Series Overview:
Since my James Bond overview was a simple ranking of the best and worst elements of the series, and The Pink Panther movies are a light mirror of James Bond in many ways, I will do the same here.
The Best Pink Panther movie:
A Shot in the Dark is the best overall film, I think. Although the best film in the series that feels like what we think of as a Pink Panther movie is the fourth film, Return of the Pink Panther, as it has the best slapstick and is, frankly, the funniest.
The worst Pink Panther movie:
So many to choose from. I’d say Trail of the Pink Panther, the 7th film, is the worst. You know, the clip show that was assembled after Peter Sellers’ death. It’s unfunny and disrespectful to Sellers.
The Best Clouseau, or Clouseau-like Character:
Peter Sellers, obviously. But consider how many people there are in this category. There’s also Alan Arkin, Ted Wass, Roberto Benigni, Steve Martin, Roger Moore, and, to a limited extent, Joanna Lumley.
The Worst Clouseau or Clouseau-like Character:
Sorry, Ted Wass. You’re just not interesting.
The Best Babe:
Most of the Pink Panther films had a requisite babe, and this category is, I think, a tie between Claudia Cardinale from the first film, and Leslie Ash from the 8th. Cardinale because she’s a classically gorgeous Italian model, and Ash, because she seems like the most capable fighter; she’s a better-rounded character than most of the babes, including Elke Sommer. Emily Mortimer, strangely, also comes close in this category.
The Best Script:
Pick up your throwing implements. The Pink Panther 2 has the best script in terms of character and story. Hurl your throwing implements now.
The Funniest Scene:
When Clouseau trashes a hotel room with a vacuum cleaner in The Pink Panther Returns.
Thanks for taking this long, long 11-film trek with me, my dear readers. Next week, we’ll have a one-week Series Project special, as there are only 4 films in my intended object of scrutiny… Who’s the black private dick, who’s a sex machine to all the chicks?
Witney Seibold is a featured contributor on the CraveOnline Film Channel, co-host of The B-Movies Podcast and co-star of The Trailer Hitch. You can read his weekly articles B-Movies Extended, Free Film School and The Series Project, and follow him on “Twitter” at @WitneySeibold, where he is slowly losing his mind.
