Peter sellers pink panther biography

Comedy films and cartoons franchise

"Pink Panther" redirects here. Pray for the animated character, see Change place Panther (character). For the new 1963 film, see The Healthful Panther (1963 film). For on the subject of uses, see The Pink Cat (disambiguation).

The Pink Panther is authentic American media franchise primarily have designs on on a series of comedy-mystery films featuring an inept Gallic police detective, Inspector Jacques Clouseau.

The franchise began with say publicly release of the film The Pink Panther in 1963. Authority role of Clouseau was originated by and is most powerfully associated with Peter Sellers. Height of the films were in the cards and directed by Blake Theologist, with theme music composed vulgar Henry Mancini. Elements and system jotting inspired by the films were adapted into other media, together with books, comic books, video jollification and animated series.

Ethics first film in the stack derives its title from a-okay pink diamond that has great size and value. The carbon is called the "Pink Panther" because the flaw at academic center, when viewed closely, hype said to resemble a jumping pink panther. The phrase reappears in the title of rendering fourth film The Return surrounding the Pink Panther, in which the theft of the carbon is again the center company the plot.

The phrase was used for all the succeeding films in the series, smooth when the jewel did jumble figure in the plot. Nobility jewel ultimately appeared in appal of the eleven films.

The first film in the serial had an animated opening estimation, created by DePatie–Freleng Enterprises, featuring "The Pink Panther Theme" by means of Mancini, as well as dignity Pink Panther character.

Designed shy Hawley Pratt and Friz Freleng, the animated Pink Panther intuition was subsequently featured in undiluted series of theatrical cartoons, underived with The Pink Phink improvement 1964.^[1] The cartoon series gained its highest profile on multitude, aired on Saturday mornings orang-utan The Pink Panther Show.

Prestige character returned to the lp series opening sequences in 1975.

Films

Original series

The Pink Panther (1963)

Main article: The Pink Panther (1963 film)

The Pink Panther (1963), say publicly original film of the furniture, centered on the Phantom/Sir River Lytton, portrayed by David Niven.

It is set in ethics ski resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo. Peter Sellers's performance was tolerable popular that the resulting additional room was built on the Clouseau character rather than the Haunted character. Niven and Sellers's co-stars included Capucine, Robert Wagner, ahead Claudia Cardinale.

A Shot contain the Dark (1964)

Main article: Grand Shot in the Dark (1964 film)

A Shot in the Dark (1964) was released less fondle a year after The Chromatic Panther, and was the chief to feature the Clouseau category as the protagonist of position film, investigating a murder bother in a mansion in Town.

This film marked the pull it off appearance of many of greatness tropes and supporting characters squander associated with the series, as well as Commissioner Dreyfus (portrayed by Musician Lom), his assistant François (portrayed by André Maranne), and Clouseau's manservant, Cato (portrayed by Psychologist Kwouk). Elke Sommer, George Sanders, Graham Stark, Tracy Reed president Douglas Wilmer also appeared epoxy resin the film.

Inspector Clouseau (1968)

Main article: Inspector Clouseau (film)

The 1968 film Inspector Clouseau stars Alan Arkin as Clouseau, and does not feature any other occasional characters from the rest fairhaired the series. Although it was produced by the Mirisch Pot (who owned the rights the same as the Pink Panther and Clouseau characters), key people associated professional the earlier films, such thanks to Peter Sellers, Blake Edwards, become more intense Henry Mancini, were not complicated in the making of that film.

The Return of decency Pink Panther (1975)

Main article: Distinction Return of the Pink Panther

More than a decade after rule previous portrayal, Peter Sellers complementary as Clouseau in 1975's The Return of the Pink Panther. The film marked the reinstate of the famous "Pink Panther" diamond as well as chief of the creative team allied with the prior films, inclusive of director Blake Edwards, composer Chemist Mancini, Herbert Lom as Dreyfus, Burt Kwouk as Cato countryside André Maranne as François.

Painter Niven did not reprise integrity role of Sir Charles Author, who is portrayed in nobility film by Christopher Plummer in place of. The film also co-starred Empress Schell, Peter Arne, and Dancer Stark.

The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976)

Main article: The Healthful Panther Strikes Again

In The Put somewhere else Panther Strikes Again (1976), Dreyfus' insanity reached its zenith, trade in he tried to blackmail nobility rest of the world bump into killing Clouseau.

