Jump to content


This is a read only archive of the old forums
The new CBn forums are located at https://quarterdeck.commanderbond.net/

 
Photo

Curse of the Pink Panther


38 replies to this topic

#1 DLibrasnow

DLibrasnow

    Commander

  • Enlisting
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 16568 posts
  • Location:Washington D.C.. USA

Posted 26 July 2005 - 02:24 AM

Just got done watching CURSE OF THE PINK PANTHER (1983) that I had TiVo'd from ENCORE earlier today and (although it suffers from the obvious absence of Peter Sellers) I thought it was fun to see an extended cameo by Roger Moore. Much like his turn in THE CANNONBALL RUN he was Moore playing Insp. Clouseau playing Roger Moore - absolutely priceless and the highlight of an otherwise rather lackluster movie.

Anyone else seen this? Thoughts? I thought Roger had some of Peter Sellers mannerisms really down pat. :)

#2 ACE

ACE

    Commander

  • Veterans
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 4543 posts

Posted 26 July 2005 - 02:28 AM

Actually the film is better than people give it credit for.

Funny and in the spirit of it's predecessors.

Roger is OK. Poor guy, as if taking over from Connery wasn't challenge enough.

Moore was a mate of Sellars in Gstaad and after his death felt uncomfortable when Sellars' widow was moaning about the rumour she'd heard that they were going to recast Clouseau and the temerity of such an act.

ACE

#3 DLibrasnow

DLibrasnow

    Commander

  • Enlisting
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 16568 posts
  • Location:Washington D.C.. USA

Posted 26 July 2005 - 02:38 AM

Well one other big thing the movie has going for it is the reappearance of so many of the actors from the classic PINK PANTHER days. I wonder how they managed to coax a sickly David Niven back (who was it who did that terrible dubbing job)? But there was also Robert Wagner, Capucine and Bond alum Burt Kwouk. I also don't know how I failed to miss that Countess Chandra was played by Joanna Lumley - it must have been the dark hair.

#4 Monsieur B

Monsieur B

    Lieutenant

  • Crew
  • PipPip
  • 532 posts
  • Location:C'wood, ON, Canada

Posted 26 July 2005 - 03:09 AM

I believe it was Rich Little who did the dubbing for Niven. Although I haven't seen this movie yet, I have seen many of the other Sellers Pink Panthers and I love them all. Clouseau's clumsiness can easily get me through 90 minutes of bad plots. With the exception of The Pink Panther and A Shot in the Dark, those films were the cream of the crop. The Pink Panther Strikes Again is ok but I can't get over the useless role of Leslie-Ann Down. She was in the film for 10 minutes and she was nude for 7 (if you can count the fur coat as covering herself up)

#5 TheSaint

TheSaint

    Commander RNR

  • Veterans Reserve
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 3067 posts
  • Location:Bronx,NY

Posted 26 July 2005 - 03:54 AM

The only reason I saw that movie was because I had heard Roger was in it.

#6 Turn

Turn

    Commander

  • Veterans
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 6837 posts
  • Location:Ohio

Posted 26 July 2005 - 12:49 PM


#7 DLibrasnow

DLibrasnow

    Commander

  • Enlisting
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 16568 posts
  • Location:Washington D.C.. USA

Posted 26 July 2005 - 01:51 PM

How can Leslie-Ann Down in that state be something you can't get over? Sure she wasn't integral to the plot, but it's a Blake Edwards/Peter Sellers comedy. Who cares as long as she's hot? :)

View Post


I can watch Lesley Anne Down in anything...I recently ordered her 1981 movie SPHINX which I remember watching on British TV a couple of decades back.

THE PINK PANTHER STRIKES AGAIN is my favorite of all the Pink Panther movies and (perhaps not surprisingly) the most like a James Bond plot with an evil genius holding the world to ransom.

It's obvious that Roger Moore was intended to be a surprise in CURSE OF THE PINK PANTHER but you could definately tell that it was him before the reveal. When the bandages come off earlier that's clearly Roger Moore sitting there.

