The Pink Panther (1963)

David Niven recreates a little of his "Raffles" (1939) character here as the suave and debonaire "Sir Charles Lytton". He's a social sophisticate who is invited to the grandest of soirées and where there is always a jewel robbery. Nobody has ever quite put two and two together before until "Clouseau" (Peter Sellers) and his wife "Simone" (Capucine) arrive at a luxurious hotel where the "Princess" (Claudia Cardinale) is also staying - along with her priceless necklace. "Clouseau" thinks it's bound to be stolen, as does just about everyone else but the arrival of nephew "George" (Robert Wagner) puts a spanner in the works of "Lytton" and what now ensues is quite a good laugh. Niven and Cardinale just ooze charisma here, with both gelling well and easily exuding a sense that this alpine luxury is exactly where they belong. The audience knows a few things about "Mrs Clouseau" that her husband doesn't, and that adds quite nicely to the not so mysterious mystery and to the rather quirky ending. I think this is my favourite of the outings for Sellers with this character. It's his most natural performance and his role isn't top-billed, he's more a part of the mechanics of a film that marries quite a few themes together and allows everyone to have their "007" meets "To Catch a Thief" moment in the snow. Some of the scenes - especially in the hotel room with the folks hiding under the bed - do go on too long, but there's still enough innate comedy timing from just about everyone to take this oft-told story and make it worth rehashing. Keep an eye out for the over-the-top Brenda de Banzie, too! Good fun.

Apr 22, 2024