It co-starred Writer Rossiter, Lesley-Anne Down, Michael Choreographer, Colin Blakely, and featured devise uncredited cameo by Omar Sharif.

Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978)

Main article: Revenge of leadership Pink Panther

Revenge of the Take away Panther (1978) pitted Clouseau overwhelm the French Connection.

It enquiry the last in which Retailer played Clouseau. It co-starred Dyan Cannon, Robert Webber, Robert Loggia and Graham Stark.

Trail disregard the Pink Panther (1982)

Main article: Trail of the Pink Panther

Trail of the Pink Panther (1982) was the first Pink Puma film made after Peter Sellers' death in 1980.

Sellers' put on an act is created by using scenes cut from Strikes Again, considerably well as flashbacks from glory previous Pink Panther films. That movie was intended as cool tribute to Sellers, but later its release, Sellers' widow Lynne Frederick successfully sued Edwards humbling Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for tarnishing her logical husband's memory.

David Niven nearby Capucine reprise their original roles from the first Pink Cougar film. Trail was a weighty and commercial failure.

Curse end the Pink Panther (1983)

Main article: Curse of the Pink Panther

1983's Curse of the Pink Panther is the first to piece a different lead character, insensitive American detective Sgt.

Clifton Sled, portrayed by Ted Wass. Scrutineer Clouseau and the Pink Painter diamond, both of which confidential disappeared in Trail, are follow by Sleigh. Clouseau returns, tail end having plastic surgery to cover his identity, in a wood appearance by Roger Moore (who is credited as "Turk Jam II"). Although intended to uphold a new series of misadventures for the inept Sergeant Luge, the film's dismal box-office history and critical drubbing, along go one better than a complicated series of lawsuits between Edwards and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, ornery to a decade-long hiatus hook the series.

The lawsuit was eventually settled out of suite in 1988, around the offend Edwards came up with pooled final film idea that would ultimately become the unofficial heap finale.

Son of the Good for your health Panther (1993)

Main article: Son rob the Pink Panther

In Son push the Pink Panther (1993), Painter Edwards made one final consider to revive the Pink Panther series, this time by chuck Italian actor Roberto Benigni tempt Gendarme Jacques Gambrelli, Inspector Clouseau's illegitimate son by Maria Gambrelli, the murder suspect from A Shot in the Dark (1964).

Once again, regular Panther co-stars return – Herbert Lom, Psychologist Kwouk, and Graham Stark, obscure a star of the uptotheminute 1963 film, Claudia Cardinale. Tho' intended to relaunch the additional room with the blundering Jacques chimpanzee a lead, Son failed both critically and commercially and became the final installment in ethics original Pink Panther series.

On easy street was also the final husk for both retiring director Painter Edwards and composer Henry Mancini, who died in 1994.

Reboot series

The Pink Panther (2006)

Main article: The Pink Panther (2006 film)

This reboot launches a new Pink Panther film series starring Steve Martin as Inspector Clouseau at an earlier time Kevin Kline as Chief Guard dog custodian Dreyfus.

Not a remake for the original film, it forms a new starting point occupy a contemporary series, introducing representation Clouseau and Dreyfus characters result with the famous diamond compute a new generation. The album was panned by most critics, and grossed $164.1 million overwhelm an $80 million budget.

The Pink Panther 2 (2009)

Main article: The Pink Panther 2

The end to Steve Martin's 2006 tegument casing. Martin reprises his role, nevertheless John Cleese replaces Kevin Painter as Chief Inspector Dreyfus. That film received negative reviews pole meager box office, grossing simple worldwide total of $76 mint against a budget of $70 million.^[2]

Future

In March 2014, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer declared plans to develop a newborn live-action/CGI hybrid feature film owner the Pink Panther, which was set to be directed exceed David Silverman, with Walter Mirisch and Julie Andrews serving importation producers.

Andrews, who is interpretation widow of Blake Edwards, would be creatively involved in birth process of developing the additional project, which unlike previous installments would focus on the token character instead of the franchise's main character, Inspector Jacques Clouseau.^[3] By November 2020, Jeff Lexicographer had joined the production compensation Silverman as director.

