Before Inspector Gadget, we had the indomitable Inspector Jacques Clouseau, played by the legendary Peter Sellers. In what is now his most iconic role, the bumbling Inspector left a trail of mayhem and chaos in his quest to bring the guilty to justice! For movie fans, he gave us some of the most delightful, side-splitting comedy ever committed to film!
Today we're counting down ten of Inspector Clouseau's most hilarious moments in the Pink Panther series of films. If you've never seen a film from the franchise, we highly recommend you do!
THE CHASE
The semi-final act of the original 1963 Pink Panther film finds Sir Charles Lytton and his nephew George caught red-handed by Inspector Clouseau while trying to steal the titular diamond during a costume ball. This sets off a hilarious chase scene with both Lyttons dressed in ape costumes, each in separate vehicles trying to avoid a pursuit by Clouseau, dressed in a Knight's costume.
The scene is made more hilarious thanks to the character of an innocent bystander who witnesses the bizarre car chase, while simultaneously acting as a linchpin for we, the audience. Although The Pink Panther is far less comedic than its sequels, this was the scene that set the tone for the over-the-top physical comedy so prevalent in future installments of the franchise.
THE GSTAAD
The second half of 1975's The Return Of The Pink Panther sees Clouseau traveling to Gstaad to keep an eye on Lady Lytton, the wife of the notorious Charles Lytton who stole the Pink Panther diamond so many years before. From the word "Go," Clouseau must contend with a taxi driver who takes things far too literally, as well as an unhelpful local, and a truly notorious revolving door!
When the dust settles, Clouseau comes face to face with a combative hotel clerk, and his own worst enemy - his accent!
THE POOL TABLE
This great scene comes courtesy of 1964's A Shot In The Dark, where Clouseau investigates a series of murders that revolve perpetually around the seemingly innocent, but incredibly suspect Maria Gambrelli. Clouseau informally interrogates the head of the house, Benjamin Balon, who is hip to Clouseau's incompetence, and takes full advantage to throw him off track.
The two spar over a friendly game of pool, with Clouseau completely out of his element. He seems puzzled when his use of the rake fails to strike the cue-ball, prompting Balon to offer him a severely warped pool cue as a substitute. The tears flow when Clouseau fails to strike the cue ball once more, before attempting a different approach that ends up splitting the table's fabric right down the middle!
THE MOAT
There are so many funny scenes in this sequence that we can scarcely believe it, ourselves! 1976's The Pink Panther Strikes Again sees Inspector Clouseau on the trail of former Chief Inspector Dreyfus, who has recently escaped the loony bin following one-too-many unfortunate run-ins with Clouseau. Now a super-villain bent on world domination, Dreyfus is held up in a Bavarian castle with a deadly super-weapon, forcing Clouseau to infiltrate and stop his plans.
So much goes wrong, so quickly. First, Clouseau makes the attempt in broad daylight. He attempts to cross a large moat using a number of tools, from grappling hooks to a makeshift pole-vault, all of which end in dismal failure. The accompanying music fits Clouseau's ineptitude perfectly, setting the right tone for a riotous round of belly laughs!
THE NUDIST'S COLONY
In the latter half of A Shot In The Dark, Clouseau goes undercover (and without cover) inside a nudist's colony to find Maria Gambrelli. Not far away from her is yet another dead body, prompting Inspector Dreyfus and his Sûreté to raid the establishment. Clouseau and Gambrelli make their getaway in the inept Inspector's Mini - wearing nothing except their birthday suits!
The nightmare scenario plays out in hilarious comic fashion when Clouseau gets caught in traffic, and everyone stops to have a look at the sensuous, naked Gambrelli, who proceeds to have a panic attack. Clouseau isn't far behind!
THE HANDGUN LIGHTER
After surviving an assassination attempt during the first act of The Return Of The Pink Panther, Inspector Clouseau reports the incident to Inspector Dreyfus, who expresses disappointment that his assailant botched the job. Already treading on thin ice, Clouseau manages to prod Dreyfus' already agitated state through a series of comic mishaps involving a pitcher with an insecure top, and a handgun-style lighter that is later mixed up with the real item!
What's great about this scene is how it sets up Dreyfus' eventual descent into madness, as his obsession with killing Clouseau grows. Not only does it play a part in this film, but also serves as the main plot point in its sequel, The Pink Panther Strikes Again.
THE INTERROGATION
What a triumph of comedic timing! 1976's The Pink Panther Strikes Again finds Clouseau interrogating the staff of a rich family where a kidnapping has taken place. After bumbling his way through a tour of the mansion, Clouseau finds himself face to face with the staff, after falling down a flight of stairs.
What comes next is a colossal train wreck of misinformation, painful injuries and hair-graying property damage, before ending with the funniest buckshot accident of all time! Sellers is in top form, with deadpan delivery and stern seriousness that only slightly masks his own Peter Principle, but the rest of the actors (including the woefully underappreciated Tony Sympson) help sell the hilarity.
THE ROMANCE
After a series of insane blunders and screw-ups, a drunken Clouseau and Maria Gambrelli find themselves in the throes of romance during the second half of A Shot In The Dark. Before they're swept away in a tidal wave of passion, Clouseau's housekeeper (and martial arts sparring partner) Cato launches an attack designed to catch him off his guard!
The timing couldn't be worse, with an already stressed out Gambrelli screaming while Clouseau tries to put a stop to Cato's training session. The resulting scuffle leaves the room in tatters, Gambrelli in tears, and Clouseau dragging Cato's unconscious body out of the bedroom with a pair of split-seat pants on. How these actors managed to make it through a scene without succumbing to insane fits of laughter is anyone's guess!
THE VISIT
The beginning of The Pink Panther Strikes Again features one of the most hilarious setups of all time. After showcasing his newfound confidence (and mental stability), Chief Inspector Dreyfus prepares for a meeting with the sanity review board, where he is sure to be released back into society following his descent into madness. Things don't go according to plan, however. Inspector Clouseau shows up to visit Dreyfus and put in a good word on his behalf.
After some courteous catching up, Dreyfus' hopes for release go pear-shaped following a series of madcap accidents involving a broken picnic bench, a rake to the face, and a sucker-arrow that once again sends Dreyfus careening over the cliff into insanity! It's an incredibly funny sequence with astounding comedic timing that builds the narrative upon which the rest of the movie is based. Definitely a classic scene!
THE MASSAGE
In order to further spy on Lady Lytton in The Return Of The Pink Panther, Inspector Clouseau goes undercover as a Gstaad cleaning serviceman, with his recruited bellboy in tow. They enter Lytton's hotel room and inadvertently set off a series of side-splitting events featuring a naughty parrot, a faulty lamp socket and an overzealous alarm clock, among other things.
As Clouseau's disguise disintegrates thanks to too much time hiding in the sauna, he attempts to flee the hotel room with the bellboy, before the two are caught by Lady Lytton's masseuse. Struggling to maintain his cover, Clouseau ends up throwing his vacuum cleaner into reverse, destroying the room before making a less-than-stylish escape!