Tokyvideo: La Pantera Rosa 1963

It is impossible to discuss La Pantera Rosa without mentioning the music. Henry Mancini’s jazz-infused "The Pink Panther Theme" is one of the most recognizable pieces of music in the world. The score was nominated for an Academy Award and remains a gold standard for 1960s "cool".

Unlike the slapstick caricatures of later sequels, the 1963 Clouseau is a more grounded, albeit hopelessly clumsy, romantic lead. la pantera rosa 1963 tokyvideo

When director Blake Edwards first envisioned The Pink Panther , the story was meant to be a sophisticated "heist" film centered on the suave jewel thief Sir Charles Lytton (David Niven), known as "The Phantom". However, Peter Sellers—brought in as a late replacement for Peter Ustinov—delivered a performance as the bumbling that was so magnetic it stole the show. It is impossible to discuss La Pantera Rosa

To explain this metaphor, the filmmakers commissioned DePatie-Freleng Enterprises to create an animated character for the opening credits. Unlike the slapstick caricatures of later sequels, the