Anyway, I thought the sight of Roger Moore wearing an ice bucket was priceless :)

#8 DLibrasnow

DLibrasnow

    Commander

  • Enlisting
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 16568 posts
  • Location:Washington D.C.. USA

Posted 27 July 2005 - 12:03 PM

Roger is OK. Poor guy, as if taking over from Connery wasn't challenge enough.

View Post


Don't forget that he wasn't the first actor to portray Simon Templar either :)

#9 ACE

ACE

    Commander

  • Veterans
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 4543 posts

Posted 27 July 2005 - 03:01 PM

Dalton keep taking over roles from people too:

Roger Moore
Clarke Gable

#10 DLibrasnow

DLibrasnow

    Commander

  • Enlisting
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 16568 posts
  • Location:Washington D.C.. USA

Posted 27 July 2005 - 03:08 PM

Dalton keep taking over roles from people too:

Roger Moore
Clarke Gable

View Post


Yes...and if you really want to get technical don''t forget that Dalton also has Heathcliff and Prince Barin on his resume also. :)

#11 licensetostudy

licensetostudy

    Sub-Lieutenant

  • Crew
  • Pip
  • 266 posts
  • Location:Los Angeles

Posted 29 July 2005 - 02:25 AM

Anyone else seen this? Thoughts? I thought Roger had some of Peter Sellers mannerisms really down pat. :)

View Post


Sorry Librasnow, but I don't agree with this. Roger Moore just didn't do it for me in this picture and lacks Sellers strength in the role. One of the things that made Sellers so funny is that his Clouseau was quite serious while being a complete idiot and took himself too seriously. Moore's Clouseau doesn't work because he was not serious and came off as silly, and the looks on his face were also completely goofy which Sellers would never have done. It is funnier to act serious but be an idiot than it is to act silly and be an idiot. It wasn't really Moore's fault even though he wasn't right for the part, but was put in such a bad movie. It is a funny idea to have Clouseau's plastic surgeon us a picture of Roger Moore to reconstruct the inspector's face to look like the actor, but this joke turns out unfortunately to be no big deal and not very funny. Curse doesn't reach the badness of Son which I watched this morning at 3 a.m., but it is still awful.

Edited by licensetostudy, 29 July 2005 - 02:37 AM.


#12 licensetostudy

licensetostudy

    Sub-Lieutenant

  • Crew
  • Pip
  • 266 posts
  • Location:Los Angeles

Posted 29 July 2005 - 02:31 AM

Moore was a mate of Sellars in Gstaad and after his death felt uncomfortable when Sellars' widow was moaning about the rumour she'd heard that they were going to recast Clouseau and the temerity of such an act.

ACE

View Post


I don't know that this rumor ever came about since Sellers was going to have enough power over Romance of the Pink Panther due out in 1981 that Clouseau was not going to be played by anyone else. Sellers was the one writing the script and before his death was practicing the Clouseau speech. As far as I know, Blake Edwards was not going to have anything to do with Romance but I really can't prove that.

#13 DLibrasnow

DLibrasnow

    Commander

  • Enlisting
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 16568 posts
  • Location:Washington D.C.. USA

Posted 29 July 2005 - 03:05 AM

Curse doesn't reach the badness of Son which I watched this morning at 3 a.m., but it is still awful.

View Post


We must be watching the Pink Panther movies on the same channel licensetostudy because I had my TiVo record a showing of Son that was on in the early morning!

I didn't mean to imply that Moore was as good as Sellers in the role of Inspector Clouseau....as it says at the start of Trail of the Pink Panther, Sellers is the one and only Clouseau. But, I do think that Moore did a good job of conveying Sellers mannerisms did a good job considering the script he was given.

#14 Bondian

Bondian

    Commander

  • Veterans
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 8019 posts
  • Location:Soufend-On-Sea, Mate. England. UK.

Posted 29 July 2005 - 05:00 AM

I think the point that some of you are missing out on is Roger Moore became Clousueau at the very end of the movie, and was not supposed to become the new Inspector Clouseau.

Roger Moore did a fine job at impersonating Peter Sellers, and like his role on 'The Cannonball Run' this was not to be taken seriouly.

