan DVD, which was horrendous. (Side note: I wish Amazon would stop mixing old reviews from old releases long out of print with the new re-released DVDs!!!! So most of the reviews here, especially the negative ones, refer to the previous Artisan DVD.)

The previous release was not anamorphic and the transfer was from an ancient low-resolution master. This time around, we get a vibrant anamorphic transfer from Universal that is light-years ahead of the previous release. Film grain is still very much visible, but that is the result of the film stock, not a result of careless mastering. However it is never offensive and I think just adds to the old-school charm of this movie. The color and contrast finally have a vibrant punch that closely matches the quality of the other Pink Panther DVDs from MGM. The sound is also a vast improvement, with enhanced dynamics and fidelity, though never hiding the film's age.

I only give it 3 stars out of 5 because this release is completely stripped down to just the movie... no bonus material, not even a theatrical trailer. A real disappointment because even Artisan's horrible release included it. I would have expected such material from a Universal DVD. But nevertheless, this is quite possibly the last time we'll see this movie looking this good in a long... long time. So go out and buy it before you miss out on this most possibly the funniest in the Panther series!

The best thing about this film is that it returned Peter Sellers to the role of Inspector Jacques Clouseau under Blake Edwards' direction after Alan Arkin's single portrayal in 1968's INSPECTOR CLOUSEAU directed by Bud Yorkin. More importantly it did not only return Sellers but it also instituted the Pink Panther and Sellers as Inspector Clouseau in a legitimate film series instead of just a few sporadic sequels and it launched a huge cinematic rebirth and phenomenon. Unfortunately this film seems to lack the magic of 1964's THE PINK PANTHER and the sophistication of A SHOT IN THE DARK. Christopher Plummer replaced David Niven as Sir Charles Lytton in this film. Plummer is good but it seems a shame since Niven reprised his role later in 1982's TRAIL OF THE PINK PANTHER and 1983's CURSE OF THE PINK PANTHER, which were made after Sellers' death (in 1980) in an attempt to revive the series without him. Catherine Schell as Claudine Litton lacked the charisma of earlier leading ladies Capucine and Elke Sommer. On the plus side, Sellers is brilliant as Clouseau as are Herbert Lom as Chief Inspector Charles Dreyfus and Burt Kwouk as Kato back and featured prominently in the rest of all the subsequent Pink Panther films. Much needed and returning is a score composed by Henry Mancini a very integral component of this series. THE RETURN OF THE PINK PANTHER has some very good comic sketches and a very good opening jewel heist but the script just doesn't seem to be a very cohesive force. However, better things were yet to come. As for the DVD, the quality is just average. For me, the picture quality is just too soft. The MGM prints of the other Pink Panther films on DVD are much crisper.

This is one of the funniest PP films - I really enjoyed it. I bought it on 2 dvd's, one in the UK in Fullscreen Format with subtitles and the other in the USA Widescreen Format with no subtitles ! Picture Quality in Both cases is ABYSMAL not to mention sound ! This thing needs to be remastered for sound and picture - there are so many hilarious scenes it it !! Also it it missing from both the New Pink Panther collections issued in the the USA and Europe. Can the powers-that-be give us a plausible explanation for this. Can't they see there's a worldwide demand for the totality of this series to be remastered and presented as a single collection ????

Peter Sellers was one of the most gifted comic actors of the 1960s and 1970s; Inspector Clouseau was his most beloved role. Blake Edwards, the film's director and creator, was a master of both subtle humor and slapstick. For these reasons, The Return of the Pink Panther is a true classic for many of us. It's a movie that never fails to leave me in a great mood. However, as other reviewers have noted, there are some serious issues with the DVD. I purchased it (and am glad I did) because I didn't have a VHS copy of the film. To be honest, I don't know what advantage this particular DVD can offer versus a VHS, since there are no real extras here, and no choice between widescreen and full screen (and no anamorphic widescreen!). I sincerely hope that this film is reissued in the future, complete with outtakes and remastered sound, and treated with the respect it deserves.

By the way, this is the only Sellers Pink Panther film that isn't included in the recent boxed set. This movie is only available via this DVD.

The Return of the ink ant, I mean, Pink Panther, is a work of comic genius. Peter Sellers as the idiot inspector, Herbert Lom as his boss and Chief of Police deliver two of the most inspired comic performances ever captured on screen. The rapport between the two of them is worth ten thousand Shagging Spies, and eight thousand twenty Lying Liars! This might sound harsh, but I'm sure Jim Carrey as well as Mike Myers would agree. They are, after all, admitted Sellers fans.

