The Curse of the Pink Panther is a 1983 comedy film that serves as the eighth installment in the Pink Panther film series. It was directed by Blake Edwards and stars Ted Wass as New York police detective Clifton Sleigh, who is assigned to find the missing Inspector Clouseau. The film also features David Niven, Robert Wagner, and Herbert Lom reprising their roles from previous Pink Panther films. The Curse of the Pink Panther received negative reviews from critics and was a box office failure. The main plot of the film revolves around the disappearance of the bumbling French detective, Inspector Clouseau. The story begins with Clouseau going missing during a mission, and his boss, Chief Inspector Dreyfus, desperately tries to find him.
One year after Inspector Clouseau has disappeared, the President of France orders Dreyfus to program a supercomputer to select a new detective just like Clouseau (whom the world believes to be a Great Detective) to find him. Naturally, fearing that the new detective will indeed find Clouseau and ruin his life all over again, Dreyfus consults a criminal computer genius to help him sabotage the computer to instead select the worst detective it can find.
Instead, the spotlight is given to up-and-coming actor Ted Wass chosen from his role as Danny Dallas from TV sitcom Soap , who plays Detective Sergeant Clifton Sleigh, a bespeckled American police officer. Wass was contracted to do six PINK PANTHER films, which would ve shifted to a new set of characters like the chief and Joe Morton s character and put the Edwards slapstick into an American cop movie context.
The story begins with Clouseau going missing during a mission, and his boss, Chief Inspector Dreyfus, desperately tries to find him. Dreyfus believes that if Clouseau is not found, then the Pink Panther diamond, which is the focus of the previous films in the series, will fall into the wrong hands. In order to locate Clouseau, Dreyfus enlists the help of New York detective Clifton Sleigh.
Film / Curse of the Pink Panther
Dreyfus: You know, Francois, I have a horrible feeling we are seeing history repeat itself.
Francois: What do you mean?
Dreyfus: When they were pulling out the goldfish, I remember thinking "Did Clouseau have any relatives in the states"?
Curse of the Pink Panther is a 1983 crime/comedy film and the eighth installment in The Pink Panther franchise, once again directed by Blake Edwards. This film is the first in the franchise not to star Peter Sellers as Inspector Jacques Clouseau, who had gone missing in the film prior to this one. Instead, the spotlight is given to up-and-coming actor Ted Wass (chosen from his role as Danny Dallas from TV sitcom Soap), who plays Detective Sergeant Clifton Sleigh, a bespeckled American police officer.
One year after Inspector Clouseau has disappeared, the President of France orders Dreyfus to program a supercomputer to select a new detective just like Clouseau (whom the world believes to be a Great Detective) to find him. Naturally, fearing that the new detective will indeed find Clouseau and ruin his life all over again, Dreyfus consults a criminal computer genius to help him sabotage the computer to instead select the worst detective it can find.
And he gets his wish.
The computer selects Detective Sergeant Clifton Sleigh, a haplessly-inept but well-meaning American cop from New York City who, as expected, is every bit as bungling as the man he's looking for!
Sleigh is a clumsy and inexperienced detective who struggles to live up to the legacy of Clouseau. Throughout the film, Sleigh encounters various characters from the Pink Panther series, including Sir Charles Lytton (aka the Phantom) and his nephew George Litton. As Sleigh embarks on his mission, he becomes the target of an international plot orchestrated by the infamous criminal organization known as the Tornado. They believe that Sleigh must possess valuable information about Clouseau's disappearance. The Tornado frames Sleigh for various crimes, making him a wanted man. As the story unfolds, it becomes apparent that the curse of the Pink Panther is taking a toll on those associated with it. Sleigh discovers that there is a long-standing legend that anyone who possesses or seeks the Pink Panther diamond will be cursed, leading to misery and misfortune. This curse seems to be affecting Sleigh as he bumbles his way through the investigation. In the end, Sleigh is able to locate Clouseau, who has been hiding in a monastery, taking a vow of silence. With Clouseau's return, the curse is lifted, and Sleigh is exonerated. The film concludes with Sleigh and Clouseau forming an unlikely partnership to continue fighting crime. The Curse of the Pink Panther is a comedic exploration of the Pink Panther series and the legacy of Inspector Clouseau. Despite its negative reception, the film still retains the trademark humor and slapstick comedy that the series is known for. While not a critical success, it serves as an entertaining addition to the Pink Panther franchise..
Reviews for "Breaking Down the Curse of the Pink Panther"
1. Sarah - 1 star
I found "Curse of the Pink Panther" to be a complete disappointment. The plot was dull and lacked any real substance. It felt like the movie was dragging on forever and I struggled to stay engaged. The attempts at humor fell flat and the comedy was forced. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this film to anyone looking for a good laugh or an entertaining story.
2. John - 2 stars
I have always been a fan of the Pink Panther series, but "Curse of the Pink Panther" was a major letdown for me. The new cast and characters just didn't live up to the originals, and the movie seemed to rely too heavily on slapstick comedy instead of clever wit. The detective work was shallow and predictable, which took away from the charm of the previous films. I would skip this one and stick to the classics.
3. Emily - 1.5 stars
"Curse of the Pink Panther" was a complete waste of time. The acting was subpar, and the storyline was disjointed and confusing. It felt like the writers were trying to force a connection to the previous films, but it just didn't work. The laughs were few and far between, and I found myself checking my watch throughout the entire film. Overall, this was a forgettable movie that I would not recommend to anyone.