It was the producers who wanted to cash-in on the success of these movies, and in my opinion they should of left them alone. You cannot make a movie when it's star is dead.

We're going to see the hilarious Steve Martin in a part this year that is completely against his own style of humour.

#15 licensetostudy

licensetostudy

    Sub-Lieutenant

  • Crew
  • Pip
  • 266 posts
  • Location:Los Angeles

Posted 29 July 2005 - 08:28 AM

Curse doesn't reach the badness of Son which I watched this morning at 3 a.m., but it is still awful.

View Post


We must be watching the Pink Panther movies on the same channel licensetostudy because I had my TiVo record a showing of Son that was on in the early morning!

I didn't mean to imply that Moore was as good as Sellers in the role of Inspector Clouseau....as it says at the start of Trail of the Pink Panther, Sellers is the one and only Clouseau. But, I do think that Moore did a good job of conveying Sellers mannerisms did a good job considering the script he was given.

View Post


I watched Son of the Pink Panther on Starz, and I'm not going to do it again. I know you were not saying Moore was better in the role than Sellers, but I was trying to say that Moore gave Clouseau a different personality which its not believable that Clouseau's personality would change.

#16 DLibrasnow

DLibrasnow

    Commander

  • Enlisting
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 16568 posts
  • Location:Washington D.C.. USA

Posted 29 July 2005 - 12:43 PM

I watched Son of the Pink Panther on Starz,

View Post


Yep....same here! :)

#17 Skudor

Skudor

    Commander

  • Veterans
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 9286 posts
  • Location:Buckinghamshire

Posted 29 July 2005 - 03:05 PM

We're going to see the hilarious Steve Martin in a part this year that is completely against his own style of humour.

View Post


I watched the trailer for this yesterday... whoever decided that this was a good idea should not be let near movie production again.

#18 Monsieur B

Monsieur B

    Lieutenant

  • Crew
  • PipPip
  • 532 posts
  • Location:C'wood, ON, Canada

Posted 29 July 2005 - 04:27 PM

Yes, I'm quite confident that this new Pink Panther movie will be an omen on the franchise. Sellers is dead, and since he IS Clouseau then how can you replace him? I don't know about you guys but I think that Steve Martin is the man I would least espect to replace Clouseau, if you are going to replace a classic character then at least do it right. Personally, I can understand why Kevin Kline declined the role of Clouseau when it was given to him, the whole big shoes to fill thing. But I think that Kline could do a really great job as he's a terrific actor. The white hair on Martin, I just don't buy him as Clouseau. I'll go and see the movie but without seeing Sellers as Clouseau, it won't be the same.

Sorry for getting a little off topic and ranty there, I'll shut up now. :)

#19 Donovan

Donovan

    Lieutenant

  • Crew
  • PipPip
  • 974 posts

Posted 29 July 2005 - 09:37 PM

"The Pink Panther" - 1964, great movie, a sort of sophisticated comedy. Clouseau was originally to have been played by Peter Ustinov. Much of what Sellers does is improvised. Yet he and Blake Edwards began an intense love-hate relationship, swearing at the end of a production that they'll "never work with that sonofabitch again!"

"A Shot in the Dark" - 1964, another great movie. Edwards was given opportunity to direct film based on play. Decided to turn it into a comedy starring the funniest actor/character from "Pink Panther." Sellers handles romantic scenes well while staying in character. Introductions of recurring characters Cato and Chief Inspector Dreyfus.

"Inspector Clouseau" - 1968, Alan Arkin as Clouseau in weak film. Many would-be gags depend on precise comic timing and these moments demonstrate how Arkin pales in comparison to Sellers. It's like the "OHMSS" of this series. Nice to see DePatie-Freleng animated titles as always. Directed by Bud Yorkin.

"Return of the Pink Panther" - 1974, funny enough, Sellers' tweaks accent for Clouseau, film would have been better with Niven back as Litton. Some gags run a bit too long.

"The Pink Panther Strikes Again" - 1976, very funny movie, some of the best moments in the series, including "Does your dog bite?" Kind of loses it's way with doomsday machine, but who cares?

