The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976) United Artists/Comedy RT: 103 minutes Rated PG (some violence, brief nudity, suggestive content) Director: Blake Edwards Screenplay: Frank Waldman and Blake Edwards Music: Henry Mancini Cinematography: Harry Waxman Release date: December 15, 1976 (US) Cast: Peter Sellers, Herbert Lom, Lesley-Anne Down, Burt Kwouk, Colin Blakely, Richard Vernon, Briony McRoberts, Leonard Rossiter, Andre Maranne, Michael Robbins, Byron Kane, Dick Crockett, Graham Stark, Deep Roy, Omar Sharif (uncredited). Box Office: $33.8M (US)
Rating: ***
After 1964’s A Shot in the Dark, I’d have to say that The Pink Panther Strikes Again is my favorite of the series of films starring Peter Sellers as clumsy Surete detective Chief Inspector Jacques Clouseau. It’s even sillier than its immediate predecessor, The Return of the Pink Panther (1975). This time around, Clouseau finds himself up against a crazed megalomaniacal villain, the likes of which are usually seen in James Bond movies. And who is this villain? None other than former Chief Inspector Dreyfus (Lom) who’s finally gone completely mad as a result of his obsession with Clouseau. Is he really the only one that realizes that the “world’s greatest detective” is a complete moron?
The zaniness of The Pink Panther Strikes Again is a long way from the sophistication of the first movie and David Niven’s charming jewel thief back in ’63. Then again, Blake Edwards didn’t originally intend for Clouseau to become the break-out character of that first movie. It just worked out that way after Sellers replaced Peter Ustinov in the role.
After the events of the previous film, Dreyfus was committed to a psychiatric hospital and Clouseau replaced him as Chief Inspector. Now largely recovered, he’s about to be released when Clouseau arrives at the hospital to speak on his behalf. It only takes minutes for Dreyfus to go insane again. Well, that’s the last straw. He escapes from the hospital and embarks on a crime spree that starts with him bombing Clouseau’s apartment. When that fails to kill him, Dreyfus enlists an army of criminals to kidnap a nuclear physicist (Vernon) and his daughter (McRoberts). Hiding out in a Bavarian castle, Dreyfus forces the scientist to build a doomsday weapon capable of obliterating entire cities. He then threatens to use it unless somebody kills Clouseau. Many of the world’s nations, including the US, send their best assassins to do the job. Will Clouseau survive this latest threat? What do you think?
Along the way, Clouseau becomes romantically involved with the sexy Russian agent (Down) sent to kill him. It happens late in the movie, so not a lot of screen time is devoted to this. Much of The Pink Panther Strikes Again in comprised of Clouseau’s tomfoolery as he bumbles his way through his latest case. The best part is the scene at Oktoberfest where many assassins try and fail to eliminate him. As usual, he’s completely oblivious to any of it. It’s a well-orchestrated scene.
A lot of The Pink Panther Strikes Back is funny. Some of it is not. Such is the nature of comedy. As usual, Henry Mancini’s score is a highlight. This installment features, in my opinion, the best of the animated opening sequences. It references several movies. They are as follows: the TV show Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Batman, King Kong, The Sound of Music, Dracula A.D. 1972, Singin’ in the Rain, Steamboat Bill Jr. and Sweet Charity. Jaws also gets referenced in the closing credits sequence. Lom is very good as an over-the-top villain. Sellers does his usual masterful job as Clouseau. Fun and funny, The Pink Panther Strikes Again is like a James Bond movie on laughing gas.
