Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
      • Playlists
    • Television
      • TV by Decade
        • TV – 1950s
        • TV – 1960s
        • TV – 1970s
        • TV – 1980s
        • TV – 1990s
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Kids TV
      • Variety
      • News & Sport
      • Advertisements
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • Music – 1950s
        • Music – 1960s
        • Music – 1970s
        • Music – 1980s
        • Music – 1990s
      • Artists – A to K
        • Artists – A
        • Artists – B
        • Artists – C
        • Artists – D
        • Artists – E
        • Artists – F
        • Artists – G
        • Artists – H
        • Artists – I
        • Artists – J
        • Artists – K
      • Artists – L to Z
        • Artists – L
        • Artists – M
        • Artists – N
        • Artists – O
        • Artists – P
        • Artists – Q
        • Artists – R
        • Artists – S
        • Artists – T
        • Artists – U
        • Artists – V
        • Artists – W
        • Artists – X
        • Artists – Y
        • Artists – Z
      • Artists – 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • Movies – 1950s
        • Movies – 1960s
        • Movies – 1970s
        • Movies – 1980s
        • Movies – 1990s
      • Movies – 0 to 9
      • Movies – A to K
        • Movies – A
        • Movies – B
        • Movies – C
        • Movies – D
        • Movies – E
        • Movies – F
        • Movies – G
        • Movies – H
        • Movies – I
        • Movies – J
        • Movies – K
      • Movies – L to Z
        • Movies – L
        • Movies – M
        • Movies – N
        • Movies – O
        • Movies – P
        • Movies – Q
        • Movies – R
        • Movies – S
        • Movies – T
        • Movies – U
        • Movies – V
        • Movies – W
        • Movies – X
        • Movies – Y
        • Movies – Z
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Movies»Movies by Decade»Movies - 1960s
    Movies - 1960s Movies - P 4 Mins Read

    Pink Panther, The (1963)

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    Throughout his career, Peter Sellers won worldwide acclaim for his amazing comedic performances in films like Dr Strangelove (1963) and Being There (1979). However, none of his other comic creations was as beloved by audiences as Inspector Clouseau.

    Sellers starred as this bumbling French detective in a series of comedies that became big hits in the 1960s and 1970s, redefining slapstick comedy in the process.

    The Inspector Clouseau character was introduced in 1963’s The Pink Panther. However, he was not the focus of this film. Instead, the story was built around Sir Charles Lytton (David Niven), a dashing playboy who also happens to be a professional thief.

    Sir Charles travels to an Italian ski resort to get access to The Pink Panther – a giant diamond of astronomical value.

    Since it is in the possession of Princess Dala (Claudia Cardinale), Sir Charles begins romancing her to get to the diamond.

    However, there is one thing in Sir Charles’ way: Inspector Jacques Clouseau (Sellers), a French detective who is hot on the trail of ‘The Phantom’.

    At first, this doesn’t seem to be a problem. For one thing, Sir Charles happens to be having an affair with Clouseau’s unfaithful wife, Simone (Capucine). Thus, he is able to keep tabs on Clouseau at all times and stay one step ahead.

    Inspector Clouseau also happens to be the world’s worst detective. He is clumsy and inept, with a nasty habit of tripping over anything within arms reach and possessing the ability to unintentionally destroy almost any precious object he touches.

    As the story progresses, this very clumsiness helps Clouseau throw a monkey wrench into Sir Charles’ plans and he manages to get his man in a memorable and funny way.

    Although The Pink Panther was an ensemble piece, it was clear to everyone that Peter Sellers stole the show as the good-hearted but bumbling Inspector Clouseau. His comic timing and unique gift for physical comedy made the Clouseau character a favourite with all ages.

    The film also benefited from a memorable music score by Henry Mancini, featuring a distinctive sexy saxophone-led main theme that became an instant standard.

    There was also a funny animated title sequence featuring a cartoon Pink Panther and an animated Clouseau that perfectly set the tone for the film’s lightly comedic mood.

    Sellers’ wild antics as Clouseau helped make The Pink Panther a multi-million-dollar success all over the world.

    The Pink Panther cartoon character also became a big hit with audiences, which led to a series of animated shorts and a Saturday-morning TV show all the Panther’s own.

