The Pink Panther (1963)

Director:

Blake Edwards

Writers:

Maurice Richlin (screenplay) and
Blake Edwards (screenplay)

Release Date:

20 March 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Family | Mystery | Romance

Tagline:

You only live once... so see the Pink Panther twice!!!

Plot:

In the first movie starring Peter Sellers as the bumbling Inspector Clouseau, he tries to catch a jewel thief who is right under his nose.

Plot Keywords:

Clouseau | Pink | Panther | Pink Panther | Inspector

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

David Niven	...	Sir Charles Lytton
Peter Sellers	...	Insp. Jacques Clouseau
Robert Wagner	...	George Lytton
Capucine	...	Simone Clouseau
Brenda De Banzie	...	Angela Dunning (as Brenda de Banzie)
Colin Gordon	...	Tucker
John Le Mesurier	...	Defence Barrister (as John LeMesurier)
James Lanphier	...	Saloud
Guy Thomajan	...	Artoff
Michael Trubshawe	...	Felix Townes
Riccardo Billi	...	Aristotle Sarajos
Meri Welles	...	Monica Fawn (as Meri Wells)
Martin Miller	...	Pierre Luigi - Photographer
Fran Jeffries	...	Greek 'cousin'
Claudia Cardinale	...	Princess Dahla
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Bartha	...	Policeman (uncredited)
William Bryant	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Mario Fabrizi	...	Hotel manager (uncredited)
Eugene Walter	...	Hotel manager (English dubbing) (uncredited)

Directed by
Blake Edwards

Writing credits
Maurice Richlin		(screenplay) and
Blake Edwards		(screenplay)

Produced by
Dick Crockett	....	associate producer
Martin Jurow	....	producer

Original Music by
Henry Mancini

Cinematography by
Philip H. Lathrop		(as Philip Lathrop)

Film Editing by
Ralph E. Winters

Art Direction by
Fernando Carrere

Set Decoration by
Reg Allen		(as Reginald Allen)
Arrigo Breschi
Jack Stevens

Makeup Department
Amalia Paoletti	....	hair stylist
Euclide Santoli	....	makeup artist
Michele Trimarchi	....	makeup artist (as Michele Tremarchi)
Giancarlo De Leonardis	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Guy Luongo	....	production supervisor
Jack McEdward	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ottavio Oppo	....	assistant director
Owen Crump	....	second unit director (uncredited)

Art Department
Mickey Lennon	....	chargehand dressing prop (uncredited)
Italo Tomassi	....	head scenic painter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Alexander Fisher	....	sound
Gilbert D. Marchant	....	sound effects editor
Sash Fisher	....	sound (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Lee Zavitz	....	special effects

Stunts
Dick Crockett	....	stunts (uncredited)
Nosher Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
John Burton Jr.	....	camera operator: animation (uncredited)
Bill Geddes	....	camera grip (uncredited)
Richard H. Kline	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Animation Department
Warren Batchelder	....	animator: main titles (uncredited)
Dale Case	....	animator: main titles (uncredited)
George DeLado	....	background artist: main titles (uncredited)
David H. DePatie	....	animation producer (uncredited)
Friz Freleng	....	animation producer (uncredited)
Manny Gould	....	animator: main titles (uncredited)
George Grandpré	....	animator: main titles (uncredited)
Laverne Harding	....	animator: main titles (uncredited)
Harry Love	....	production coordinator: animation (uncredited)
Bob Matz	....	animator: main titles (uncredited)
Norm McCabe	....	animator: main titles (uncredited)
Tom O'Loughlin	....	background artist: main titles (uncredited)
Manuel Perez	....	animator: main titles (uncredited)
Hawley Pratt	....	director: animation sequence (uncredited)
Dick Ung	....	layout artist: main titles (uncredited)
Don Williams	....	animator: main titles (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Annalisa Nasalli-Rocca	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Annalisa Rocca)
Yves Saint-Laurent	....	wardrobe: Claudia Cardinale and Capucine (as Yves St. Laurent)
William Ware Theiss	....	wardrobe consultant (as William Theiss)

Editorial Department
Marshall M. Borden	....	assistant editor
David B. Zinnemann	....	assistant editor
Lee Gunther	....	film editor: animation (uncredited)

Music Department
Richard Carruth	....	music editor
Bob Bain	....	musician: guitar (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Eddie Frewin	....	transportation chief (uncredited)

Other crew
Betty A. Griffin	....	script supervisor (as Betty Abbott)
James Lanphier	....	dialogue coach
Corny Cole	....	lead graphic designer: main titles (uncredited)
Ralph M. Leo	....	production accountant (uncredited)
Hermes Pan	....	choreographer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Mirisch Corporation, The (as Mirisch Company)

Distributors

• United Artists (1964) (USA) (theatrical)
• United Artists Corporation (1964) (UK) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1967) (USA) (TV) (pan/scan)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1991) (USA) (VHS) (pan/scan)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• CBS/Fox (19??) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Cuatro (2005) (Spain) (TV)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2004) (UK) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (collector's edition)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1999) (USA) (VHS) (widescreen)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (VHS) (widescreen)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• DePatie-Freleng Enterprises (DFE)  main titles

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Canada:G (Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Iceland:L | Portugal:M/12 | Brazil:Livre | Argentina:Atp | Finland:S | France:U | Ireland:PG | Netherlands:AL | Norway:12 (re-rating) | Norway:16 (original rating) | Sweden:Btl | UK:PG | USA:Approved (certificate #20449) | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Mirisch Corporation, The

Trivia:

In one scene, there's a night club called "Les Nus les plus osées du monde": The most daring nudes in the world.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Sir Charles is first skiing behind Princess Dala to spy on her movements, he is wearing binoculars with the strap over his right shoulder, his left arm through the strap, and binoculars under his left arm as he skis with ski poles in both hands. When he stops, his left arm and ski pole are no longer through the strap; the binocular strap is simply around his neck with the binoculars hanging on his chest as he grabs them to look through them.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Gem dealer 1: As in every stone of this size, there is a flaw.
Sultan: A flaw?
Gem dealer 2: The slightest flaw, your excellency.
Gem dealer 1: If you look deep into the stone, you will perceive the tiniest discoloration. It resembles an animal.
Sultan: An animal?
Gem dealer 1: A little panther.
Sultan: Yes! A pink panther. Come here, Dala. A gift to your father from his grateful people. Some day it will be yours. The most fabulous diamond in all the world. Come closer.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Nachtrit (2006)

Soundtrack:

It Had Better Be Tonight

Terrific fun thanks to underplaying by Sellers.

I had an absolute ball watching this. It works so well because Sellers underplays it. He's never over-the-top, never looks like he's playing for jokes, which makes his bumbling all the funnier.

Blake Edwards epitomises the sexy martini and bright colours world of the cinematic sixties for me. Revisiting Pink Panther since my childhood, i can see how this was a natural continuation from Breakfast at Tiffany's.

The charming David Niven and radiant belle Claudia Cardinale give added appeal. They are actually the two leads. Inspector Clouseau is a supporting player in this. His mass popularity lead to his being the centre of the sequals, including the famous second film Shot in the Dark, also by Blake Edwards.

A gem of a "man hiding in the closet" farce, perfect for late-night fun. See it if you enjoyed What's Up Doc? or Breakfast at Tiffany's.