"Revenge of the Pink Panther" - 1978, series getting tired, but funny moments include Dreyfuss eulogizing Clouseau. Apparently Sellers was in very poor health. A scene involving Clouseau and Cato disguised as black drug dealers was so bad it had to be re-written with major changes.

"Romance of the Pink Panther" - 1981, Sellers co-wrote this script which was to have been directed by Clive Donner and co-star Pamela Stevenson (who would later be a one-year cast member of SNL) Sellers died before filming.

"Trail of the Pink Panther" - 1982, Awful and pathetic attempt to create a film using a few outtakes from previous films, particularly "Strikes". It's actually painful to see the old characters return to reminisce the good ol' days with Clouseau.

"Curse of the Pink Panther" - 1983, Personally, I can't watch this film. The American character, and actor who plays him, can't carry film. Roger Moore is fun to see, but he basically makes a :) out of hilmself. David Niven's last film.

"Son of the Pink Panther" - 1993, Originally to have starred Gerard Depardieu as Clouseau Jr. Ironic that Claudia Cardinale (Princess Dala in original "Pink") plays Maria Gambrelli, who was originally played by Elke Sommer. Again, a film that needn't have been made.

"The Pink Panther" - 2006, Originally titled "Birth of the Pink Panther" this was I supposed designed to be a "Clouseau Begins" and since it's been pushed back and needs more work it'll more likely be a "Clouseau Ends"

#20 licensetostudy

licensetostudy

    Sub-Lieutenant

  • Crew
  • Pip
  • 266 posts
  • Location:Los Angeles

Posted 29 July 2005 - 09:59 PM

#21 licensetostudy

licensetostudy

    Sub-Lieutenant

  • Crew
  • Pip
  • 266 posts
  • Location:Los Angeles

Posted 29 July 2005 - 10:11 PM

"Curse of the Pink Panther" - 1983 The American character, and actor who plays him, can't carry film.

View Post



The American actor is Ted Wass from the television show Blossom, and yes he was a bore as Clifton Sleigh.

#22 DLibrasnow

DLibrasnow

    Commander

  • Enlisting
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 16568 posts
  • Location:Washington D.C.. USA

Posted 01 August 2005 - 04:23 PM

I really did not like the Sleigh character, it seemed yet another cheap attempt at trying to play to the American movie-goers.

#23 4 Ur Eyez Only

4 Ur Eyez Only

    Lt. Commander

  • Veterans
  • PipPipPip
  • 1554 posts

Posted 10 August 2005 - 04:54 PM

cool ! this is the one Roger was in. I saw this exact film at the Library, now I can check it out for free :)

thanks for the info :)

#24 DLibrasnow

DLibrasnow

    Commander

  • Enlisting
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 16568 posts
  • Location:Washington D.C.. USA

Posted 10 August 2005 - 05:10 PM

No problem 4 Ur Eyez Only.....

Moore is only in at the end of the movie though so I would say just skip to that part :)

#25 Loomis

Loomis

    Commander CMG

  • Veterans
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 21862 posts

Posted 10 August 2005 - 05:44 PM

"The Pink Panther" - 1964, great movie, a sort of sophisticated comedy. Clouseau was originally to have been played by Peter Ustinov. Much of what Sellers does is improvised. Yet he and Blake Edwards began an intense love-hate relationship, swearing at the end of a production that they'll "never work with that sonofabitch again!"

"A Shot in the Dark" - 1964, another great movie. Edwards was given opportunity to direct film based on play. Decided to turn it into a comedy starring the funniest actor/character from "Pink Panther." Sellers handles romantic scenes well while staying in character. Introductions of recurring characters Cato and Chief Inspector Dreyfus.

"Inspector Clouseau" - 1968, Alan Arkin as Clouseau in weak film. Many would-be gags depend on precise comic timing and these moments demonstrate how Arkin pales in comparison to Sellers. It's like the "OHMSS" of this series. Nice to see DePatie-Freleng animated titles as always. Directed by Bud Yorkin.

