A fairly funny and amusing film, it is easy to see why it was given a sequel ("A Shot In The Dark") and then a 1970's revival and then a millennial re-boot. This is possibly not as funny as "A Shot In The Dark" or "The Pink Panther Strikes Again" but certainly it is streets ahead of some of the other films and the cringe-worthy recent re-boot of the franchise.
A comedy sensation thanks to Peter Sellers' landmark performance as Inspector Clouseau. Otherwise, this is a send up of the chic crime capers Hollywood made in Europe in the sixties. This is set in Los Angeles, Paris, Rome and Switzerland and it has the visual opulence of those films, with its ultra-widescreen Technicolor.
The so-so pastiche is completely unbalanced by Sellers' scenery wrecking intervention as the clueless detective investigating the rumoured theft of a priceless diamond. His performance remains very funny. Admittedly, it's not as hilarious as when I was twelve, but there is detail and intelligence to his physical comedy which is quite impressive.
The other actors have to hold on and hope. And they do a reasonable job in archetypal roles. Claudia Cardinale is plainly stunning as the Princess who owns the famous titular jewel. David Niven resented that Sellers took over production but comes out well as the gentleman thief. There's a bossa-nova number by Fran Jeffries for variety.
The film is also enhanced by Henry Mancini's celebrated lounge-jazz soundtrack, and the cartoon Pink Panther which features over the credits. Some of Blake Edwards' surrealism is inspired, like when two men at a fancy dress party dressed as gorillas break into the same safe. There are longueurs, but its best parts are legend.