Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978)

Thanks for the memories!

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

Incorrectly pronounced dead after his car crashes and explodes, Inspector Clouseau goes undercover to investigate whether an attempt was made on his life in this fifth Blake Edwards 'Pink Panther' film. As with the previous entries, everything is buoyed up by Peter Sellers perfectly playing a bumbling fool completely oblivious to his own incompetence. Sellers has a deliciously absurd array of disguises this time too, including a pirate get-up with inflatable shoulder parrot, and Burt Kwuok nicely has a chance to add dimension to Cato, who helps Sellers in his investigation this time, rather than just randomly attacking him. Promising as the film may sound, it sags more often than its predecessors with lags between jokes. Herbert Lom also has too little screen time, not appearing at all for over half an hour, despite second billing; his looks of disbelief, wondering if he has gone mad as he keeps seeing the supposedly dead Sellers alive, make for an excellent running gag that is not used often enough. The film is also let down by its most effects-driven scene in a fireworks factory paling by comparison to a very similar bit in 'Thoroughly Modern Millie'. With Sellers solid as ever, another lot of great animated opening credits (Dyan Cannon's name appears on a cannon here!) and Lom and Kwuok giving it their all in their all when on screen, 'Revenge' is still a worthwhile film, especially for fans of the series. Sure, the formula begins to wear thin this time, but 'begin' is the operative word as this entry is really not as far below par as one might expect from its reputation.

Look out, he's back! And that he is none other than Chief Inspector Jacques Clouseau.This time everyone thinks he's dead, except that he's not.It is a transvestite who steals Clouseau's car and clothes that dies.Behind his "murder" would be a French mobster called Philippe Douvier.But Charles Dreyfus is happy for a while, thinking that fool Clouseau is finally dead.But that fool goes and captures an international drug ring in Hong Kong.Blake Edwards' The Revenge of Pink Panther (1978) is the sixth movie in the Pink Panther film series.It's the last one with Peter Sellers as Inspector Clouseau.He died two years later to a heart attack.The film series went on, but we never got to see The Romance of Pink Panther Sellers was working on.Luckily Herbert Lom lived on, and still does, ad was seen as Dreyfus in all the future Pink Panther movies directed by Edwards.Same thing with Burt Kwouk as Cato Fong, who attacked Sellers and kept attacking his successors.Not to forget Graham Stark as Dr. Auguste Balls with his crazy disguises.The female lead is done by Dyan Cannon, who plays Simone.Robert Webber plays Douvier.Paul Stewart is Scallini.Robert Loggia plays the part of Al Marchione.Douglas Wilmer is Police Commissioner.Henry Mancini made the recognizable music.Behind the opening credits animation was DePatie-Freleng Enterprises.This Pink Panther movie is funny, like any of these movies with Peter Sellers.It's not the funniest, but you do feel amused more than once.Like Clouseau as the mafioso.Or Cato walking blind with those thick glasses.The chasing scene moves with the speed of silent pictures.And the awarding scene, with the bird on the head...If only we got to see another Pink Panther movie with Peter Sellers.

When I saw this film in 1978, I was delighted it ended with a chase. So many American comedies have failed to do so, and when Woody Allen had that wonderful, brief car collision scene at the end of ANNIE HALL, I heard Mack Sennett cheering.The Return of the Pink Panther, 1974, shows some budget limitations - it was originally a TV series but Edwards and Sellers could not manage that with Clouseau. Strikes Again, 1976, was - to me - a bit forced with some wonderful sequences, and some that did not work at all. Revenge - 1978 - is just a warm fun film to enjoy.Of the first two, The Pink Panther is boring in moments but has a very good chase. Clouseau came into his being with Shot in the Dark, probably the BEST of the series.Do not disown this film - it is a warm bottle of French Wine indeed, one to share and savor. And a tribute to what a talent Sellers and Edwards were together.

although i don't think this is the funniest of the series i have watched up to this point(#5),i do think it is the most entertaining,and the most well paced.this one isn't boring at all,and there are certainly some amusing moments,especially when Clouseau is in some of his 'disguises',and most of the scenes with Cato.the story is interesting enough and former Chief Inspector Dreyfus is brought back in a way that makes sense and fits in well with the story.Burt Kwouk returns as Cato returns,obviously ,but i wish his role had been more substantial.though,like i mentioned,his scenes were funny. all in,a pretty good entry in the Peter Sellers cannon of Pink Panther films.for me,Revenge of the Pink Panther is a 6/10