Pantera rosa - Il mistero Clouseau

inspector Cleaseau is off somewhere searching for the Pink Panther diamond so in the meantime, Chief Inspector Dreyfuss programs a computer to find his replacement,, but instead of picking the best qualified detective he programs the computer to pick the worst detective,, so from NYC comes a bumbling idiot you would think is closeau's American cousin,, i'm sure Dreyfuss is going ape now that he has met the police officer,,, Roger Moore has a cameo in the end of the movie that's pretty cool,, This was David Niven's last film,, I really liked him throughout his work on some of the Pink Panther movies,, alothough obviously not the strongest panther movie,, certainly not the weakest.

The good news that "The Curse of the Pink Panther" does have a few funny scenes. The bad news is that there aren't too many of them. This movie would have been better if it was a lot shorter. Pushing two hours is way too long for a movie like this. There are quite a few scenes that went on too long. The karate fight in the alley is the first scene that jumps into my mind. A major plus in "The Curse of the Pink Panther" is the appearance of Roger Moore. There aren't many stars who, at the height of their fame, would have the guts to have fun on screen like Moore does in this movie. He had a lot of guts for trying and he's actually very funny.

Ignore the negative press when viewing this. O.K., the movie cant hit the heights of either A shot in the dark or The Pink Panther Strikes Again, but it is a nice little film in it's own right. Firstly Ted Wass is good in the role of Clifton Sleigh, perhaps it is the fact that the character is too bumbling in the wrong direction that it doesn't work out. The stars of the show are again Herbert Lom and Joanna Lumley, and the sexy Leslie Ash in a Bond girl like role. The man who steals the show is surprisingly Roger Moore as the newly Plastic surgery clad Clouseau who is made up to look like, rather appropriately, Roger Moore. An hilarious twist which is something Clouseau would have gone in for. It is a pity Moore wasn't given the role of Clouseau out right because he is effective in the part and quite funny. An enjoyable little film.

O.K. I know that most people see "Curse of the Pink Panther" as being a pretty weak film. Granted, it is weak compared to the great Panther films (Return, Strikes Again, A Shot in the Dark) and the good Panther films (Revenge, Trail and even Son)but somehow, I liked this better than the initial Panther film. For one thing, it doesn't drag on like the original film (again it could just be me)and give Blake Edwards credit for at least attempting to continue the series.

Looking back at Edwards' previous five films ("10", "S.O.B.", "Victor/Victoria", "Trail of the Pink Panther" and "The Man Who Loved Women"[which I persist in admiring even in the face of universally dismal reviews], I suppose it was a tough act to follow those great films with "Curse" perhaps it was a way to get out of his UA contract so he could make more important films at Columbia (including the great "Micki and Maude", "That's Life", "Blind Date" and "A Fine Mess")

But by all means, Edwards hasn't made a bad picture. "Curse" is very much worth a look, to see how the series might have turned had it not been a DUD at the box office. As for the casting, one might condemn Ted Wass for even attempting to fill the enormous shoes left behind by Sellers, but he gives it a good try and makes his own niche as an entirely different kind of stupid detective. And as usual, Herbert Lom is hilarious as Chief Inspector Dreyfus. He really holds the film together and how he never received an Oscar nomination is beyond my understanding.

If you haven't seen the other Panther films, one might look at "Curse of the Pink Panther" as a very good, even great comedy. However, if you have seen the other films, "Curse" will look tissue thin by comparison. But that didn't stop me from finding much to enjoy in this film. You owe it to yourself to give this a look.

*** out of 4 stars

This following to popular series is a new attempt to maintain the slapstick franchise in spite of Peter Sellers death by substituting in American actor Ted Wass . He's investigating bungling Clouseau disappearance and is on the trail of the jewel known as the Pink Panther and during his first scenes Ted appears in drag . Clouseau's previous chief (Herbert Lom) threatens to destroy the new detective . At the same time Ted Wass like Clouseau is making life intolerable for Inspector Dreyfuss . He then goes to Clouseau museum where he meets Kato (Burt Kwouk) , to the French Riveira and Valencia (Spain) where encounters mobsters (Robert Loggia) who wish to kill him . Later on , aboard a yacht (along with the habitual David Niven , Capucine , Robert Wagner) he goes to Mallorca . There he attempts to track down the Clouseau trail but he meets a suspect Countess Chandra (Joanna Lumley).

This is arguably one of the most average of the series about the botcher Inspector and being the eight ¨Pink Panther¨ movie in the known film franchise . In this slapdash as well as disconcerting comedy , Wass attempts to investigate whether or no Clouseau is living somewhere . This fun release has some hilarious moments here and there . The film continues where Trail of the Pink Panther (1982) leaves off . Though uncredited, late Peter Sellers can still be heard in various scenes through archival sound . Starring Ted Wass as Sleigh is sympathetic imitating to Sellers , outdoing his botcher and diverting character . Actors considered for the role of Clifton Sleigh included John Ritter, John Cleese, Dudley Moore and Rowan Atkinson ; in the end , the part went to Ted Wass . The actors seem to enjoy immensely themselves but they are supposedly spending some amusing holidays in Riveira , Mallorca, Valencia . Players appearing in this movie who had appeared in the original Pink Panther (1963), the first film in the series , were Capucine, David Niven, and Robert Wagner . In the film appears the usual series as Herbert Lom (chief Inspector Dreyfuss), Andre Maranne (Sergeant Francois Duval), Grahame Stark (as a bored waiter) and the ordinary professor (Harvey Korman) . The movie was simultaneously filmed along with ¨Trail to the Pink Panther¨ where equally the protagonist (Joanna Lumley) is looking for Inspector Clouseau . Writer, producer , director Blake Edwards gets some inspired bits penned by himself ; however he attempts to alive his classic personage with no much success . Rating : Mediocre but entertaining .