The Return of the Pink Panther (1975)

 

You know how it is rather hard to keep a comedy series going as very often studios resort to the same thing over and over yet the jokes keep getting worse and worse? Well, this series has no problems with staying funny. A massive part of that is of course the comedic genius of Peter Sellers, who not only crafted a very memorable character with Inspector Clouseau, but whose timing and delivery is so spot on a great many comedians need to take note.

Or have taken note, of course.

After the whodunit of 'A Shot In the Dark', this one returns to what worked in the first one: the hunt for the diamond known as the Pink Panther. Could it have been any other McGuffin? Absolutely, but continuity is a thing.

Clouseau has been demoted to beat cop and this is clearly nothing he enjoys. However, when the famous diamond is once again stolen (this time from the museum in its home country of Lugash), the Shah of Lugash wants Clouseau on the case. The reason why baffles everyone, not in the least Chief Inspector Dreyfus, who is teetering on the edge of complete insanity, as Clouseau always manages to bring chaos and frustration to the poor man. 

It transpires that the crime was committed by the notorious Phantom, the criminal mastermind from the first film (this time played by Christopher Plummer). However, the real Phantom has been living in retirement for the past four years, so now Charles Litton aka the Phantom sets out to find whoever is truly responsible for the theft. Clouseau in the meantime, is sent on a wild goose chase following Litton's wife.

Shenanigans ensue. Will the case be solv-éd? 

No, that is not a typo. Watch the film and discover why this was spelled thus.

The two storylines only truly mix at the end, so at times the film is a little disjointed. On the one hand, there is the adventure of Charles Litton, which is akin to a lighthearted adventure romp through the exotic locale of Lugash and eventually Gstaad. On the other side, there's Clouseau's mission to apprehend Charles, yet not knowing that everywhere he is looking is the wrong place. Or is it?

But of course, it's the comedy that rules supreme and Sellers is on fire. He is not as much in the film as one would expect. For the next one, he would truly take centre stage, but that is okay, because it makes his bumbling all the more enjoyable, as it is dosed rather well. There is little doubt that he will succeed in making you laugh your backside off. Heck, Sellers is so funny, that director Blake Edwards gave up trying to get Catherine Schell (lady Litton) to react appropriately to Sellers' delivery, so nearly all of the laughter and sniggering you see her doing during the film is actually genuine. 

But hey: you try and keep a straight face when a comedy genius and truly funny person is delivering the goods.

This third entry is once again a charming, hilarious and sweet film that will warm your heart and will make you wet your trousers. You'll giggle, snigger, holler and cry because it really is one of the funniest films around. 

Hyperbole, moi?