[LastFilmIWatched]ThePinkPanther(1963)

Title:ThePinkPantherYear:1963Country:USALanguage:English,ItalianGenre:Comedy,Crime,RomanceDirector:BlakeEdwardsWriters:BlakeEdwardsMauriceRichlinMusic:HenryManciniCinematography:PhilipH.LathropCast:PeterSellersDavidNivenCapucineClaudiaCardinaleRobertWagnerColinGordonJohnLeMesurierBrendadeBanzieJamesLanphierFranJeffriesGuyThomajanRating:7.4/10BlakeEdwards’THEPINKPANTHER,whichlaunchesPeterSellers’belovedcharacterInspectorJacquesClouseauontothecelluloid,isoriginallydeemedastarvehicleforDavidNiven’sSirCharlesLytton,whosesecretidentityisarouéjewelrythief,aka,“ThePhantom”.Mr.Nivenoozesaninnatelusterofurbanitytingedwithbashfulnessandinnocuousnesswhichisdisarmingandphotogenic,womenshallbeenamoredwithhim,andmenwouldlovetobehimbecausehisphilanderingmischiefwillhurtnoone.Indeed,thescriptinsouciantlyglossesoveritscriminaltechnicalitiesinfavoringofagoofycomedyupstagedbyMr.Sellers’comictics,InspectorClouseauisabunglingcaricature,unwittinglytwo-timedbyhiswifeSimone(Capucine),andconscientioustocatchThePhantombeforehelayclaimstothetitulardiamondinpossessionofanIndianprincessDala(Cardinale,whiskedtoHollywoodinarace-insensitiveroletradingonhergorgeousnessandsheisquiteadelightincapturingawhiffoftipsyfelinebewitchment).DawdlingfromapicturesqueskiresortinCortinad’AmpezzotoPrincessDala’simperialvillainRome,whereamasqueradeisfollowedbyapyrotechniccommotion,thefilmisconspicuouslylightinitsaction(theonlysetpieceisamidnightfour-vehiclecaperwitnessedbyanaloofoldmaninthesquare),butpredominantlyelicitslaughterfromitscartoonycontext,themostdelectableoneactuallytakesplaceinabedroomwhichinvolvesSimonepainstakinglytryingtohidetwomenfromherhusband,whofeelsfriskytoassumetheirnightlyamusement.PeterSellersmakesgreatplayofJacques’flat-footednessandunassumingpersonatoasparkingextent,itsdrollnesswouldbefurtherandmaximallyexploitedinanotherEdward-SellerscomedyTHEPARTY(1968),themismatchofhisunyieldingphysicalityanddead-panexpressionisawinningcombo.Asilk-stockingCapucinealsorelishesinherduplicitousflip-floppingwithmildexasperationmingledwithsimmeringgaiety,butRobertWagner’sGeorge,theprodigalnephewofCharles,comesacrossasadragvauntinghisshallowgood-lookingandbrazenchivalry.Also,singerFranJeffriescontributesaswooningMEGLIOSTASERA(ITHADBETTERBETONIGHT)whichisforeverinscribedinone’scortexalongwithitsear-wormthemeditty,bothpennedbyHenryMancini.Intoto,itisacomfortingexperiencetoseeBlakeEdawrds’THEPINKPATHERstillholdsitsallureamazinglywithitsexquisitepatinaofsophisticationandhumor,unadulteratedbyvulgarityandsnobbery-thepathologyprevalentinmodern-daystudiocomedywheeledoutfromHollywood,ablessingfromthepast.referentialpoints:BlakeEdward’sBREAKFASTATTIFFANY(1961)7.4/10;THEPARTY(1968)7.2/10.copy;本文版权归作者他他所有，任何形式转载请联系作者。