The Pink Panther franchise was created by filmmakers Blake Edwards and Maurice Richlin, along with producer David H. DePatie and animator Friz Freleng. It started out as a series of mystery-comedy movies featuring Inspector Jacques Clouseau, and his adventures (or misadventures, thereof) guarding and retrieving the Pink Panther diamond. Most of the films were written and directed by Blake Edwards, with theme music composed by Henry Mancini. Characters and elements from films were adapted into comic books, animated series, and even video games.
At the movies (1963 onwards)
Steve Martin and Jean Reno in a still from ‘The Pink Panther’ (2006).
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Special Arrangement
The first ‘The Pink Panther’ film was released on December 18, 1963 in Italy, and on March 18, 1963 in the U.S. This film was studded with a star-cast featuring Peter Sellers as Inspector Clouseau, Capucine as Simone Clouseau, Clouseau’s wife, and Claudia Cardinale as Princess Dala. The story revolves around Clouseau trying to catch a notorious jewel thief called ‘The Phantom’ who is after the priceless diamond, which is in the possession of Princess Dala.
In 2010, the film was chosen by the Library of Congress to be preserved in the United States National Film Registry, as being “culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant”.
The film was followed by ‘A Shot in the Dark’ (1964). And quite unlike its predecessor, it did not feature the Pink Panther diamond. Rather, Clouseau is investigating the murder of his cook, Miguel Ostos, who is killed at the home of millionaire Benjamin Ballon. Peter Sellers reprised his role as Clouseau, with Elke Sommer, Herbert Lom and George Sanders co-starring in supporting roles. The film also marked a significant change in Clouseau’s character sketch. Sellers gave the exaggerated French accent that was to later become a hallmark of the character. The film also went on to introduce Commissioner Dreyfus, Clouseau’s sidekick, and later, boss. Dreyfus is portrayed by Herbert Lom.
After a flop of a film called ‘Inspector Clouseau’ (1968), the series got a much needed revival with ‘The Return of Pink Panther’. Sellers revived his role as Clouseau (as expected). The film is set in the fictional country of Lugash, where the Shah asks for Clouseau to retrieve the diamond once again. This is the film where Dreyfus goes berserk and has an unhealthy, negative obsession with Clouseau to the point where he wants to kill him. Two more superhits followed suit, namely ‘The Pink Panther Strikes Again’ (1976), and ‘Revenge of the Pink Panther’ (1978).
Unfortunately, tragedy struck in 1980, when Peter Sellers died, and along with it, the franchise was dying. Through the 90s and early 2000s, efforts were made to revive it, but to no avail. Combine that with the tastes of the public shifting from slapstick to dialogue-driven comedy, and there were difficulties to maintain this legacy.
Finally, in the 21st Century, the films got a reboot with Inspector Clouseau being portrayed by Steve Martin. Two films, namely ‘Pink Panther’ (2006) and ‘The Pink Panther 2’ (2009) were made. While both films garnered mixed reviews, the films were commercially successful.
THE DIAMOND ETYMOLOGY
The diamond gets its name from a small discolouration which upon close observation, resembles a leaping panther. And hence, the name.
Taking to TV
Pink Panther
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FLICKR
By this time, the eye-catching intros to the Pink Panther movies would manifest into something wonderful. And they did.
United Artists — the film production company behind the franchise — commissioned a series of short films. The first, titled ‘The Pink Phink’ won the Academy Award for Animated Short Film in 1964.
Subsequently in 1969, the shorts were telecasted on NBC. In this series, the focus was on the panther which was featured in the opening of the Pink Panther movies. This pop-culture icon of an animal is portrayed as a sly, sneaky trickster, contrasting Clouseau’s clumsiness and incompetence. Along with this came a couple more cartoons like ‘The Inspector’ — which chronicled Inspector and Sergeant Deux-Deux and their misadventures. The Inspector was evidently based on Clouseau himself. Other cartoons like ‘The Ant and the Aardvark’ and ‘Crazy Legs Crane’ followed suit, but that’s another story.
In 1993-95, the character which was traditionally mute, was finally given a voice by Matt Frewer. In 2010, ‘Pink Panther and Pals’ came to be and was mostly targeted towards younger children.
The soundtrack of a fanbase
Film composer Henry Mancini (1924 – 1994), composer and the genius behind ‘The Pink Panther Theme’.
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Ben Martin/Getty Images
As you’re reading this, chances are you’re having that music in your head. Well, we have the great Henry Mancini to thank for that. And here’s a little backstory as to how the composing process went. Check out this excerpt from Mancini’s autobiography Did They Mention the Music?:
“I told the animators that I would give them a tempo they could animate to, so that any time there were striking motions, someone getting hit, I could score to it. The animators finished the sequence and I looked at it. All the accents (points of emphasis or stress in a musical composition) in the music were timed to actions on the screen. I had a specific saxophone player in mind — Plas Johnson. I nearly always precast my players and write for them and around them, and Plas had the sound and the style I wanted.”
Steve Martin stars in a still from the The Pink Panther (2006), a
Columbia Pictures release.
| Photo Credit:
ETIENNE GEORGE
All in all, with all the ups and downs of the franchise, it still remains one of the few franchises which is successful in both animation and live action. What started out as a story of mystery around a diamond has become an icon in pop culture which has transcended across generations. And like the movie title says, ‘Diamonds are Forever’, and so is the Pink Panther.
“A still from a “Shot in the Dark” (1964).
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Special Arrangement
IF YOU MUST KNOW
The intro music to the ‘The Inspector’ cartoon series is just a sped up version of the opening music to ‘A Shot in the Dark’ (1964). Give both pieces a listen and you’ll know.
