Please don't spend money on this.

Nice effects though.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

I spent most of the time rooting for the wrong character in The Pink Panther. I wanted Peter Sellers to be the protagonist and, instead, I got David Niven. This film isn't as funny as I had hoped it would be and it isn't very clever or original. Inspector Clouseau really is the best part of the story. I'm surprised that this film spawned a series of successful films and a beloved cartoon character.

This is the first time I've watched the original "Pink Panther" and I'm sad to say that I feel letdown. The film is simply not that funny. I'd say it's mildly amusing a best. I have nothing against the performances because they are alright. The real issue is that the whole thing ends up being dull and uninteresting. We spend so much time with weird seduction scenes, song numbers and people talking about convoluted plots. We get no real wit or fun slapstick. It could in the very least have been interesting or engaging when it comes to the criminal's plan. But, it's not. It's so dull I could barely follow it. The film picks up and begins to get better as it nears the third act. That's when Inspector Clouseau finally starts investigating. It's OK, because you want him to succeed figuring out the case. He's completely clueless and that's the joke. But his character is also very like-able because he has good intentions. The third act is sadly not enough to make up for the drawn out unfunny sequences you have to get through in the first two acts.I enjoy the musical score and the set pieces. But, why do we have to spend so much time in the bedroom sets? None of it was funny or clever. I'll be honest. I didn't laugh once during the entire movie. And the only thing I wanted was a humorous crime caper, but instead I got David Niven socializing on vacation. It's only worth checking out if you are curious about how this series began and evolved over time. They definitely struggled when deciding what type of movie they wanted to make. From what I hear, the series really found itself in the second film. I am looking forward to seeing that one. I can just never see myself watching the original ever again. And if I had to, I'd only watch Peter Sellers' scenes. It's OK at best, but not funny. I wanted to like it.

Although I like "A Shot in the Dark" better, I find this movie irresistible. From other reviews, I have come to realize that people judge this film on some of the later films which had none of the charm of the original. The case is relatively unimportant. What makes it work is the incredible comedic genius of Peter Sellers. When he died, we lost one of the true comics of our time. He had that wry Britishness to him and an incredible overconfidence that was endearing. The most precious thing to me was his English pronunciation of simple words. "Minkey" for "monkey," for instance. He also would ignore the most awful things going on around him and focus on some triviality. This movie will make your day.

While this Blake Edwards comedy introduced the immortal Peter Sellers character of Inspector Clouseau to the world, it is worth noting that he is only a supporting character in the proceedings here as the focus of 'The Pink Panther' is would-be jewel thieves David Niven and Robert Wagner. The first half of the film is in fact hard to endure at times with so much focus given to Niven and Wagner, whose characters are not very remarkable or funny. This balance shifts around halfway in though and there are several funny moments in the second half of the film - the best of which is a sequence in which Capucine has to balance hiding not one but two men in her room without the second man catching onto the first, or Sellers catching onto either! There is also a hilarious homage to the Marx Brothers near the end with twin gorilla suited men doing their take on 'Duck Soup''s broken mirror scene. Clouseau's ultimate fate here is memorable too as he actually gets too clever for his own good. No matter how much of a high note the film ends on though, it is still hard to discount the clumsiness of the first half. That said, repeat viewings are kind to the film. While the frequent absence of Sellers is perplexing the first time round, the film is easier to endure upon revision knowing that this will be the case and that his character will surface in further depth towards the end. Henry Mancini's bouncy, mysterious music score is a delight either way and without 'The Pink Panther', there would be no 'A Shot in the Dark', regarded by some Blake Edwards' funniest comedy.