"Return of the Pink Panther" - 1974, funny enough, Sellers' tweaks accent for Clouseau, film would have been better with Niven back as Litton. Some gags run a bit too long.

"The Pink Panther Strikes Again" - 1976, very funny movie, some of the best moments in the series, including "Does your dog bite?" Kind of loses it's way with doomsday machine, but who cares?

"Revenge of the Pink Panther" - 1978, series getting tired, but funny moments include Dreyfuss eulogizing Clouseau. Apparently Sellers was in very poor health. A scene involving Clouseau and Cato disguised as black drug dealers was so bad it had to be re-written with major changes.

"Romance of the Pink Panther" - 1981, Sellers co-wrote this script which was to have been directed by Clive Donner and co-star Pamela Stevenson (who would later be a one-year cast member of SNL) Sellers died before filming.

"Trail of the Pink Panther" - 1982, Awful and pathetic attempt to create a film using a few outtakes from previous films, particularly "Strikes". It's actually painful to see the old characters return to reminisce the good ol' days with Clouseau.

"Curse of the Pink Panther" - 1983, Personally, I can't watch this film. The American character, and actor who plays him, can't carry film. Roger Moore is fun to see, but he basically makes a :) out of hilmself. David Niven's last film.

"Son of the Pink Panther" - 1993, Originally to have starred Gerard Depardieu as Clouseau Jr. Ironic that Claudia Cardinale (Princess Dala in original "Pink") plays Maria Gambrelli, who was originally played by Elke Sommer. Again, a film that needn't have been made.

"The Pink Panther" - 2006, Originally titled "Birth of the Pink Panther" this was I supposed designed to be a "Clouseau Begins" and since it's been pushed back and needs more work it'll more likely be a "Clouseau Ends"

View Post


THE PINK PANTHER - Great fun, with splendid work from the likes of Capucine, Claudia Cardinale and David Niven overshadowing Sellers' performance. He didn't really grow into Clouseau until RETURN, which was the film in which he really started to let fly with the accent. Some terrific setpieces, notably the drunk scene between Cardinale and Niven, and the old guy trying to cross the road. More than a little bit dated now, though.

A SHOT IN THE DARK - Again, some wonderful scenes (the repeated bungled attempts on Clouseau's life as he and Elke Sommer's character crawl the nightclubs of Paris make for the most brilliantly-done sequence of the entire series, although hardly the funniest). Still, a tad overrated and, again, dated.

INSPECTOR CLOUSEAU - Not seen it.

RETURN OF THE PINK PANTHER - Possibly my favourite. Am I alone in thinking there's a vaguely Bondian feel to this movie, or is it just the presence of Catherine Schell that puts me in mind of 007? Certainly, the opening break-in at the museum has "Bond pre-credits sequence" written all over it. Very funny in parts, although the wit is by no means sophisticated.

THE PINK PANTHER STRIKES AGAIN - Not nearly as rib-tickling as it's often made out to be. Worth it for the capers in the castle towards the end, though.

REVENGE OF THE PINK PANTHER - Underrated. Dyan Cannon is a hilariously in-it-purely-for-herself "heroine". If you've followed the series this far, you've seen it all before, but it's done quite well and doesn't pretend to be anything it isn't.

TRAIL OF THE PINK PANTHER - Again, not nearly as bad as you may think. If you can accept the concept (Sellers' Clouseau brought to life again via outtakes), there's fun to be had.

CURSE OF THE PINK PANTHER - Here's where alarm bells really start to ring. Was Edwards actually addicted to making Clouseau flicks? Mind you, this film's a bit of a guilty pleasure for me. Yes, it's awful, but I for one wish it had been included in the DVD box set.

SON OF THE PINK PANTHER - Okay, joke's over. An abysmal piece of work that I wasn't able to continue watching after a while.

THE PINK PANTHER (REMAKE) - No interest in seeing it.

#26 DLibrasnow

DLibrasnow

    Commander

  • Enlisting
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 16568 posts
  • Location:Washington D.C.. USA

Posted 10 August 2005 - 05:54 PM

THE PINK PANTHER STRIKES AGAIN - Not nearly as rib-tickling as it's often made out to be. Worth it for the capers in the castle towards the end, though.

