‘The Return of the Pink Panther’ trailer title, 1975

Blake Edward’s The Return of the Pink Panther was released in May of 1975. The comedy, starring Peter Sellers, ended up bringing in almost 42 million dollars at the box office, earning a #6 placing on the top 10 highest-grossing films of the year list.

Sellers had already appeared as Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther (1963) and A Shot in the Dark (1964) and his performance in The Return of the Pink Panther really connected with 1970s-era audiences, driving them into fits of laughter. Me and my 9-year-old buddies certainly lapped it up, giggling and repeating the best lines for months afterward. The next film in the series, The Pink Panther Strikes Again, was even better, but we started paying attention (and I began idolizing Sellers) with Return.

Chief Inspector Clouseau walking the beat. (Peter Sellers, ‘The Return of the Pink Panther,’ 1975)

There are so many wonderfully silly moments in The Return of the Pink Panther that it’s difficult to single out one as a favorite. But Clouseau hassling a blind organ player and his monkey while a bank robbery takes place behind his back is a dandy. I also enjoyed seeing Sellers dressed as a Swiss(?) hotel room attendant (with an outrageous mustache) who thrashes the place in a fruitless search for clues.

Below, we have the original Return of the Pink Panther theatrical trailer and if that isn’t enough to sate your appetite, a compilation of seven different TV spots from ’75 is also available. Watch for some funny out-takes with the cast cracking up.

An interesting note: looking at slates used in a few scenes, June 30th and July 27th, 1974 are revealed as days filming took place.

The Return of the Pink Panther Wiki, IMDb

Previously, on Trailer Tuesday: Disney’s The World’s Greatest Athlete

Thanks, YouTube accounts: oldhollywoodtrailers and GRFilmFarm1