The Pink Panther Film Collection

Three for six is good if you're a baseball player, but is far less impressive in a DVD compilation. The Pink Panther Film Collection features three essential films in the series--The Pink Panther, A Shot in the Dark, and The Pink Panther Strikes Again--capturing the best of director Blake Edwards' and chameleonesque character actor Peter Sellers' classic collaborations. The first film, in particular, is a gem, as Sellers' clueless Inspector Clouseau (which Premiere magazine recently rated the 67th greatest movie character of all time), hot on the trail of jewel thief David Niven, steals the film from the suave leading man. The sequel, A Shot in the Dark, introduced the series' touchstones: Clouseau's butchering of the French tongue, Burt Kwouk as ambushing manservant Kato, and Herbert Lom as the increasingly unhinged Inspector Dreyfus, who, by the time of The Pink Panther Strikes Again (which anticipates the Austin Powers series) threatens to destroy the world unless Clouseau is assassinated. Less inspired is Revenge of the Pink Panther and Trail of the Pink Panther, the last a particularly sad swan song released after Sellers died (the Sellers footage is comprised of outtakes and scenes recycled from previous films). Due to rights issues, the third film in the series, The Return of the Pink Panther, is not included in this collection. Rather, the sixth disc offers bonus features such as five winning Pink Panther cartoons (as well as the forgettable "The Ant and the Aardvark"), and a half-hour-shy retrospective documentary on the live-action series. In addition, Edwards provides a halting, less than scintillating commentary on The Pink Panther, which hints at--but never really delivers the goods about--his and Sellers' volatile collaboration. Thanks to new film transfers, however, the films themselves are really in the pink. Recommended, overall. (D. Liebenson)[Blu-ray Review—July 11, 2017—Shout! Factory, 627 min., not rated/G/PG, Blu-ray: $99.99—Making their latest appearances on Blu-ray, 1964's The Pink Panther, 1964's A Shot in the Dark, 1975's The Return of the Pink Panther, 1976's The Pink Panther Strikes Again, 1978's Revenge of the Pink Panther, and 1982's Trail of the Pink Panther all feature great transfers and DTS-HD stereo and mono soundtracks. Extras on The Pink Panther include audio commentary by writer-director Blake Edwards, the behind-the-scenes featurettes “The Pink Panther Story” featurette (29 min.), “Behind the Feline: The Cartoon Phenomenon” (11 min.), and “Robert Wagner: The Coolest Cat in Cortina” with the costar (11 min.), an interview with costar Claudia Cardinale (11 min.), “The Tip-Toe Life of a Cat Burgler” conversation with former jewel thief Bill Mason (10 min.), a “Diamonds: Beyond the Sparkle” featurette (7 min.), and stills and poster galleries. Extras on A Shot in the Dark include audio commentary by Jason Simos of “The Peter Sellers Appreciation Society,” an interview with early director Walter Mirisch (23 min.), a segment with Edwards on The Dick Cavett Show (7 min.), and stills, poster, and rare image galleries. Extras on The Return of the Pink Panther include audio commentary by Simos, interviews with production designer Peter Mullins (28 min.) and costar Catherine Schell (22 min.), “The Return of Laughter” vintage featurette (9 min.), radio and TV spots, and stills, poster, and rare image galleries. Extras on The Pink Panther Strikes Again include audio commentary by Simos, interviews with editor Alan Jones (25 min.) and costar Lesley-Anne Downs (22 min.), a “Clouseau: The Greatest Fumbler in the World” vintage featurette (7 min.), radio and TV spots, and stills, poster, and rare image galleries. Extras on Revenge of the Pink Panther include audio commentary by author and film historian William Patrick Maynard, radio and TV spots, stills and poster galleries, and photos from editor Alan Jones's personal collection. Extras on Trail of the Pink Panther include audio commentary by Maynard, radio and TV spots, and stills, poster, and rare image galleries. Also included is a 24-page booklet. Bottom line: this beloved comic series sparkles on Blu-ray.]