The Return Of The Pink Panther (1975)

When the legendary Pink Panther diamond is stolen from a Middle Eastern museum, suspicion falls on the now retired Lord Lytton (Christopher Plummer) who police have long suspected of being The Phantom. Assigned to the case against the will of his superior (Herbert Lom), Inspector Clouseau (Peter Sellers) attempts to link The Phantom to the theft. There were 11 years between the last Pink Panther film (A SHOT IN THE DARK) from 1964 to 1975. Directed once again by Blake Edwards, the film takes a long time in getting its rhythm going. Laughs are sporadic and often weak. Things pick up in the second half especially with a hilarious set piece when Clouseau gets caught in Lady Lytton's (Catherine Schell) hotel room. The film is worth seeing for that sequence alone with everyone involved in the scene showing an expertise in physical comedy. Henry Mancini again supplies the suitable underscore. With Burt Kwouk, Peter Arne, Gregoire Aslan and Graham Stark.