The Pink Panther (1963)
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A bumbling inspector and a sophisticated jewel thief find their paths crossing in a high-stakes hunt for a legendary diamond.
The story
The story follows Inspector Jacques Clouseau as he travels from Paris to Cortina d'Ampezzo to catch a notorious jewel thief known as "The Phantom" before he is able to steal a priceless diamond known as "The Pink Panther". The diamond, a massive pink gem with a unique flaw, is held by Princess Dala, who has been forced into exile. At an exclusive ski resort, the thief, who is also a playboy named Sir Charles Lytton, prepares for his heist while being pursued by the bumbling Clouseau. The plot involves a complex web of relationships, including Clouseau's wife who acts as a fence for the thief, and the thief's nephew who is unaware of his uncle's criminal activities.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Princess Dala possesses the 'Pink Panther', the world's largest diamond, which she keeps despite a government claim. At a ski resort in Cortina d'Ampezzo, she stays with Sir Charles Lytton, a man living a double life as the thief 'the Phantom'. His nephew, George, stays with him, posing as a student. Inspector Jacques Clouseau is hunting the Phantom; his wife, Simone, is secretly working as a fence for the thief. During a costume party in Rome, both Sir Charles and George attempt to steal the diamond but find it missing. They are caught by Clouseau and flee, leading to a car chase and their eventual arrest. Simone tells Dala that Sir Charles wanted to stop the theft. Dala reveals she hid the diamond from Clouseau. At the trial, Clouseau is called as a witness; during questioning, he accidentally drops the diamond from his handkerchief. He is taken to prison, where he is mobbed by women, while Sir Charles plans his next heist in South America.
- First release year
- 1963
- Runtime (minutes)
- 113
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Blake Edwards
- Writers
- Maurice Richlin · writer; Blake Edwards · writer
- Cast and characters
- David Niven · Sir Charles Lytton; Peter Sellers · Inspector Jacques Clouseau; Robert Wagner · George Lytton, Sir Charles' nephew; Capucine · Simone Clouseau, Inspector Clouseau's wife; Brenda de Banzie · Angela Dunning; Colin Gordon · Tucker; Fran Jeffries · ski lodge singer; Claudia Cardinale · Princess Dala
- Genres
- comedy; crime
- Themes
- Identity; Deception
- Tone and mood
- Comedy; Farce
- Premise and plot tags
- Heist; Police Comedy; Caper
- Franchise connections
- The Pink Panther
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics upon its release, but would later see a positive critical reappraisal. It was considered a popular hit and was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 89% · scale: percentage · review count: 37
- Awards and nominations
- Grammy Award · Grammy Hall of Fame · Winner
- Production trivia
- The film was originally intended as a vehicle for David Niven.; The soundtrack was nominated for Grammy and Academy Awards.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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