"What good will that do?"
"Because I'm taller than you are, you fool!"
In order to secure a major heroin ring with the United States, French crime boss Philippe Douvier (Webber) has to prove he is still in control. His advisors suggest killing two birds with one stone: make a statement and get rid of a major problem,
But killing Chief Inspector Jacques Clouseau (Sellers) is not an easy task. Bombs and trained assassins fail, so they plant an obvious trap because "it's so obvious that he's bound to think it can't be a trap." When the car is destroyed, the world believes Clouseau is dead... but luckily, his car and clothing were stolen by transvestite criminal, Claude Russo (Sue Lloyd).
Clouseau decides to let the world believe he is dead in order to find the real killer. With the help with his faithful manservant, Cato (Kwouk), and several disguises from his old friend, Professor "The Great Balls" Auguste Balls (Stark), he looks for clues. He is joined by Simone (Cannon), Douvier's former secretary / mistress, who knows too much about Douvier's illegal activities.
Meanwhile, former Chief Inspector Charles Dreyfus (Lom) is cured of his insanity and reinstated as Chief Inspector. His first assignment is to read the eulogy at Clouseau's funeral and then bring the killer to justice... despite wanting to rejoice and congratulate the killer.
I love this film, even though it is probably the most conventional film in the series. It plays like a normal detective story... with Clouseau in many crazy disguises and a quiet ending (very unusual for the series).
This film has one of my favorite attack sequences. After the bomb incident at Balls store and getting soaked by the fire alarm sprinklers at the office, Clouseau just wants to go home and rest... but he knows Cato will be waiting to attack him. He wanders through the apartment shouting for Cato to listen, (paraphrased below because I can't find the clip I want in English on You Tube)
The scene is great because Clouseau looks legitimately scared of what Cato will do, and he is running around with a trumpet to announce his approach. I can't help but laugh through the entire scene.
This also marks the introduction of "The Great Balls" who is played by Pink Panther regular, Graham Stark, who repeats this role in the last two films of the series. The character is funny and over the top... and is one of the few characters who doesn't questions Clouseau's methods, which is refreshing. And putting Peter Sellers in different costumes, with different accents and mannerisms, while still being Clouseau was a brilliant stroke!
I also enjoy seeing Cato have a larger part in the film. He should have been on more adventures with Clouseau, they are quite the pair! And speaking of great teams, I love the character of Simone as the female lead. The previous women in Clouseau's life have mocked or ignored Clouseau's outrageous antics; Simone just runs with it... it is a nice change. While I am glad to see these roles, it is sad to see Dreyfus' part diminish after his co starring role in "The Pink Panther Strikes Again," but he doesn get some good moments.
"A man, New York knows even better than the President of France. A man with which our entire world organization is familiar, and would like nothing better than to see him out of the way."
"Who?"
"Who has given us nothing but trouble for the past ten years? Who has survived sixteen assassination attempts, including two by his own boss? Clouseau. You want to impress New York. Eliminate Clouseau."
"Who?"
"Who has given us nothing but trouble for the past ten years? Who has survived sixteen assassination attempts, including two by his own boss? Clouseau. You want to impress New York. Eliminate Clouseau."
But killing Chief Inspector Jacques Clouseau (Sellers) is not an easy task. Bombs and trained assassins fail, so they plant an obvious trap because "it's so obvious that he's bound to think it can't be a trap." When the car is destroyed, the world believes Clouseau is dead... but luckily, his car and clothing were stolen by transvestite criminal, Claude Russo (Sue Lloyd).
Clouseau decides to let the world believe he is dead in order to find the real killer. With the help with his faithful manservant, Cato (Kwouk), and several disguises from his old friend, Professor "The Great Balls" Auguste Balls (Stark), he looks for clues. He is joined by Simone (Cannon), Douvier's former secretary / mistress, who knows too much about Douvier's illegal activities.
Meanwhile, former Chief Inspector Charles Dreyfus (Lom) is cured of his insanity and reinstated as Chief Inspector. His first assignment is to read the eulogy at Clouseau's funeral and then bring the killer to justice... despite wanting to rejoice and congratulate the killer.
I love this film, even though it is probably the most conventional film in the series. It plays like a normal detective story... with Clouseau in many crazy disguises and a quiet ending (very unusual for the series).
This film has one of my favorite attack sequences. After the bomb incident at Balls store and getting soaked by the fire alarm sprinklers at the office, Clouseau just wants to go home and rest... but he knows Cato will be waiting to attack him. He wanders through the apartment shouting for Cato to listen, (paraphrased below because I can't find the clip I want in English on You Tube)
"Cato, this is your employer speaking. I am cancelling the attack orders for tonight. I know I told you to show no mercy and not to listen to a thing I say, but pay attention. You will not attack Cato!"
The scene is great because Clouseau looks legitimately scared of what Cato will do, and he is running around with a trumpet to announce his approach. I can't help but laugh through the entire scene.
This also marks the introduction of "The Great Balls" who is played by Pink Panther regular, Graham Stark, who repeats this role in the last two films of the series. The character is funny and over the top... and is one of the few characters who doesn't questions Clouseau's methods, which is refreshing. And putting Peter Sellers in different costumes, with different accents and mannerisms, while still being Clouseau was a brilliant stroke!
I also enjoy seeing Cato have a larger part in the film. He should have been on more adventures with Clouseau, they are quite the pair! And speaking of great teams, I love the character of Simone as the female lead. The previous women in Clouseau's life have mocked or ignored Clouseau's outrageous antics; Simone just runs with it... it is a nice change. While I am glad to see these roles, it is sad to see Dreyfus' part diminish after his co starring role in "The Pink Panther Strikes Again," but he doesn get some good moments.
Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978) 99 minutes
Director: Blake Edwards
Starring: Peter Sellers as Chief Inspector Jacques Clouseau
Hebert Lom as Chief Inspector Charles Dreyfus
Burt Kwouk as Cato Fong
Dyan Cannon as Simone Legree
Robert Webber as Philippe Douvier
Tony Beckley as Guy Algo
Robert Loggia as Al Marchione
Paul Stewart as Julio Scallini
Andre Maranne as Sergeant Francois Chevalier
Graham Stark as Professor Auguste Balls
Hebert Lom as Chief Inspector Charles Dreyfus
Burt Kwouk as Cato Fong
Dyan Cannon as Simone Legree
Robert Webber as Philippe Douvier
Tony Beckley as Guy Algo
Robert Loggia as Al Marchione
Paul Stewart as Julio Scallini
Andre Maranne as Sergeant Francois Chevalier
Graham Stark as Professor Auguste Balls
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