The Pink Panther

Release Year: 1963

Director: Blake Edwards

Review: The first in series of films about the clumsy Inspector Jacques Clouseau.  In this first film, the good inspector is on the hunt for the allusive Phantom, a burglar who has evaded Clousaeu for years.  The inspector has made it his life's work to catch the thief and thinks that his next target will be the large jewel named The Pink Panther.  Considering the series has Clouseau as an indelible fixture, his screen time is actually pretty limited in this first film.  Peter Sellers is a master satirist, and is wonderful as the bumbling inspector.  He manages to pull off slapstick and nuttiness without being irritating.   

The story starts off very strong, with a surprising amount of wit, and strong dialog.  Unfortunately it did not sustain itself.  Sacrificing itself for zaniness, it takes a turn for the worse around the mid point, and ended with an utter mess of an ending leaving me frustrated with everything I had invested in the character development.  It is caught in an awkward place between a true caper film and a silly spoof.  Regardless, 'The Pink Panther' certainly is original, and has a strong enough beginning to make it worth the watch.

Rating: 3/5