It has been some years since watching these films as a kid and I was expecting to be blown away by them. But I really wasn't.
Of all the series (including Return..) there are only actually 2 good films. Shot In The Dark has the best lines and at times is extremely funny and "Return" is the all-round classic with the best scenes.
The other films range between average and very disapointing.
"The Pink Panther" you really can't knock. It is very much a film of it's era. Totally dated now it drags on without ever really providing many laughs. Still, it's the first in the series and one of only 2 Sellers' films to actually feature the pink panther itself. Not really disapointing as much as badly dated.
"Shot In The Dark" despite being filmed only a year later this is a timeless classic. Sellers is exceptionally funny particularly in the scene on the phone with the Prison authorities demanding "Contemporary Prison's should have contemporary furniture". Also when pontificating on "Facts" and then working on instict and announcing "I suspect no-one and I suspect everyone"...truly funny stuff.
"Return of the Pink Panther" not included in this set is the all-round film. Funny lines and hillarious scenes. This is what everyone remembers the Pink Panther films to be about.
"The Pink Panther Strikes Again" is where it all starts to go horribly wrong. Dreyfus blackmails the entire international community to kill Clouseau by securing a doomsday device that can wipe out countries. Totally stupid and far-fetched to the extreme. This is not funny anymore it is just plain silly. Still the film has it's moments of high comedy, particularly the fantastic dentist scene which brings tears to the eyes.
"Revenge of the Pink Panther" is absolutely horrible. Everything has by now become a cliche and the humour has totally vanished. Still there are probably worse films.
"Trail of The Pink Panther" actually features some previously unreleased footage of Peter Sellers. In fact this is a better film than the predecessor because of those scenes. The massage scene at the hotel lobby is classic stuff. Still, the rest of the film is pretty bad with ham-acting from everyone, particularly David Niven. Prepare to cringe.
Don't get me wrong. I love owning this box set. It is a pretty sexy beast and nicely packaged. If you remember the films as fondly as I did then you'll have to buy the collection and decide for yourself. If you have a limited budget and would rather just buy the very best stick with "Return" and possible venture for "Shot in the Dark" if you haven't seen it before.
So why 4-stars ? Well in fact of the 5 videos in the collection only "Shot in the Dark" deserves 4-stars. I would rate them individually as follows;
Pink Panther - 2 stars Shot in the Dark - 4.5 stars Pink Panther Strikes Again - 2.5 stars Revenge - 1 star Trail - 2 stars
and probably 5 stars for return.
It's a wonderful series which sadly they let deteriorate.
Mind you I'm already looking forward to watching them all a second time !
Hope this review helps.
