Movies - The Pink Panther

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	Movies - The Pink Panther

The Pink Panther, directed by Blake Edwards and co-written by Edwards and Maurice Richlin, is a 1963 comedy film, starring David Niven, Peter Sellers, and Robert Wagner.

It is also the first in a film franchise, concerning the adventures of bumbling Inspector Jacques Clouseau (played by Peter Sellers) and his attempts to locate the Pink Panther diamond.

The Technirama film was shot in an aspect ratio of 2.20:1 in Technicolor.

It was originally released theatrically by United Artists, and is now available on VHS and DVD from MGM Home Entertainment.

20th Century Fox also released the film on DVD in Brazil in 2004.

Taglines for the film included "A Madcap Frolic Of Crime and Fun" and "You only live once, so see The Pink Panther twice!"

Plot

As a child, Princess Dala is given, by her father, the largest diamond in the world, in which if you stare into it can be seen a "Pink Panther" hence the name. However, now as a young woman, rebels in her home country have seized power and are demanding the return of the jewel.

Dala relaxes on holiday in an exclusive skiing resort but noted British playboy, Sir Charles Lytton is in town. He is secretly "The Phantom" - infamous jewel thief who has eyes on the Pink Panther. Charles's playboy nephew George follows to the resort in an attempt to steal it and blame it on "The Phantom", not knowing that it's his uncle.

On the Phantom's trail is Inspector Jacques Clouseau, from France, and his wife who, unknowingly to Jacques, is the lover of Charles and helper in the Phantom's crime. Jacques tries to stop the attempts but he is so clueless that when several attempts are made at a fantasy-dress party, Jacques looks everywhere but the right place.

Cast

David Niven
- Sir Charles Lytton
Peter Sellers
- Insp. Jacques Clouseau
Robert Wagner
- George Lytton
Capucine
- Simone Clouseau
Brenda De Banzie
- Angela Dunning
Colin Gordon
- Tucker
John Le Mesurier
- Defense attorney
James Lanphier - Saloud
Guy Thomajan - Artoff
Michael Trubshawe - Felix Townes
Riccardo Billi - Aristotle Sarajos
Meri Welles - Monica Fawn
Martin Miller - Pierre Luigi
Fran Jeffries - Greek cousin
Claudia Cardinale
- Princess Dala

Trivia

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.

Sellers modeled the character of Clouseau on the trademark of a box of matches which includes an image of Captain Matthew Webb, who in 1875 became the first person to swim the channel (his heroic moustache and proud stance are both mimicked). To lose weight, Sellers took dieting pills for a year.

In the bath scene with Capucine and Robert Wagner, an industrial-strength foaming agent is used, which burned both of the stars' skin. Wagner, who was completely immersed at one point, became blind for four weeks.

The film was intended to spawn a series for David Niven's character Sir Charles Lytton. However, Peter Sellers' portrayal of Inspector Closseau was so loved by audiences that it became him that the sequels focused on.

Between 1964 and 1993, eight Inspector Clouseau (or related) films would be released. All but two would carry the "Pink Panther" title, but only four films as of 2003 actually deal with the Pink Panther diamond itself: this one, The Return of the Pink Panther
(1975), Trail of the Pink Panther
(1982) and Curse of the Pink Panther
(1983).

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for The Pink Panther (1963 film) ]

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Movies - The Pink Panther

Plot

Cast

Trivia

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