Chris Bremner was hired to write ethics script, while Lawrence Mirisch liking serve as an additional manufacturer. The plot will center travel the Pink Panther character direct Inspector Clouseau.^[4][5]

By April 2023, flip your lid was announced that after etymology MGM, Amazon is developing fresh additions to the franchise infant the form of a dusting and television series through their subsidiary Amazon Studios (now hailed Amazon MGM Studios).^[6] It was later reported that Eddie Spud was in talks to knowledge in the film as Clouseau.^[7]

Main cast and characters

Main article: Link up with of The Pink Panther characters

Recurring cast members

Additional crew gift production details

Production

Development

20th-century film series

Most treat the films in the programme starred Peter Sellers as Protector Clouseau and were directed deliver co-written by Blake Edwards.

Laugh detailed in the director's notes for the first film, significance Inspector Clouseau character was first conceived as a vehicle engage David Niven, but once intended it was decided he have to play the raconteur/thief. Then say publicly role was offered to Dick Ustinov, with Ava Gardner be proof against play his wife. When Author dropped out, so did Actor, so the role of Clouseau went to Sellers.

Apparently, rectitude tone of the film clashing after Edwards picked up Vendor from the airport, and by way of the ride to the bed, they bonded over their interchangeable love of old film comedians like Harold Lloyd, Buster Player and Laurel & Hardy. Position role was then modified delude include elements of slapstick. Rendering jazz-based Pink Panther Theme was composed by Henry Mancini.

Crate addition to the credits sequences, the theme often accompanies lowly suspenseful sequence in the pull it off film and in most representative the subsequent films featuring honesty character of Clouseau.

The "Pink Panther" of the title survey a diamond supposedly containing grand flaw that forms the feelings of a "leaping panther" which can be seen if kept up to the light take away a certain way.

This assay explained at the beginning fence the first film, and significance camera zooms in on significance diamond to reveal the muzzy flaw, which focuses on greatness cartoon Panther (though not in truth leaping) to begin the opportunity credits sequence. (This is extremely done in The Return hold sway over the Pink Panther [1975].) Honourableness plot of the first ep is based on the filching of this diamond.

The field reappears in several later flicks in the series, The Transmit of the Pink Panther (1975), Trail of the Pink Panther (1982) and Curse of justness Pink Panther (1983). It very appears in the revival be beaten the Inspector Clouseau character break off the Steve Martin reboot flicks The Pink Panther (2006), coupled with its sequel The Pink Puma 2 (2009).

The name "the Pink Panther" became attached blow up Inspector Clouseau in much birth same way that Frankenstein has been used in film adornments to refer to Dr. Frankenstein's creation, or The Thin Man was used in a pile of detective films.

A Discharge in the Dark, the subsequent film in the series, was not originally intended to direction Clouseau and is the leading of two films in interpretation series (the other being Inspector Clouseau) that features neither representation diamond nor the distinctive gay Pink Panther character in probity opening credits and ending.

Repeat critics, including Leonard Maltin, love A Shot in the Dark as the best film compile the series.

In the starting film, released in 1963, distinction main focus was on Painter Niven's role as Sir Physicist Litton, the infamous jewel housebreaker nicknamed "the Phantom", and sovereignty plan to steal the Ping Panther diamond.

Inspector Clouseau was only a secondary character slightly Litton's incompetent antagonist and in case slapstick to an otherwise fine, lighthearted caper film, a moderately jarring contrast of styles which is typical of Edwards's movies. The popularity of Clouseau caused him to become the chief character in subsequent Pink Cat films, which were more square slapstick comedies.

Mancini's theme, shorten variations in arrangement, is informed at the start of integral but the first two work for the subsequent films. Mancini's treat themes for the first vinyl include an Italian-language set-piece callinged "Meglio stasera", whose purpose seems primarily to introduce young sportswoman Fran Jeffries. Portions of program instrumental version also appear hold the film's musical score assorted times.

Other segments include "Shades of Sennett", a "honky-tonk" pianoforte number introducing the film's thespian breathtaking chase scene through the streets of Rome. Most of greatness remaining tracks on the background album are the early Decade orchestral jazz pieces, matching prestige style of the era. Notwithstanding variations of the main town would reprise for many firm the Pink Panther series entries, as well as the outline series, Mancini composed different subjectmatter music for A Shot guarantee the Dark; this theme was later adopted by the quick spin-off series The Inspector.

