The Pink Panther

Released Mar 20, 1964

1h 53m

Comedy

List

89%

37 Reviews

Tomatometer

78%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

In this first film of the beloved comic series, dashing European thief Sir Charles Lytton (David Niven) plans to steal a diamond, but he's not the only one with his eyes on the famous jewel known as the "Pink Panther." His nephew George (Robert Wagner) also aims to make off with the gem, and to frame Charles for the crime. Blundering French police inspector Jacques Clouseau (Peter Sellers) intercedes, but finds his career -- and his freedom -- jeopardized.

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Critics Consensus

Peter Sellers is at his virtuosically bumbling best in The Pink Panther, a sophisticated caper blessed with an unforgettably slinky score by Henry Mancini.

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Alec B

For a movie that unintentionally kicked off a massive franchise, it is mostly a straightforward and well executed farce. As to Sellers specifically, he is quite funny with the caveat that the Clouseau character hadn't quite reached its full potential yet. That Mancini score is perfection.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/10/24

Full Review

Jeffrey M

The Pink Panther was a kind of bad movie. I finished it just now, so it is fresh in my mind. The Pink Panther was very boring until the end. You know how Clouseo is the main character of the Pink Panther franchise, well that wasn't what is was planned to be in the first place. A character named Sir Charles was going to be the main character of the Pink Panther movies, but the crew loved Peter Seller's impression of Clouseo so much that they made him the main character for the rest of the Pink Panther films that he was alive. The Pink Panther is supposed to be a mystery, but instead it was about romance. The Pink Panther is super overrated. I don't understand why people like this movie soo much. This movie was kind of bad. I give it a 57%.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/24/23

Full Review

Bradley G

The Pink Panther has quite a lot of slapstick moments than a storyline as my con is the film is very messy.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/01/23

Full Review

Marc Z

This is a classic and has really held up over the last 60 years. While everyone associates the Pink Panther movie series with Peter Sellers, he is really a minor player on this one. Despite that, he brings the best part of his linguistic and physical comedic skills to the role. The result was that the series became all about Sellers as the bumbling Inspector Clouseau. This one is a very good tale of a jewel thief and Sellers' attempt to unmask him. David Niven, Robert Wagner, Claudia Cardinale, and the rest of the cast are very good in creating the scenarios that allow Sellers' comedic skills to flourish. The script and Direction by Blake Edwards are masterfully shot and timed. The Mancini musical score is a classic and works so well. I like "A Shot in the Dark" even better, but this is really good.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/07/23

Full Review

Alejandro E

The comedy about a cunning cat burglar and his clumsy pursuer is made by '60s standards, and might be a little better off but for its slow pace. The best legacy of itself? The opening credits sequence, which was the birth of one of the most notorious cartoon characters. And you know who I'm talking about.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/22/23

Full Review

Josh G

Funny and dry at the same time, while parts of the film can drag, parts will make you laugh a whole bunch. David Niven is fun but peter sellers is better in everyday. A funny finale with a odd ending why did it end this way. I had fun alot of fun champagne in bed, great gag.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

Full Review

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Blake Edwards

Director

Peter Sellers

Inspector Jacques Clouseau

David Niven

Sir Charles Lytton

Robert Wagner

George Lytton

Capucine

Simone Clouseau

Brenda De Banzie

Angela Dunning

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The Pink Panther: Official Clip - Two Gorillas

2:13

The Pink Panther: Official Clip - Porridge With the Lyttons

1:52

The Pink Panther: Official Clip - I'll Have Your Stripes

2:13

The Pink Panther: Official Clip - Clouseau Visits the Princess

2:10

The Pink Panther: Official Clip - My Stradivarius!

2:08

The Pink Panther: Official Clip - Under Beds and Bubbles

2:11

The Pink Panther: Official Clip - Champagne Surprise

2:07

The Pink Panther: Official Clip - A Real Woman

1:49

The Pink Panther: Official Clip - Clouseau Is the Phantom

2:17

The Pink Panther: Official Clip - Simone Juggles Suitors

2:13

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James Jackson

Times (UK)

It’s chic in an early-1960s kind of way.

Apr 25, 2023

Full Review

David Robinson

Sight & Sound

Peter Sellers' gifts for slapstick have not often been so well used (too often he is exploited as a mimic instead of as a comedian).

Mar 11, 2020

Full Review

James Powers

Hollywood Reporter

Alexander Fisher's sound is good. Fernando Carrere's art direction and set decoration by Reginald Allen, Jack Stevens and Arrigo Breschi provide visual elegance to enhance the gags.

Mar 21, 2019

Full Review

Penelope Gilliatt

Observer (UK)

The picture has a performance by Peter Sellers that is one of the most delicate studies in accident-proneness since the silents.

Mar 6, 2024

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Despite the game efforts of a top cast, director Blake Edwards noticed that Sellers and his fumbling character were the true stars of the film.

Rated: 3/4

Nov 7, 2021

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Overlong but never boring, culminating in a spectacularly silly masquerade ball full of playful mixups and misdirection and chaos.

Rated: 8/10

Aug 27, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

In this first film of the beloved comic series, dashing European thief Sir Charles Lytton (David Niven) plans to steal a diamond, but he's not the only one with his eyes on the famous jewel known as the "Pink Panther." His nephew George (Robert Wagner) also aims to make off with the gem, and to frame Charles for the crime. Blundering French police inspector Jacques Clouseau (Peter Sellers) intercedes, but finds his career -- and his freedom -- jeopardized.

Director: Blake Edwards
Screenwriter: Maurice Richlin, Blake Edwards
Distributor: United Artists
Production Co: Mirisch Company
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 20, 1964, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 1, 2016
Runtime: 1h 53m

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