THE RETURN OF THE PINK PANTHER
UK, 1974, 113 minutes, Colour.
Peter Sellers, Christopher Plummer, Catherine Schell, Herbert Lom, Peter Arne, Graham Stark.
Directed by Blake Edwards.
Peter Sellers' character, Inspector Clouseau, is one of his most enjoyable. Sellers and Director, Blake Edwards, contrive and get away with a lot of obvious jokes, sight gags, play on accents, parody of "Topkapi", Casablanca" and the original film. The credits re-introduce the cartoon character and his tune. Christopher Plummer is stodgy as the Phantom. Catherine Schell enjoys herself as his wife. She laughs so heartily at some scenes with Sellers it looks as though they left these parts in the final product. For hearty laughs.
1. The quality of this comedy, its general appeal?
2. The success of the structure: Clouseau himself, the phantom, the coinciding of the two strands of plot? The blend of comedy and thriller aspects?
3. The credit sequence for establishing mood? The music? The popularity of Preceding films?
4. The impact of the initial robbery, the parody of so many films?
5. The importance of the character of Clouseau? Peter Sellers, his characteristics the pomposity e.g. the robbery at the bank while he talked? The exasperation of Dreyfuss? The martial arts scenes with Cato?
6. The focus of the film on Clouseau's manner of investigation: his errors, jokes, lack of judgement, accent? Laughs with him or at him?
7. Which were the best comedy pieces in the film? which the best jokes? Situations, dialogue? Slapstick?
8. Claudine Lytton and her leading on of Clouseau? Her enjoyment of his antics?
9. The sub-plot of Sir Charles? The interest in the characters of Sir Charles, his adventures, the parody of the film Casablanca, his discovery of his wife's deceit, the escape, the pursuit?
10. Did the film build up to its finale?
11. The quality of the humour on the foibles of human nature?
12. The humour and violence. especially the cruelty to Dreyfuss, and the pain for Pepi at his hands? The tone of the film ending with Dreyfuss in a straightjacket?
