About The Pink Panther Strikes Again (HBO)

Directed by Blake Edwards, “The Pink Panther Strikes Again” is the fourth film in The Pink Panther series. Released in 1976, the film takes a comedic approach to the spy genre. Former Chief Inspector Charles Dreyfus becomes a formidable villain after being driven insane by Inspector Jacques Clouseau's bungles. Dreyfus kidnaps a scientist and his daughter to gain control of a death ray, and it's up to Clouseau to stop him.

Making / Production

Being a part of the popular Pink Panther series, the movie was produced by Blake Edwards and Tony Adams under the banner of United Artists, and directed by Blake Edwards. The film was shot in England with a budget of nearly $6 million.

Actors

• Peter Sellers: He played the role of Inspector Jacques Clouseau. Sellers' portrayal of the clueless and clumsy Inspector is considered iconic.
• Herbert Lom: He portrayed former Chief Inspector Charles Dreyfus. The role demanded a character driven to insanity, which Lom executed flawlessly.
• Lesley-Anne Down: Playing the role of Olga, Down added a touch of romantic interest to the story as Clouseau's love interest.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• This film marks Herbert Lom's third appearance as Charles Dreyfus. He would reprise his role in three more Pink Panther films.
• Peter Sellers improvised a lot of his scenes as Clouseau.
• The film holds a 72% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Awards

The film did not win any significant awards, but it was well received by audiences and has become a classic over the years. Peter Sellers was nominated for a Best Actor BAFTA award for his role as Inspector Jacques Clouseau.

Quotes

• “There is a time to laugh and a time not to laugh, and this is not one of them.” - Inspector Jacques Clouseau
• “I have...diplomatic immunity!” - Dreyfus
• “Does your dog bite?” - Clouseau

Music, Soundtrack

• The Pink Panther theme by Henry Mancini is one of the most recognizable movie themes. This tune plays a significant role in setting the comedic tone of the series.
• Additional music by Ken Thorne supplement Mancini’s iconic theme with a light-hearted and whimsical soundscape that complements the slapstick humor perfectly.