Search - Trail of the Pink Panther on DVD

I Hope You Enjoy The 3,000 Pounds Of Jell-O!

Robert I. Hedges | 07/15/2004

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Some people have entertained this as a tribute to Peter Sellers, and I don't want to judge the motives of Blake Edwards and crew, but for the record I am highly suspect when it is asserted that this wasn't a quick money grab. The first part of the film is a rehash of some scenes from earlier "Panther" movies and outtakes cleverly edited to try to resemble a story. The truth be told, there are some individually hilarious clips in the first half, which is why I gave the film two stars. Hands down the best scene in the movie involves a nightmare that Herbert Lom has regarding a birthday present from Clouseau, and his attempts to swim in it. In fact, the only truly great moments in the film all star Lom, the most gifted of any of the "Panther" co-stars. I was also amused that the name of Hercule's (Seller's friend and regular of the series, Graham Stark) boat was "The Moth", of course pronounced "Muuuth" as homage to Sellers. The second half (after Clouseau's plane disappears...) is devoted to annoyingly self-important reporter Marie Jouvet, played by the pretty but untalented Joanna Lumley, looking for clues about Clouseau's disappearance. She takes the opportunity to interview Dreyfus and Cato, and as well as Sir Charles and Lady Litton (David Niven and the late Capucine, who, the back story reveals are now married), and most embarrassingly of all Clouseau's "father" and nanny. The scene with Clouseau, Senior and "Nanna" is utterly painful to watch and is nothing but a bad caricature of Sellers. The childhood flashbacks which follow are even more wretched, particularly the dismal "Good, Bad, and the Ugly" parody of Clint Eastwood with a cap gun. Finally, to add insult to injury, the friendly reporter tangles with the mafia in a pointless plot cul-de-sac and fights with Cato, in what may have been the worst single idea in an otherwise artistically bankrupt movie.This film is now available as part of the "Pink Panther" DVD set, so I would watch it if only for Dreyfus in the Jell-O, but I wouldn't seek it out."

Why, why why?

Danno | NY, NY | 01/20/2004

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Way back before DVD's made deleted scenes and outtakes must-see experiences for many, Blake Edwards patched together a "new" Panther film from scenes left over from previous films. These scenes would have been great extras on DVDs for other Panther movies. Some of them are quite funny in an outtake kind of way. However, there's no way that this patchwork constitutes a real movie. And the half-hearted attempt at making this a "tribute" to Sellers in the credits comes across as exceptionally false when one considers that Edwards continued to make two dreadful Panther films without Sellers."

Mish-mashed Panther

darkhorse86 | Toronto Canada | 07/27/2005

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I'm not sure if anybody will ever determine the real motives behind Trail of the Pink Panther (is it a cash cow or a tribute to Peter Sellers?) but there's definitely no denying that this is a weird, daft mess of a movie.

As is well-known, Blake Edwards managed to fake the appearance of his late star by taking a batch of Sellers/Clouseau footage that was left on the cutting room floor and matching these together with new scenes. This is obviously a bad idea and it shows; the first 45 mintues is a jumbled hash but I did like some of the indivdual Clouseau bits during this time. If you don't mind the mess, the first half should be enjoyable. However at some point, Edwards ran out of useful deleted material so he has Clouseau "vanish" and the rest of the movie acts as a Sellers tribute. Marie Jouvet, a reporter trying to figure out where Clouseau might be, interviews characters from earlier movies and these interviews bits are used to spolight Clouseau scenes from these movies. The tribute half is not that interesting to be honest and leads nowhere. Joanna Lumley isn't a very good leading actress and this doesn't help matters. In a real bizzare twist, David Niven, playing Sir Charles Litton again, was terminally ill when he did his scenes and couldn't speak well. His voice is dubbed but the voiceover sounds nothing like Niven at all.

I wouldn't recommend Trail unless you're a die-hard Sellers fan. If that's you, just watch the first half for the Clouseau bits and then shut off the tape when Clouseau vanishes.

Darkhorse86"

A Farwell To The One and Only Clouseau

mobby_uk | London United Kingdom | 09/19/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Trail of the Pink Panther is a very misunderstood movie.It has been slashed by both critics and viewers as one of the worst comedies of all time, being nothing but a collection of previously unseen footage of old Panther movies, and regular characters talking about Inspector Clouseau,from Commissioner Dreyfuss,the faithful Cato,to even the ex Mrs Clouseau!Surely if this film is watched on its own, without being a fan of the Panther series then it will not only be a disappointing but empty,weak and plotless. But first and foremost this film is an ode to one of the greatest giants of comedy, Peter Sellers, done after his untimely death, even though it might look like the film makers were also cashing in on the Clouseau name, to try to milk every dollar of this franchise after its hero's demise.But nonetheless, there is no doubt that it is a tribute as well..a thank you note on celluloid, you can feel it when Herbet Lom or Burt Kwouk remember Clouseau in the film, it is also a personal remembrance from them to Sellers. Trail of Pink Panther should be seen more as maybe an extra bonus material/deleted scenes or special features(using DVD language), and it will be looked at and judged differently.Watching all the Panther series and all the joy that Sellers and Edwards have provided us over the years is similar to a delicious complete meal with dessert, but then the temptation to have a small piece of chocolate afterwards will not go amiss. Trail of Pink Panther is exactly like this piece of chocolate, you've had your fill but there remains a very small place still for it.
If you have not seen any or some of Panther series, then by all means do not watch Trail of Pink Panther, but if you are a fan of Sellers and Clouseau then this film should complete your collection, a personal tribute from you to that genuis of an actor."