Revenge of the Pink Panther

Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978)

Runtime: 98 minutes

Directed by: Blake Edwards

Starring: Peter Sellers, the usual co-stars, Dyan Cannon, Robert Webber, Robert Loggia

From: United Artists

This is more what I like from an Inspector Clouseau movie. Basically ignoring the outlier that was The Pink Panther Strikes Again, Revenge is back to basics. Herbert Lom is back in his old position, Clouseau continues to wear wacky disguises, and Cato actually gets involved with the action instead of being an ancillary character. Robert Webber is the leader of the French Connection is actually the heel here; no, not Alain Charnier. The French Connection was an actual drug trade way back when; their foe that they wish to take out is not Popeye Doyle… it was Inspector Clouseau.

What made this feel not like a total rehash: the heels think that Clouseau was killed in a wreck. Our dim-witted hero had enough of a clue to realize this would be advantageous to him. He also meets up with Webber’s secretary (an incredibly charming Dyan Cannon) who gets dropped she she’s ready to drop the dime on him. What results is entertainment that isn’t as funny as several of the others in the franchise but there’s still some quality pratfalls, wordplay, gags, and a madcap finale that’s literally filled w/ fireworks.

No, I am not giving the movie bonus points for using a DISCO version of The Pink Panther Theme, although it was hilariously of its time. Tragically of its time was the casual racism. In the 70’s installments, Clouseau has referred to Cato as “my little yellow friend” several times, which is not great. Far worse was the yellowface done by Sellers and Cannon in one scene when they are in Hong Kong. Cato having a disguise in Hong Kong of “guy who wears Coke-bottle glasses yet is still blind” is another regrettable stereotype.

Otherwise, this would have been a nice capper to the Pink Panther franchise, due to the declining health of Sellers. Of course, they were thinking of filming one more called Romance of the Pink Panther, and not even the star dying would derail plans of continuing despite the poor taste of doing so. But yes I will be discussing that tomorrow, the infamous reputation of that project aside.