    With all this success, it was inevitable there would be a Pink Panther sequel. Audiences quickly received their next helping of Clouseau’s antics in 1964’s A Shot In The Dark.

    The role of Inspector Clouseau had been originally planned for Peter Ustinov, but Sellers took over as a last-minute replacement, growing a Victorian moustache as a sign of self-asserted masculinity that gave him the key to the bumbling Sûreté detective.

    Sellers once said, “God forbid that I should do a whole series of Pink Panther films”. From the first to the fifth he was forever stating categorically that the latest was his last – statements which everyone but Sellers took with a pinch of salt. Even in death, the role pursued him, with Trail of the Pink Panther being a collection of out-takes from the old films, thrown – with some new scenes – into a plot.

    Sir Charles Lytton
    David Niven
    Insp. Jacques Clouseau

    Peter Sellers
    Princess Dala

    Claudia Cardinale
    George Lytton

    Robert Wagner
    Simone Clouseau

    Capucine
    Angela Dunning

    Brenda de Banzie
    Saloud

    James Lanphier
    Artoff

    Guy Thomajan
    Felix Townes

    Michael Trubshawe
    Aristotle Sarajos

    Riccardo Billi
    Monica Fawn

    Meri Wells
    Pierre Luigi

    Martin Miller
    Tucker

    Colin Gordon
    Defence Barrister

    John Le Mesurier

    Director
    Blake Edwards

    Video

    Related Posts

    • Wrong Arm of the Law, The (1963)
      Wrong Arm of the Law, The (1963)
      A classic British caper comedy from the genius comedy writing team of Ray Galton and Alan Simpson. Cor blimey cockney…
    • Lost World, The (1960)
      Lost World, The (1960)
      This 1960 version of Arthur Conan Doyle's story starred Michael Rennie as an aristocratic playboy and big game hunter named…
    • Santa Claus Conquers The Martians (1964)
      Santa Claus Conquers The Martians (1964)
      The people of Mars kidnap Santa Claus and two children in an effort to capture the Christmas spirit for their…
    • Nobody Runs Forever (1968)
      Nobody Runs Forever (1968)
      Scobie Malone (Rod Taylor) is a police detective from the Australian outback who is sent by the Premier of NSW…
    • Dr Strangelove (1963)
      Dr Strangelove (1963)
      The hypothetical prospect of total nuclear annihilation provided the satirical content of Stanley Kubrick's jet-black comedy. The question asked by…
    • Home of Your Own, A (1965)
      Home of Your Own, A (1965)
      Originally released as a support feature to A Shot In The Dark (the second Peter Sellers Pink Panther film) and jam-packed…
    • I Love You, Alice B. Toklas! (1968)
      I Love You, Alice B. Toklas! (1968)
      Peter Sellers as a hippie? Yes, indeed, and he's in top form as Harold, a neurotic Jewish lawyer in Los…
    • Swinger, The (1966)
      Swinger, The (1966)
      Completing director George Sidney's "trilogy" of cinematic love-letters to Ann-Margret - the other two being Viva Las Vegas  (1964) and Bye Bye Birdie (1963) -…

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticlePillow Talk (1959)
    Next Article Pink Panther Strikes Again, The (1976)

    Comments are closed.

    Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    You May Also Like
    • Johnny Preston
      John Preston Courville was born in Port Arthur, Texas, in August […]
    • Psy-Warriors
      1 9 8 1 (UK) 1 x 73 minute episode This instalment of Play For […]
    • BatFink
      1 9 6 6 – 1 9 6 7 (USA) 100 x 5 minute episodes A […]
    • My Sister Eileen (1955)
      Sisters Eileen and Ruth Sherwood move to New York City from […]
    • Howards’ Way
      1 9 8 5 – 1 9 9 0 (UK) 80 x 50 minute episodes In 1985 the […]
    • Renegades, The
      1 9 8 3 (USA) 6 x 60 minute episodes The Renegades was […]
    Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

