Peter Sellers is back in his most iconic role as the bumbling master of bad disguises – Inspector Jacques Clouseau in The Return of the Pink Panther. Having been demoted to patrolling the streets of Paris by Chief Inspector Dryfus (Herbert Lom), a man tormented by Clouseau’s incompetence and the fact that nobody else seems to realize the depths of it, the Chief Inspector is forced to reinstate Clouseau after the Pink Panther diamond is stolen from the National Museum in the country of Lugash, and the Shah personally requests the services of the famous French detective. Ever watchful for the sneak attacks from his servant Cato (Burt Kwouk), Clouseau determines that the theft is the work of “the notorious Phantom,” Sir Charles Litton himself (Christopher Plummer), and while the slapstick sleuthing by the clueless Clouseau is enough to drive the Chief Inspector to madness, it continues to delight audiences in this winning sequel by director Blake Edwards.
“All hands seem to be having a ball, especially Schell, whose unabashed amusement at Clouseau’s seduction attempts often matches an audience’s hilarity.” – Variety
“The comic heart of the movie lies in the absolute aplomb and imperturbable self-confidence with which Sellers, as Clouseau, confronts the catastrophes of his own making.” – Paul D. Zimmerman, Newsweek
