The Pink Panther Film Collection Starring Peter Sellers is a nice set, well 5 out of the 6 movies anyway, showcasing Sellers physical comedic style and those around him. Outside of Trail of the Pink Panther, these are well worth checking out.
The Pink Panther
— Film Collection —
(1964-1982)
Genre(s): Comedy, Crime
Shout Factory | NR – 630 min. – $99.99 | June 27, 2017
Date Published: 07/22/2017 | Author: The Movieman
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Note: All scores are the average of the six films.
THE MOVIE — 3.0/5 |
The Pink Panther (1964) — 4.0/5 Quick Hit Review: The first entry into the vaunted(?) franchise introduces us to the comic genius that was Peter Sellers, though he’s surprisingly, at least to someone watching these for the first time, a secondary character whereas Niven’s Sir Charles is pretty much the main role. While not a perfect movie, with many scenes going on a bit too long, the finale bringing together the factions of characters was side-splittingly hilarious.
A Shot in the Dark (1964) — 3.75/5 Quick Hit Review: Widely considered to be the best of the Clouseau movies, I found this one to be ever so slightly below the first movie and ever so slightly above The Pink Panther Strikes Back, mainly because this is the most consistent of the bunch and features a genuine mystery at its core while still retaining Sellers’ comic wit and charms.
The Return of the Pink Panther (1975) — 3.0/5 Quick Hit Review: This is the film that brought back Clouseau nemesis, Sir Charles but due to scheduling issues, David Niven did not return and instead Christopher Plummer took over in the role. Don’t get me wrong, Plummer is a fantastic actor but completely wrong in the role as he lacked Niven’s suave. Now, it’s not a big deal for a character to change personalities in a franchise that doesn’t exactly concern itself with continuity.
The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976) — 3.5/5 Quick Hit Review: This fifth film in the franchise is probably the most outlandish of the bunch and a spoof of the 1970s-era James Bond turning Dreyfus into a Bloefeld-like character but instead of threatening the world for money and/or power, but instead to kill Clouseau and nations around the world send their best to do the job. Lots of genuinely funny, laugh-out-loud, scenes that not only showcase Sellers’ physical comedy but Lom gets to shine as well.
Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978) — 3.0/5 Quick Hit Review: Where The Pink Panther Strikes Again spoofed James Bond, Revenge took on The Godfather and while this is not the strongest in the collection, with humor that went flat the more it went on, Sellers still is strong and the beautiful Dyan Cannon is a standout… and knockout.
Trail of the Pink Panther (1982) — 1.0/5 Quick Hit Review: This was absolutely awful to the point where I didn’t laugh once and even was a tad angry that this got made. Not sure I can blame Blake Edwards, perhaps he genuinely wanted to honor an old friend but why someone at the studio didn’t speak up and allowed this to be made is astounding. Well… it is Hollywood. Beyond that, any new material (with “” for Sellers) just wasn’t funny and a fair portion is comprised of archive footage. |
SPECIAL FEATURES – 3.5/5 |
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This six-disc release is contained in an HD Keep Case and side-slides into a matted slip cover. Also inside is a 28-page booklet with essays about each film. For some reason, the back cover does not list the features on 5 of the films. The Pink Panther — 4.0/5 The Pink Panther Story (28:44; HD) is a featurette on the origins of the franchise and includes interviews with those involved, including Blake Edwards. Behind the Feline: The Cartoon Phenomenon (10:52; HD) looks at the now iconic pink cat features during the opening credits, his own cartoon series, and even commercials to this day. A Conversation with Robert Wagner: Coolest Cat in Cortina (10:56; HD) is an old interview with the actor as he recounts his work on the movie and admiration for writer/director Blake Edwards and his cast-mates. Interview with Claudia Cardinale (11:11; HD) – The French actress who portrayed the Princess recollects her time on the film. Diamonds: Beyond the Sparkle (6:55; HD) – This is an educational featurette on diamonds and delves into the Pink Panther diamond if it were real. The Tip Toe Life of a Cat Burglar: A Conversation with Former Jewel Thief Bill Mason (9:45; HD) gives viewers insights into his former career. Also included:
A Shot in the Dark — 3.0/5 Interview with Executive Producer Walter Mirisch (23:10; HD) – I think this is a new interview with Mirisch, discussing his career and ultimately working with Blake Edwards. Blake Edwards on the Dick Cavett Show (7:06; HD) – Nothing special but Edwards does talk about the comedy genius of Peter Sellers. Kind of your boxed talk show interview. Also included:
The Return of the Pink Panther — 3.0/5 Interview with Actress Catherine Schell (21:48; HD) – Schell, who played Lady Claudine Litton, chats about her role in the film and how it came about. Interview with Production Designer Peter Mullins (28:03; HD) looks back on his work on the film and what influenced him. The Return of Laughter: Return of the Pink Panther (8:21; HD) is a vintage featurette from the mid 70s. Not all that bad even if you don’t get much insight into the production, but does include some behind-the-scenes footage. Also included:
The Pink Panther Strikes Again — 3.25/5 Panther Musings: A Life in Films (21:49; HD) – Actress Lesley-Anne Down, who played Russian assassin Olga (even though she’s British), chats a bit about her career, how she got the role and recollects her time working on the film. A Cut Above (24:31; HD) – Editor Alan Jones offers his insights into working for Blake Edwards. Clouseau: The Greatest Fumbler in the World (7:18; HD) is a vintage featurette made to advertise the film. Also included: Theatrical Trailers (5:54; HD), TV Spots (2:56; HD), Radio Spots (2:55; HD), Still Gallery (5:09; HD), Poster Gallery (5:22; HD) and Rare Behind the Scenes Photo Gallery (2:03; HD). Revenge of the Pink Panther — 2.0/5 The only other features included are:
Trail of the Pink Panther — 1.75/5 Other Features:
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VIDEO – 3.75/5 |
| All six Pink Panther movies are presented in their original 2.35 widescreen aspect ratio and given 1080p high-definition transfers. The quality of these varies from picture to picture. The Pink Panther, for instance, looks great with excellent detail and color array and no apparent or obvious signs of wear or tear. But then you get to the others in the series and there were numerous instances of dust marks, some scratches and general flaws. Colors on these still look decent and detail was relatively sharp. There is some stability issues in some and, in the case of A Shot in the Dark, transition shots show the old, pre-restoration, transfer, often the frame jumps so it’s really hard to miss/ignore. |
AUDIO – 4.0/5 |
| All but The Return of the Pink Panther includes 5.1, 2.0 and Mono DTS-HD Master Audio tracks (ROTPP has Mono only) and while I watched each movie with the default option (5.1), I did test the others, and they still sound rather first-rate. These movies are heavily reliant on both dialogue and a comedic soundtrack and on both of those, they sound good with no apparent hisses or pops. While the bulk of the audio comes from the center channel, ambient noises and musical cues do come out of the front and, in limited use, rear speakers. |
OVERALL – 4.0/5 |
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Overall, The Pink Panther Film Collection Starring Peter Sellers is a nice set, well 5 out of the 6 movies anyway, showcasing Sellers physical comedic style and those around him. Outside of Trail of the Pink Panther, these are well worth checking out. This 6-disc set comes with great video/audio transfers and a plethora of bonus features. |
Check out some more screen caps by going to page 2. Please note, these do contain spoilers.