    OUR LATEST FACEBOOK POSTS

    edition.cnn.com/2023/01/30/entertainment/cindy-williams-dead/index.html

    More sad news 😢
    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    'Laverne & Shirley' star Cindy Williams dead at 75 | CNN

    edition.cnn.com

    Cindy Williams, the dynamic actress known best for playing the bubbly Shirley Feeney on the beloved sitcom "Laverne & Shirley," has died, according to a statement from her family, provided to CNN by a...
    3 days ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 1
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64442824 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Television frontman Tom Verlaine dies at 73

    www.bbc.co.uk

    His band rose to fame in the 1970s New York punk scene, scoring UK hits including Marquee Moon.
    5 days ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64418847 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Mr Blobby costume sells for more than £62,000 on eBay

    www.bbc.co.uk

    The character, made famous by BBC show Noel's House Party, had been in storage since the 1990s.
    6 days ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    Put some beefiness into your mid-week menu with these recipe ideas published in a Birds Eye advertisement from the Radio Times on 30 September 1965.

    Put some "beefiness into your mid-week menu" with these recipe ideas published in a Birds Eye advertisement from the "Radio Times" on 30 September 1965. ... See MoreSee Less

    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 3
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    They were awful. An overpowering savoury flavour that lingered in your mouth for hours. Heaven knows what unmentionable parts of a bull went into making them 😳

    More sad news 😪

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    US rock legend David Crosby dies aged 81

    www.bbc.co.uk

    Crosby, who co-founded both the Byrds and Crosby, Stills and Nash, had been ill for some time.
    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    This is what they promised us when I was a kid. What happened? 

All I have is 700 channels of rubbish on the TV in High Def, TikTok, Facebook and a phone I can take photographs with . . .

    This is what they promised us when I was a kid. What happened?

    All I have is 700 channels of rubbish on the TV in High Def, TikTok, Facebook and a phone I can take photographs with . . .
    ... See MoreSee Less

    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 54
    • Shares: 22
    • Comments: 7

    Comment on Facebook

    I thought we would have moving pavements by now when I was a kid 😂

    Totally agree!!!

    The new Tesla, 4.6 next century.

    We got transvestite story hour instead

    We appear to be going backwards

    There's actually a very good David Graeber essay on this very topic: thebaffler.com/salvos/of-flying-cars-and-the-declining-rate-of-profit

    The Jetsons strike again.

    View more comments

    Renowned Australian singer Renee Geyer is dead at 69 following complications from hip surgery. Such a fabulous voice. RIP😢

https://nostalgiacentral.com/music/artists-l-to-z/artists-r/renee-geyer/

    Renowned Australian singer Renee Geyer is dead at 69 following complications from hip surgery. Such a fabulous voice. RIP😢

    nostalgiacentral.com/music/artists-l-to-z/artists-r/renee-geyer/
    ... See MoreSee Less

    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    That is so sad to hear 😥 rest in peace 🙏 🕊 xx

    Gina Lollobrigida: Italian screen star dies at 95
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64292026

    Gina Lollobrigida: Italian screen star dies at 95
    www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64292026
    ... See MoreSee Less

    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 4
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    😍😍😍😍

    Vale Jeff Beck. Dead at 78. 😢

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Jeff Beck: British guitar legend dies aged 78

    www.bbc.co.uk

    One of rock's most influential guitarists, he was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice.
    3 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 1
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    Hi everyone. Were in the process of moving www.nostalgiacentral.com to new dedicated servers to better cope with the volumes of traffic. Please ignore any SSL security errors you may receive when visiting the site over the next 24 hours while the move completes.

    Hi everyone. We're in the process of moving www.nostalgiacentral.com to new dedicated servers to better cope with the volumes of traffic. Please ignore any SSL security errors you may receive when visiting the site over the next 24 hours while the move completes. ... See MoreSee Less

    3 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 5
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 2

    Comment on Facebook

    Ironically, this post has jumped off the page at me. You'll probably get most traffic today because everyone will want to see what they might be missing!

    Martin Platt

    Load more
    Please note


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    Popular Tags
    1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1975 1976 Action Figures Amicus Arcade games Australia Beach movies Beatles Blaxploitation Board games Britpop Canada Crime Disney Doo-Wop Elvis Presley Girl groups Glam Goth Hammer Heavy Metal Irwin Allen Labels Merseybeat Mod revival Motown New Romantic New Wave NWOBHM Oi! One-hit wonders Power Pop Pub rock Punk Radio Scotland Ska Soul music Sport Surf music
    Search Nostalgia Central
    Copyright © 1998, 2023 Nostalgia Central
    • About Nostalgia Central
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.