‘The Pink Panther Strikes Again’ Blu-ray Review
Stars: Peter Sellers, Herbert Lom, Lesley-Anne Down, Burt Kwouk, Colin Blakely, Leonard Rossiter, André Maranne, Richard Vernon | Written by Frank Waldman, Blake Edwards | Directed by Blake Edwards
Blake Edwards and Peter Sellers joined forces on three uproarious Pink Panther adventures, cementing Inspector Clouseau as one of comedy cinema’s great creations. In 1976, the famously bumbling detective returned once more in The Pink Panther Strikes Again. Kino Lorber has already brought The Pink Panther, A Shot in the Dark, and The Return of the Pink Panther to Blu-ray, each benefiting from impressive 4K restorations. Now, it’s time for the fourth entry in the series, The Pink Panther Strikes Again, to finally receive the Blu-ray treatment.
The lovably inept detective Jacques Clouseau has now been promoted to Chief Inspector. But Clouseau has no time to “rust assured” on his laurels since his mad longtime boss, “former Chief Inspector!” Dreyfus (Herbert Lom) has escaped from an insane asylum to a sinister lair and commissioned a doomsday device. Holding the world to ransom, Dreyfus places a bounty on Clouseau’s confused head — which cues a slew of international assassins setting off to slay the oblivious French detective, as he stumbles around the globe after Dreyfus.
From its opening sequence, complete with the classic Pink Panther cartoon credits, to the nonstop hilarity that follows, this film is a full-blown tour de force of fun. Blake Edwards perfectly understands how to make Inspector Clouseau the butt of every joke, while Peter Sellers somehow plays it all completely straight, sending the comedy to even greater heights. The Pink Panther Strikes Again may be the fourth entry in the series, but it proves to be just as riotously entertaining as its predecessors.
Kino Lorber has transferred The Pink Panther Strikes Again to Blu-ray in 1080p and is presented in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio. There are two audio tracks to choose from – there is an English 5.1 Surround and an English Lossless 2.0 Audio. There are also English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing.
This Blu-ray transfer is sourced from a 4K scan of the original 35mm camera negative, and the results are excellent. The image is crisp and clean, free from debris or scratches, while the audio comes through clearly with no hiss or pops to distract from the experience. Colours are bright, rich, and vibrant throughout, making this a genuinely gorgeous presentation in HD. Alongside the impressive new transfer, this Blu-ray release also comes loaded with a solid selection of bonus features, including:
Special Features:
- Audio commentary by Jason Simos of The Peter Sellers Appreciation Society
- Panther Musings – A Life in Films with Lesley-Anne Down: Featurette
- A Cut Above – Editing the Pink Panther Films with Alan Jones: Featurette
- Clouseau, the Greatest Fumbler in the World: 1976 Featurette
- Four Theatrical Trailers
- Four TV Spots
- Four Radio Spots
Another excellent audio commentary from Jason Simos is included, alongside not one, not two, but three featurettes and a selection of trailers, all of which add real value to the release. As with Kino Lorber’s other Pink Panther Blu-rays, this edition also features a reversible sleeve. You can choose between artwork showcasing Peter Sellers or one highlighting the iconic Pink Panther cartoon character. It’s a small touch, but one I absolutely love.
Peter Sellers and Blake Edwards make a remarkable team. The Pink Panther films are so much fun, and this one is no different.
***** 5/5
I cannot recommend these Blu-ray releases enough. So, if you would like to add The Pink Panther Strikes Again to your Blu-ray collection, head over to Amazon today and order your copy.
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