The film begins with the theft of the famous Pink Panther diamond. The famous inspector who rescued it last time it was stolen, Inspector Clousseau (Peter Sellers), is assigned the case. Completely incompetent, yet unwaveringly persistent, the inspector manages -with the help of a phone call from his boss- to solve the crime and apprehend the infamous thief. This sounds easy enough; however, things get complicated when Inspector Clousseau's own superior sets out to murder him!

Artisan has released yet another low quality DVD of a classic movie. Regardless of your feelings about Seller and the "Panther" series, this one is to be avoided, based solely on a non-anomorphic picture with the quality of an EP-recorded VHS tape and sound with a continual hiss throughout.

Hopefully the original studio will see fit to give this movie a decent transfer in the future.

Make no mistake, this is not the same sort of movie as the original "Pink Panther". David Niven, Capucine, and Claudia Cardinale are long gone, and, whereas the original had a large dose of sophistication, wit, and style to go along with some classic slapstick from Peter Sellers, this addition to the franchise is entirely a vehicle for Sellers. The change is not necessarily a negative, but the product is much different. Christopher Plummer replaces Niven and Catherine Schell takes Capucine's role. In addition, Herbert Lom (as Clouseau's boss, Chief Inspector Dreyfus) and Bert Kwouk (as Cato) have joined the mayhem. The animated Pink Panther and Henry Mancini's musical theme are still here to help maintain continuity.

Again, the changes aren't necessarily a negative. It simply depends on what you're looking for. A quick look at the other reviews here will show that some even prefer this sort of "Pink Panther" movie to the original. Personally, I wouldn't go that far. This isn't quite the stylish classic that the original was. Sophistication and subtle wit are gone and the underlying plot is stretched a bit thin. It begins with another theft of the fabulous "Pink Panther" (supposedly the world's largest diamond). This time, it has been cleverly snatched from a museum in the fictional country of Lugash. Given his past success in recovering the diamond, the local authorities request the services of Clouseau to get it back once again. The retired Sir Charles is the prime suspect.

Sellers performs his brand of slapstick with brilliance. Observe the edgy relationship with the increasingly twitchy Inspector Dreyfus, Cato's efforts to keep him alert and prepared for trouble, the scene with the blind man and the monkey, and his attempt to bug Sir Charles' phone. There are more funny hotel room antics, too. If you're a Sellers fan and a large dose of him is what you crave, this flick is right up your alley, but if you're looking for something along the lines of the original "Pink Panther", you may be a little disappointed. I liked it and recommend it to anybody who likes great slapstick comedy in large doses.

A very good movie but the DVD quality is really disappointing compared to the rest of the Pink Panther series. It is just like watching a video copy.

Except for a trailer, there are no real extras on this dvd, thats why it loses a star. The film itself, however, is magnificent. I've noticed a few reviewers that have chosen to point out that the plot isnt as "cohesive" as it was in the original "Pink Panther" or it's legendary follow up "A Shot in the Dark." Phooey. Who cares? I didn't see this movie for the plot anyway - I was there to see Peter Sellers reestablish himself as Inspector Jacques Clouseau, and that's exactly what I was given. This movie is painfully funny at times (particularly when Herbert Lom is onscreen as Clouseau's boss, the long suffering Dreyfus), and if the plot is a little weak, all is forgiven thanks to a series of sight gags that are the best of their type since Chaplin did his thing. For those who must have a plot, it goes like this: the Pink Panther diamond is again stolen from a museum in Lugash, and a white glove emblazoned with a letter P is left behind- the sign of the jewel thief the Phantom. Sir Charles Litton (Christopher Plummer, doing an admiral job of assuming the role after David Niven) - the original Phantom, and the one who stole the diamond the first time - is accused of the theft. He is innocent of the crime, though, and sets out to clear his name. While this is going on, the worlds worst detective is assigned to the case at the behest of the Lugash govt. They figure that if he caught the Phantom the first time, Clouseau can do it again. Havoc ensues.
You have to understand, it doesn't matter where he is or what the circumstances, Clouseau walks into a room and literally manages to destroy it within minutes. This leads to some very , very funny moments (my favorite being a scene involving a hapless bellboy, a sauna and some VERY slippery shoes). This could be absolutely supid, but Blake Edwards still has a great sense of comic timing, and Peter Sellers could do slapstick like nobody else before or since. If you're a fan of the "Pink Panther" films, then you'll definitely want to have this in your collection. As comedies go, its indispensible.

Enough has been said about the merits of the movie. But beware, the DVD is of extremely low quality. Looks worse than a VCD pirate and far worse than the VHS, which I also have.