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Peter Sellers, Christopher Plummer, Catherine Schell, Herbert Lom, Peter Arne ... see more see more... , Grégoire Aslan , Peter Jeffrey , Eric Pohlmann , Burt Kwouk , Victor Spinetti , John Bluthal , Carol Cleveland , Claire Davenport , Hugo de Vernier , Lesley-Anne Down , David Lodge , Andre Maranne , Milton Reid , Nadim Sawalha , Omar Sharif , Graham Stark , Peter Jones , Jeremy Hawk , Mike Grady , Andre Charisse , Michael Nightingale

After several years at loggerheads with one another, director Blake Edwards and star Peter Sellers reteamed for the slapstick fiesta The Return of the Pink Panther. It looks as though wizard cat-burgl... read more read more...ar Sir Charles Litton, played by David Niven in the original 1964 Pink Panther but here essayed by Christopher Plummer, is back in business. Dispatched to the Swiss resort town of Gstaad by his long-suffering superior Inspector Dreyfuss (Herbert Lom), Clouseau adopts a series of easily penetrable (and hilarious) disguises to get the goods on Sir Charles and his wife Claudine (Catherine Schell). If you remember A Shot in the Dark, you'll recall that Clouseau's ineptitude turned Inspector Dreyfuss into a twitching homicidal maniac. The same thing happens here, paving the way for the sequel, The Pink Panther Strikes Again. And, as with all the "Panther" movies, we are treated to the insinuating theme music by Henry Mancini, and the animated opening and closing titles. Return of the Pink Panther earned $17 million on its initial release. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

75% liked it

40,547 ratings

Critics

88% liked it

17 critics

G, 1 hr. 55 min.

Directed by: Blake Edwards

Release Date: May 21, 1975

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DVD Release Date: March 20, 2001

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Stats: 1,007 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,007)

  • bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb1
    June 26, 2010
    bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb1
    also really funny. B+
  • sononothing
    February 8, 2009
    sononothing
    A decade after playing Inspector Clouseau in Shot in the Dark Peter Sellers returns along with the Pink Panther in Blake Edwards 1975 film that saw a return to form (sort of) of the Pink Panther films.

    The Pink Panther diamond has been stolen and the Phantom's trademark glove ha... read mores been left at the scene of the crime. The government demands that Clouseau, who has been knocked down to a simple patrolman, come to solve the case. The thing is that the real Phantom Sir Charles Litton (Christopher Plummer taking over for David Niven) has been in retirement and did not commit the crime. So as Clouseau bumbles his way through the investigation Litton is also trying to figure out who the fake Phantom is.

    The plot to Return of the Pink Panther is dull. Very dull. It's basically Plummer's boring search intercut with Peter Sellers being Peter Sellers and Herbert Lom going nuts again. It's probably a good thing that Sellers returned for this film because I can not imagine how boring it would be without his presence. He saves the film from total disaster, but it's still a dry and slow piece that probably could have shaved twenty minutes off. This movie is for Pink Panther completists and Sellers fans only.
  • Deano78
    July 16, 2007
    Deano78
    A pretty fun film in the series.
  • garyX
    February 27, 2007
    garyX
    Probably good fun for kids, but the humour is crude and juvenile compared to the earlier films (which weren't THAT great anyway)
  • stuartb1234
    January 8, 2007
    stuartb1234
    Can always raise a chuckle
  • rodriguesmatthew
    April 6, 2010
    rodriguesmatthew
    This is a very good Pink Panther film but unfortuanatly it's not well known. The reason that the film is not part of the Pink Panther film collection because it's a Fox film and the others are MGM releases. It's also the only Pink Panther film were David Niven is not the Phantom.... read more Don't worry, it still has Herbert Lom as Closeau's zany boss, and Burt Kwouk as his kung-fu servant Kato. The film is about the robbery of the Pink Panther Diamond again. Closeau has to spy on Sir Charles (Phantom, and has stolen the diamond before) by using his hilarious disguises. This movie features two hilarious scenes with Kato. It also has Closeau in over his head in funny situations such as being super glued to a chair. The Return is not the best but lots of fun.

    Story: B
    Acting: B+
    Direction: B+
    Visuals: B
    Overall: B

    *** out of 4 stars
  • oakman67
    January 31, 2011
    oakman67
    The comic genius of Sellers is on full display as the Pink Panther is stolen and Clouseau is chosen to bring it back. Sir Charles is now played by the dashing Christopher Plummer and Catherins Schell plays his dutiful lover. THe opening Kato/Clouseau sequence is a stitch. A very ... read morefunny film.
  • SunilJawahir
    March 21, 2009
    SunilJawahir
    Not the best Pink Panther but always enjoyable.
  • jim222001us
    February 16, 2009
    jim222001us
    Inspector Clouseau (Peter Sellers) is back and the Pink Panther has been stolen once again. It's believed that it was taken by a crook that calls himself the Phantom.

    Peter Sellers is naturally funny in the role. Unlike, Steve Martin who tries too hard to be funny in the n... read moreew films. Martin also looks silly with white hair and a brown mustache.

    I have never seen any of the old films until now. They are easy to get into though and still for a laugh. So there was no need for the lame new movies.
  • leekyle1968
    February 22, 2008
    leekyle1968
    hilarious classic movie, if you have a chance or deciding who you want to see as clouseau, go with sellers their is no comparring the two

View All The Return of the Pink Panther Reviews

Critic Reviews

Charles Cassady
December 15, 2010
Charles Cassady, Common Sense Media

Hilarious Clouseau better in sequel than original. Full Review

Mark Bourne
April 5, 2006
Mark Bourne, DVDJournal.com

...all the witty improvisational zing of a Celine Dion concert. Full Review

Stefan Birgir Stefansson
April 16, 2005
Stefan Birgir Stefansson, sbs.is

It's a good thing they needed the cash...

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
January 18, 2004
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

A slap-stick devotee's dream come true Full Review

Pablo Villaca
July 25, 2003
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena

Um dos mais fracos da série, tem roteiro terrível, é lento e as piadas não funcionam.

John J. Puccio
May 9, 2003
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis

Sellers' return (to the series) was a triumph, so much so that the actor would complete two more "Panther" films before his untimely death.

Vincent Canby
May 9, 2005
Vincent Canby, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Don Druker
January 1, 2000
Don Druker, Chicago Reader

Click to read the article Full Review

Chuck O'Leary
May 7, 2007
Chuck O'Leary, FulvueDrive-in.com

No review available.

Cole Smithey
September 26, 2005
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com

No review available.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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