View Post


I think the interrogation of the staff at the English manor is hilarious:

Shawk: I'm Shawk trhe gardener
Clouseau: And what is it that you do?
Shawk: I'm the gardener!
Clouseau: Why didn't you say that in the first place?
Shawk: I did
Clouseau: Look, don't try to get funny with me!
LATER IN THE SCENE
Clouseau: Look, what was your name?
Shawk: Shawk
Couseau: The cook!
Shawk: The gardener
Clouseau: Arrrr.....now we are getting somewhere!

Housekeeper: But that was a priceless Steinway (sp?)
Clouseau: Not anymore!

Clouseau "what is your name?"
Housekeeper "Mrs Leverlove!".
Clouseau "well Mrs Loveliver, I would take a short guess and say that you're the Housekeeper, am I right?"
Housekeeper "I've been with Mr Fastbender for over 30 years!!!".
Clouseau "that would account for your hysteria over a simple blemish on the furniture!".

#27 trumanlodge89

trumanlodge89

    Lieutenant

  • Crew
  • PipPip
  • 615 posts

Posted 10 August 2005 - 05:54 PM

watched strikes again last night. loved it.

#28 Loomis

Loomis

    Commander CMG

  • Veterans
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 21862 posts

Posted 10 August 2005 - 06:56 PM

As far as I know, Blake Edwards was not going to have anything to do with Romance but I really can't prove that.

View Post


I rented THE LIFE AND DEATH OF PETER SELLERS a while back (some great impersonations of various stars by various stars, but not really much of a film; worth seeing for Sellers/Clouseau fans, though, and some of the scenes relating to the Clouseau series are terrific), and I'm pretty sure that, towards the end, Edwards turns up to see Sellers in Switzerland and tries to interest him in a script called ROMANCE OF THE PINK PANTHER. I can't remember whether THE LIFE AND DEATH has Sellers involved in the writing of ROMANCE, but I don't think so. Open to question how accurate THE LIFE AND DEATH is, though: one thing that slightly irked me is the scene showing Sellers, en route to Italy to film THE PINK PANTHER, freaking out some stewardesses on a plane by playing the fool in the full-on "There's a beuhm in the reuhm!" accent that doesn't make an appearance in the series until RETURN OF THE PINK PANTHER.

#29 Donovan

Donovan

    Lieutenant

  • Crew
  • PipPip
  • 974 posts

Posted 26 August 2005 - 07:07 AM

There's all kinds of interesting stories about the famous love/hate/HATE relationship between Sellers and Edwards. The two really needed each other more than either would ever really admit. Found it interesting that as recent as the last Oscar ceremony Edwards never mentioned Sellers in his special award acceptance speech. Apparently at the end of every film both would yell something to the effect of "I'll never work with that sonofabitch again!" only to get back together in a couple years. It's true, though, that Edwards was not going to be involved with "Romance." He'd certainly get a meaningless "based on characters created by" credit like the one he got for "Inspector Clouseau." From Edwards' point of view, Sellers was just moody and could snap at any moment's notice. Edwards, for his part, felt that as the director he was the boss and had final say. So there was I suppose the foundation for Sellers' wrath. He could come across as childishly jealous if he wasn't the biggest deal in the room. His loathing of Orson Welles on the set of "Casino Royale" began when he overheard two girls talking about how sexy they thought Welles was. If I remember the story correctly, he actually confronted them about this. The movie about Sellers had one thing right concerning "Casino Royale"...Sellers wanted to play Bond straight! Although I don't know where they got the idea he dissappeared into a DB5. Truth is, he "karate chopped" 1/5th director Joe McGrath and got fired. God knows how they managed to create a film with the jumbled pieces they had in the can. Oh wait...they didn't.

#30 Clouseau

Clouseau

    Lieutenant

  • Crew
  • PipPip
  • 508 posts
  • Location:in a rheoum somewhere, you kneou...

Posted 20 March 2006 - 05:19 PM

[quote name='licensetostudy' post='430000' date='29 July 2005 - 16:59']