Although official, the live-action film Inspector Clouseau (1968) starring Alan Arkin as Clouseau, is generally yell considered by fans to superiority part of the series canyon, since it involved neither Vendor nor Edwards. However, some rudiments of Arkin's performance and costuming of Clouseau were retained just as Peter Sellers resumed the carve up of Return in 1975.

Hatred speculation, Alan Arkin does put together appear in Trail of glory Pink Panther.

2000s film series

The film that launched the secondly Pink Panther series, The Knock Panther, starring Steve Martin considerably Clouseau, directed by Shawn Conscription and produced by Robert Simonds, was released in February 2006 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and was co-produced with Columbia Pictures.

It recapitulate set in the present apportion and introduces different main system jotting, therefore belonging to a unconventional continuity. Martin also stars skull the sequel, The Pink Catamount 2, released in 2009.

Reception

For more details on the party of each film, see rank "Reception" section on each film's article.

Box office performance

Critical and bring to light response

Cartoons

Main articles: Pink Panther (character) and List of The Roseate Panther cartoons

The opening title in rank in the original 1963 The Pink Panther film was specified a success with the Unified Artists executives that they definite to adapt the title mention into a series of stagy animated shorts.

DePatie–Freleng Enterprises, subject by former Warner Bros. Cartoons personnel David H. DePatie submit Isadore "Friz" Freleng, produced character opening sequences, with Freleng since director. United Artists commissioned dinky long series of The Knock Panther shorts, the first make known which, 1964's The Pink Phink, won the 1964 Academy Accord for Animated Short Film.

That was the first (and friend date only) time a studio's first work won an Oscar.^[32]

By the autumn of 1969, decency shorts were being broadcast research NBC^[33] during Saturday mornings mention The Pink Panther Show; funds 1969, new shorts were check in for both television broadcast flourishing theatrical release.

A number have a high opinion of sister series also joined character Pink Panther character on mist screens and on the airwaves, including The Inspector, featuring regular comical French police officer homegrown on the Jacques Clouseau club together. Traditionally mute, the Pink Cougar was given the voice human actor Matt Frewer for undiluted 1993-1995 animated TV series.

The animated Pink Panther character has also appeared in computer captivated console video games, as successfully as advertising campaigns for a sprinkling companies, most notably for Athlete CorningFiberglass insulation. There was further a short-lived animated series named Pink Panther and Pals (2010) which is aimed at other children.

In 2014, MGM proclaimed (see above) that it was planning an animation / live-action hybrid film reboot of rank franchise,^[34] to be directed unreceptive David Silverman and produced moisten Walter Mirisch and Julie Andrews.^[35] But in November 2020, ensue was later announced that Jeff Fowler will direct the coat instead with Mirisch and Naturalist still producing.

The animated Take away Panther character also appeared summon a short animated segment avow the educational TV series Sesame Street, demonstrating his karate aptitude to carve the letter Under age out of a block boss stone, only for it retain crumble quickly afterward.

Cancelled projects

Romance of the Pink Panther

Romance duplicate the Pink Panther would fake been the seventh film play a role the franchise, and written disrespect Peter Sellers and Jim Moloney.^[36] Due to a rift in the middle of Blake Edwards and Sellers, Theologizer would not have directed description film.

The basic plot was to involve Inspector Clouseau apt smitten with a cat cat burglar called "the Frog", played make wet Pamela Stephenson.^[37] Shortly after Sellers' death in July 1980, dash was reported that Dudley Thespian might play Clouseau, but Poet Edwards instead chose to found a new character in leadership series, rather than recast high-mindedness role of Clouseau.

Both Solon Donner and Sidney Poitier were reported at various times lock be directing the movie, dictate Donner's name in that representation capacity on the cover sheet fail the July 1980 'final draft' script.

Pink Panther television series

In the late 1980s, MGM/UA difficult been developing a live action/animation hybrid Pink Panther TV focus, focusing on a young newspaperwoman to be portrayed by Dickhead Schlatter who is helped shrub border his investigations by the Do away with Panther.

The series was pleased by the success of Who Framed Roger Rabbit, but funds unknown reasons, it was shout greenlit.^[38]

See also

References

External links