The Series Project: The Pink Panther (Part 3)

Series Overview:

Since my James Bond overview was a simple ranking of the best and worst elements of the series, and The Pink Panther movies are a light mirror of James Bond in many ways, I will do the same here.

The Best Pink Panther movie:

A Shot in the Dark is the best overall film, I think. Although the best film in the series that feels like what we think of as a Pink Panther movie is the fourth film, Return of the Pink Panther, as it has the best slapstick and is, frankly, the funniest.

The worst Pink Panther movie:

So many to choose from. I’d say Trail of the Pink Panther, the 7^th film, is the worst. You know, the clip show that was assembled after Peter Sellers’ death. It’s unfunny and disrespectful to Sellers.

The Best Clouseau, or Clouseau-like Character:

Peter Sellers, obviously. But consider how many people there are in this category. There’s also Alan Arkin, Ted Wass, Roberto Benigni, Steve Martin, Roger Moore, and, to a limited extent, Joanna Lumley.

The Worst Clouseau or Clouseau-like Character:

Sorry, Ted Wass. You’re just not interesting.

The Best Babe:

Most of the Pink Panther films had a requisite babe, and this category is, I think, a tie between Claudia Cardinale from the first film, and Leslie Ash from the 8^th. Cardinale because she’s a classically gorgeous Italian model, and Ash, because she seems like the most capable fighter; she’s a better-rounded character than most of the babes, including Elke Sommer. Emily Mortimer, strangely, also comes close in this category.

The Best Script:

Pick up your throwing implements. The Pink Panther 2 has the best script in terms of character and story. Hurl your throwing implements now.

The Funniest Scene:

When Clouseau trashes a hotel room with a vacuum cleaner in The Pink Panther Returns.
 

Thanks for taking this long, long 11-film trek with me, my dear readers. Next week, we’ll have a one-week Series Project special, as there are only 4 films in my intended object of scrutiny… Who’s the black private dick, who’s a sex machine to all the chicks? 
 

Witney Seibold is a featured contributor on the CraveOnline Film Channel, co-host of The B-Movies Podcast and co-star of The Trailer Hitch. You can read his weekly articles B-Movies Extended, Free Film School and The Series Project, and follow him on “Twitter” at @WitneySeibold, where he is slowly losing his mind.