The Return of the Pink Panther (1975)

88% of critics liked it
(17 reviews)
75% of users liked it
(40,547 ratings)

After several years at loggerheads with one another, director Blake Edwards and star Peter Sellers reteamed for the slapstick fiesta The Return of the Pink Panther. It looks as though wizard cat-burglar Sir Charles Litton, played by David Niven in the original 1964 Pink Panther but here essayed by… More After several years at loggerheads with one another, director Blake Edwards and star Peter Sellers reteamed for the slapstick fiesta The Return of the Pink Panther. It looks as though wizard cat-burglar Sir Charles Litton, played by David Niven in the original 1964 Pink Panther but here essayed by Christopher Plummer, is back in business. Dispatched to the Swiss resort town of Gstaad by his long-suffering superior Inspector Dreyfuss (Herbert Lom), Clouseau adopts a series of easily penetrable (and hilarious) disguises to get the goods on Sir Charles and his wife Claudine (Catherine Schell). If you remember A Shot in the Dark, you'll recall that Clouseau's ineptitude turned Inspector Dreyfuss into a twitching homicidal maniac. The same thing happens here, paving the way for the sequel, The Pink Panther Strikes Again. And, as with all the "Panther" movies, we are treated to the insinuating theme music by Henry Mancini, and the animated opening and closing titles. Return of the Pink Panther earned $17 million on its initial release. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: G, 1 hr. 55 min.
Directed By: Blake Edwards
Written By: Frank Waldman, Blake Edwards
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: May 21, 1975 Wide
On DVD: Mar 20, 2001
Studio: United Artists

Critic Reviews

Charles Cassady, Common Sense Media
Hilarious Clouseau better in sequel than original.
Mark Bourne, DVDJournal.com
...all the witty improvisational zing of a Celine Dion concert.
Mark Bourne, DVDJournal.com
This DVD edition from Universal's Focus Features line ... improves on the ill-favored Artisan disc from 1999. The newly remastered image (2.35:1, anamorphic) is spotless and sharp.
Stefan Birgir Stefansson, sbs.is
It's a good thing they needed the cash...
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
A slap-stick devotee's dream come true
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Um dos mais fracos da série, tem roteiro terrível, é lento e as piadas não funcionam.

Read all 6 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Richard C

also really funny. B+
Chris G

A decade after playing Inspector Clouseau in Shot in the Dark Peter Sellers returns along with the Pink Panther in Blake Edwards 1975 film that saw a return to form (sort of) of the Pink Panther films. The Pink Panther diamond has been stolen and the Phantom's trademark glove… More
A decade after playing Inspector Clouseau in Shot in the Dark Peter Sellers returns along with the Pink Panther in Blake Edwards 1975 film that saw a return to form (sort of) of the Pink Panther films. The Pink Panther diamond has been stolen and the Phantom's trademark glove has been left at the scene of the crime. The government demands that Clouseau, who has been knocked down to a simple patrolman, come to solve the case. The thing is that the real Phantom Sir Charles Litton (Christopher Plummer taking over for David Niven) has been in retirement and did not commit the crime. So as Clouseau bumbles his way through the investigation Litton is also trying to figure out who the fake Phantom is. The plot to Return of the Pink Panther is dull. Very dull. It's basically Plummer's boring search intercut with Peter Sellers being Peter Sellers and Herbert Lom going nuts again. It's probably a good thing that Sellers returned for this film because I can not imagine how boring it would be without his presence. He saves the film from total disaster, but it's still a dry and slow piece that probably could have shaved twenty minutes off. This movie is for Pink Panther completists and Sellers fans only.
Dean !

A pretty fun film in the series.
xGary X

Probably good fun for kids, but the humour is crude and juvenile compared to the earlier films (which weren't THAT great anyway)
Stuart B

Can always raise a chuckle
Matthew R

This is a very good Pink Panther film but unfortuanatly it's not well known. The reason that the film is not part of the Pink Panther film collection because it's a Fox film and the others are MGM releases. It's also the only Pink Panther film were David Niven is not… More
This is a very good Pink Panther film but unfortuanatly it's not well known. The reason that the film is not part of the Pink Panther film collection because it's a Fox film and the others are MGM releases. It's also the only Pink Panther film were David Niven is not the Phantom. Don't worry, it still has Herbert Lom as Closeau's zany boss, and Burt Kwouk as his kung-fu servant Kato. The film is about the robbery of the Pink Panther Diamond again. Closeau has to spy on Sir Charles (Phantom, and has stolen the diamond before) by using his hilarious disguises. This movie features two hilarious scenes with Kato. It also has Closeau in over his head in funny situations such as being super glued to a chair. The Return is not the best but lots of fun. Story: B Acting: B+ Direction: B+ Visuals: B Overall: B *** out of 4 stars
Christopher O

The comic genius of Sellers is on full display as the Pink Panther is stolen and Clouseau is chosen to bring it back. Sir Charles is now played by the dashing Christopher Plummer and Catherins Schell plays his dutiful lover. THe opening Kato/Clouseau sequence is a stitch. A very funny… More
The comic genius of Sellers is on full display as the Pink Panther is stolen and Clouseau is chosen to bring it back. Sir Charles is now played by the dashing Christopher Plummer and Catherins Schell plays his dutiful lover. THe opening Kato/Clouseau sequence is a stitch. A very funny film.
Sunil J

Not the best Pink Panther but always enjoyable.
Jim W

Inspector Clouseau (Peter Sellers) is back and the Pink Panther has been stolen once again. It's believed that it was taken by a crook that calls himself the Phantom. Peter Sellers is naturally funny in the role. Unlike, Steve Martin who tries too hard to be funny in the… More
Inspector Clouseau (Peter Sellers) is back and the Pink Panther has been stolen once again. It's believed that it was taken by a crook that calls himself the Phantom. Peter Sellers is naturally funny in the role. Unlike, Steve Martin who tries too hard to be funny in the new films. Martin also looks silly with white hair and a brown mustache. I have never seen any of the old films until now. They are easy to get into though and still for a laugh. So there was no need for the lame new movies.
Lee K

hilarious classic movie, if you have a chance or deciding who you want to see as clouseau, go with sellers their is no comparring the two

Read all 10 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Peter Sellers as Inspector Jacques Clouseau

            Christopher Plummer as Sir Charles Litton

            Catherine Schell as Claudine Litton

            Herbert Lom as Chief Inspector Dreyfus

            Peter Arne as Col. Sharki

            Grégoire Aslan as Police Chief

            Peter Jeffrey as Gen. Wadafi

            Eric Pohlmann as The Fat Man

            Burt Kwouk as Cato

            Victor Spinetti as Concierge

            John Bluthal as Beggar

            Carol Cleveland as Sari Lady

            Claire Davenport as Masseuse

            Hugo de Vernier as Doctor

            Lesley-Anne Down
            
            David Lodge as Mac

            Andre Maranne as Francois

            Milton Reid as Restaurant Owner

            Nadim Sawalha as Museum Guide

            Omar Sharif
            
            Graham Stark as Pepi

            Peter Jones as Psychiatrist

            Jeremy Hawk as Jealous Escort

            Mike Grady as Bellboy

            Andre Charisse as TV Newscaster

            Michael Nightingale as Museum Tourist
See full cast

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