The Pink Panther / The Return of the Pink Panther

THE PINK PANTHER, 1964, MGM Repertory, 113 min. Director-writer Blake Edwards introduced one of the most beloved characters in modern cinema – Peter Sellers’ absolutely clueless Inspector Jacques Clouseau – with this effervescent, champagne-colored comedy about a notorious British jewel thief and playboy (David Niven) on a ski holiday with nephew Robert Wagner, mistress Capucine, exotic princess Claudia Cardinale and a priceless diamond in tow. With music by the great Henry Mancini.

THE RETURN OF THE PINK PANTHER, 1975, MGM Repertory, 113 min. Dir. Blake Edwards. After a ten year hiatus, Peter Sellers and Edwards re-teamed for what many consider the flat-out funniest film in the series. When the famed Pink Panther diamond of Lugash disappears again, Inspector Clouseau is called in to investigate the supposedly retired jewel thief (Christopher Plummer) who’s suspected of taking it.